Horse won’t do trot poles

Hannah Kate

Hannah Kate

New Member
Jun 15, 2017
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I have ridden from the age of 3 competitively and NEVER had this problem.

My horse will not TROT over trot poles, he’ll walk them under saddle, walk trot & canter them on the lunge, walk trot and canter a single pole under saddle but any more then 3 poles he goes back down to a walk to finish them off.

He does have arthritis in his hocks but vet specifically suggested a string of 4-10 trot poles to really work his back end (major equine specialist in the uk so I trust them 100%)

I can give as much voice and leg aids as possible he just will not do it, he’s also not lame or off at all with his arthritis currently (warm weather and lots of hacking has kept him going!)

Background: always been a monkey plenty of behavioural issues (in the stall, hacking, schooling and in the field) from his long (10+ year) racing career as a hurdler, arthritis and chronic hoof abscess & mud fever all present when he arrived but all treated by amazing vets. Just cannot get him forward to poles, he’s happy and bouncy normally typical TB really, he sees poles rushes to the first ones and just gets slower as he moves along.

I did think it was my riding after 4 months off due to having sepsis which I’m still recovering from, but after riding 2 other horses through the same exercise recently it’s definitely not me, the other two are buggers for refusing poles but I got both to do it.


Any ideas?!
 
I know better in a string. But can you not space them out around the arena. 3 on each side of the arena and 1 on each end. That way it gives time to cover the arena and think in between the poles.
 
It matters not one jot when you learnt to ride or what you have done.
If this is your first experience of an arthritic horse then things will not necessary run smoothly.
For some reason, excuse my bluntness but you only post with issues with this horse and usually during half term.

Just stay with one, gradually increase to three. Actually its jolly hard work doing poles and more so if your arthritic.
 
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It probably is you unfortunately, either you unbalance him slightly which because of his arthritis he's just not able to compensate for you like the non arthritic horses can or just the extra weight on arthritic joints while doing the poles is too much.

I'd continue to do the series of poles on the lunge and then as newforest suggested gradually build up the number you ask for under saddle and by that I mean add an extra pole only when he is coping and willingly doing the previous amount consistently (not build up within one riding session), this could take you 1-2 months to get him fit/strong enough to do the full 10 :)
 
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I would suggest as others have that you start with 3 and build up, 10 is a lot for any horse but especially difficult for a horse who isn't used to doing it and is arthritic to boot. You wouldn't go out and run a marathon without a lot of training for it would you? A horses fitness is no different.
 
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He is perfectly happy and more then capable of doing 10+ poles if they are spaced out in the arena as he has been hacking and trotting over downed branches on each ride (2 hours W,T,C hills and a 7 mile stretch of beach he can go as fast/slow as he wants on once a week)

That is just unfortunate timing that it’s on half term Newforest, term time doesn’t effect me as I’m in full time employment with a weekend job at a vets (just bad timing!) and yes only post about this one horse as he was a rescue I don’t know much background other then he was a monkey in racing (hurdler then fences) then retired due to injury and neglected before I had him. All my other horses have been started by my late grandmother (MANY YEARS AGO) most recent being 6 years ago then down to me to bring on and compete as they had no injuries etc and we know all background working with them has been a breeze in comparison to my super special boy he is such a challenge he will not ever be turned around and sold like other racers I’ve had he has a lifelong home which is why I’m struggling through his problems and really trying my best.

It may just be my balance as I haven’t ridden much recently and my others are homebreds with a totally different conformation and way of going to him.

Thanks for advice everyone.

Jumping instructor who rode alongside Whitaker’s is out later (fingers crossed he’ll give me some tips to strengthen myself up and obviously my horse too)

Cheers you wonderful lot!
 
My point though is that it's unfortunate that we don't get to know you. We see you once a year with a problem. :)

We photos. We love people joining in with us.

What we can guesstimate is this horse is likely in low level pain and you probably need to support on one side and be cautious on the other.
Arthritis gets worse with age.

It really doesn't matter that your instructor rode with the whittakers, your horse won't care. I only care if we got on and I liked their teaching.
I get on with my RI, it's irrelevant if she teaches showjumper's kids. :p
 
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We’ll just this minute finished my lesson.

Horse worked amazingly well but is as he always is on the forehand. 5 minuets warm up, 10 minuets in a drawdown with a sympathetic hand and very strong leg and he began to soften in walk and good strong sitting trot. Draw reins came off, 3 minuets each rein in ‘ the box’ an exercise I’ve done many times as a young rider but really hadn’t sprung to mind for this horse. Poles in a square about 14’ each side working him forward and around my leg his neck was the first part to soften, then his rib cage moved with my leg until the impulsion was able to pick up be hind. Long story short a 6 minuete exercise and a very gentle reminder with draw reins and he has absolutely outdone him self! A set of four poles foot perfect.

After being without any form of instructor for the last 8 months (working 12+ hour shifts) I’d forgot how this particular horse felt when he was engaged. Bloody amazing today, over the moon, hacking is now as the plan always was, being decreased now he is back fit and schooling sessions are back to 3 times a week.

Today was encouraging my RI also had a sit on and said although he is a stiff horse he feels no different to some of the ‘old nags’ he’s jumped and schooled before. All in all a positive lesson.

Also to note this time last year my horse was on bute as he had his first really stiff period, chiro, physio, hacking and glucosamine have really helped this past year, vets check up a few weeks ago also showed so far it’s not progressed and his new muscle tone is definitely helping him through everything.

