Equine Massage Aftercare - Pole work

Hello and welcome to my blog, the first one of 2020!
I hope you all had wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations?

This week I would like to discuss pole work, and how it can be beneficial for your horse.

Introduction to Polework

Pole work is one of the things I often recommend to clients as ‘homework’ between treatments.

Particulary raised poles.

Simple pole exercises can be practiced either from the ground (leading in-hand or on the lunge) or ridden, depending on you and your horse’s individual situation.

I often advise that the exercises are practiced from the ground as it allows the horse to move more through their back and core without having to also manage balancing a rider, whilst simultaneously giving you the chance to see how your horse is moving.

Application

Walk is the most effective pace to perform polework in as there is no moment of suspension, so all movement is performed through muscular effort.

Also, the closer the poles are together, the more the horse has to sit back and push from behind.

More spaced out poles are also useful to encourage the horse to lengthen their stride, however it is important to be aware that this may also encourage your horse onto the forehand.

The most common polework exercises I recommend are:

• Raised Poles in a straight line

• Fan of Poles

• Raised Poles on a circle

Fan of poles - this exercise is great as it allows you to shorten and lengthen your horse’s stride depending on how big you make the circle

If I think these will be beneficial for your individual horse I can help advise on how to set up and practice these exercises on your own.

Benefits

There are many benefits to asking your horse to do pole work exercises, these include:

• Increased proprioception (makes the horse more aware of where their individual limbs are)

• Increased core stability

• Improved suppleness

• Encouragement of hind leg engagement

• Encouragement of development of the topline

• Ability to influence your horse’s stride length

• Encouragement of a more rhythmical and more regular stride length

• Mental stimulation

If you think your horse could benefit from equine massage therapy, as well as an aftercare programme including polework exercises please do get in touch for more information or to book an initial assessment.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, I am always open to suggestions of blog post content should you have any.

Look out for another blog coming next week.

Jess x

(Please note, some of the images used in this blog are not my own and have been taken from Pinterest)