The most recent thing we are working on is working about 1m away from the track to make me use my outside rein!! To be honest it is harder than you think, I can tell I definitely wasn't using it the way I should have before!! I can tell a massive difference and it makes me work a lot harder! Have you ever tried it?

So, not a single exercise but, I wanted to share these books of exercises. Personally, working with a trainer or a riding coach every time is not realistic so having other guides is useful. I really appreciate these programs because if you/your horse struggle with an exercise, the author tells you what to go back and work on specifically. I am curious, what books or online programs do others in collective use?

Now and again I love to do this exercise with my horses. It makes them more independent jumping and they learn how to use their body properly without anyone on them!! This is Draco jumping 1m

Hii, I don't know if you can appreciate but we did poles last Saturday and after doing them at walk then we introduce it at trot as well. In the first instance she jumped but then everything went well trotting among the elevated poles. So happy practicing groundwork with her, we really enjoy it!

Poles can be used differently! I absolutely adore this exercise, I used to do this quote often when I worked with a young horse and it really helps them to learn understand your legs better. When we did this, we would start of with the blue track and the move up to the red one. In this exercise you basically walk through the gaps of the poles and try to stay in the middle. This is quite similar to one that has been posted "" but in a "let's put it to a test now!" form. I would really recommend this exercise as it's fun but obviously you shouldn't do it for long periods of time because as pretty much any exercise "the horse's head can get exhausted" (my old trainer used to say this to younger riders) Now on how to exactly do this; the gap between the poles should be like you horses normal trot poles, you should try to stay in the middle and turn in a way so you don't need to 'wiggle' to get to the middle (i hope that makes some sense), the gait that doesn't get messy is walk. I mean you can technically do it in trot but even the walk often sloes down a lot to turn tightly sooo...

Here’s my newest polework exercise for the week, this is going to help me practice bends, striding while not putting too much pressure on getting it perfect, lots of room for “error” Swipe left for a video demo and course walk!

A great exercise if you only have four poles!

Turn on the forehand!! This movement teaches the rider the use and effect of the forward and sideways driving aids. As he turns his hindquarter around the forehand in walk steps, it improves coordination and brings about suppleness. Turn on the forehand teaches the elementary coordination of the aids essential to the development of the rider. The turn on the forehand prepares the horse and rider for leg-yielding! It’s one of very favorite exercises for my young horse setting her up for success!