How Can I Stop My Horse From Tripping Over Trotting Poles?

Trotting poles are a great way for getting your horse to think about his hoof placement and developing that all-important core strength. However, many horses have issues with tripping over trotting poles, and this often (understandably) puts riders off using these valuable tools in their training. Here are a few suggestions to help you overcome your horse’s tripping troubles.

Let him look!

You must ride over trotting poles with an allowing contact. Many of us feel that we need to control the horse’s movement over the poles, so take up a short contact and ‘hold’ our horses back. This, in fact, creates a lot of the problems. Your horse must be able to look down at the poles to assess where he is going to put his feet. Restriction with the reins can restrict his field of vision and prevent his shoulder and forelegs from coordinating correctly.

Don’t rush!