Thank you for all the tips will try to keep you all updated with his progress xx
 
All photos were of him today standing square something he couldn’t do last year, he’s a fatty at the minute far too much grass here it’s unreal! Definitely looking well and his canter about after his lesson was absolutely beautiful! C7E33C96-4843-4736-B912-5A3442FA9CFC.jpeg
 
Jane&Ziggy I definitely don’t agree with constant use or forcing horses into a contact with them as that will only work the head neck and force the jaw down. I use them like today in very short bursts just to help ease him down and into my hand (a lot of leg needed and an elastic elbow) when he gives me a nice frame I loosen the draw rein and give a little with my hand (working on the pressure and release theory) as my horse has arthritis even very experienced showing/schooling yards are unable to attain a good working frame with out the help of a DR or Pelham (which my horse HATES! Sensitive mouth that required an Australian noseband in racing to ease pressure on the bars and tongue also lifts the bit in the mouth for horses that get the tongue over the bit) a lot of people have recommended my horse is lunged in a set of side reins but I feel that works solely on his head and neck carriage and not his whole body it’s also a good way to teach a horse a fixed contact (child’s lead rein pony showing classes spring to mind there) I like that I’m in full control once I feel his head and neck soften and his jaw relax I know it’s a start within a stride or two if I feel his back come up and a swing with his hind end bring his hind legs under his body and tracking up well I can swiftly release the pressure on the draw rein and just maintain the contact on the standard snaffle rein.

As I said for me it’s used once in a blue moon just to help enforce what I’m trying to achieve. My horse also works really well with a slight downward pressure (Martingale etc.) so it really does just encourage him. Also as it’s not fixed it’s a good way to encourage him down and round in a nice frame without being able to hang and fall back into the forehand.

I don’t use it with any of my other 9 horses he is the only one that requires the extra help but myself and RI agree it’s down to his lack of top line after racing and the hock arthritis. I wouldn’t suggest it for any horse unless good forward active riding off the leg and into the hand consistently isn’t working and I’d always use it under supervision from someone from the ground or even mirrors as you can monitor the horse’s way of going and it’s acceptance of a new ‘gadget’ x
 
I don't like draw reins either. I suppose they do have a place though. How bad is the hock arthritis? I wouldn't have used them on mine when hers were diagnosed. But I am guessing yours is only mild changes to be riding at the level you are?
 
If the horse can’t do it they can’t do it. End of stop trying if the horse genuinely can’t. Your horse looks nice and if I were you I’d listen to him rather than your RI no matter who they rode for.

I’m all for keeping horses with arthritis going, however within limits. I’m also all for pushing boundaries but only if the horse is fit for it. Big difference from the horse not doing it through issues and a horse being lazy.

How much work is the horse in? You just can’t whip out poles and expect a horse to work over them? Horse needs to be fit enough for the work asked.
 
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Yes only mild changes as x rays have proved, horse is a known hypochondriac as the equine specialists put it hardly and pain relief needed ie 1 sachet of bute lasted him 2 full days (2 meals a day) when he had a massive flare up he’d been a silly beggar in the field pacing as a neighbour had a new stallion and sheep (dreaded sheep!)

My horse is incredibly fit although he’s currently sporting a grass belly must be the trend all local horses have it sea breeze is really giving the grass an early flush here.

He’s in work 6 days a week, three times a week, light schooling before work 30 minuets (+warm up and down) or the other three days it’s a brisk hack in the morning encouraging a good working frame as best as I can he’s rather full of himself first thing followed by a hack each evening depending on time available can range for 45-120 minuets, each evening hack different each includes a good steady incline for canter sets (if required that day) soft ground for a gallop if a pipe opener is on the cards, and some hard footing (roads/concrete) to maintain tendon strength.

He is ridden each day depending on how he feels if he’s feeling dizzy and forward he can let loose out hacking and if he’s wanting a chilled hack that’s always an option for him.

He is always ridden in accordance to vets instructions he also has his heart rate monitor on at least once a week to check recovery times etc. Which allows me to assess when we can increase work load.

The hacks he goes on have a flat track and next to it there will be the odd ‘log’ small branch to him that he takes himself over on occasion I don’t ask hacking is his time to relax only in the school do I ask for anything I know he will find ‘challenging’ never just asking him to do poles out of nowhere, he will be worked up to it as he has been for 6+ weeks he’s had a pole on each side of the arena, then 2 one side, once it got to 3 he was doing it but lacking impulsion (as he’s on the forehand) RI is also in contact with the vet and between them they have a plan to keep his active as long as possible. My RI does also ride my horse at least once a lesson to get a feel for his way of going so when he suggests something I have full confidence it will be achievable for my horse. Never once had my boy come up unsound etc. After a lesson with him so I’m 100% trusting in his methods.

I can honestly whole heartedly say my horse is in far more work and a lot fitter then many I’ve seen out in the hunting field etc. Until a few weeks back he was hacked twice a day except a Sunday (he needs a rest and the church at the end of the road didn’t seem to like his constant calling as he went past, best for everyone if he has a Sunday off) now he’s been back schooling a few days a week he obviously has those morning off from hacking.

He’s a very happy boy mind and as I’ve done with my old show jumping pony I will listen to them and call it quits in terms of pushing them when they are struggling (she’s 20+ with arthritic changes to the jocks and stifles now) she is just a little hack pony for cousins and that now because she hates not working as does my horse. Xx
 
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