Poles for performance
PART ONE: GETTING STARTED
Riding coach and polework expert, Nina Gill, shares her tips on how to get your horse thinking, improve your riding and maximise your all-round performance – all with one set of poles
As told to Sarah Burgess.
In this feature. . . ➤ Prepare for the perfect polework session
➤ Discover the benefits ➤ Understand the impact of distances
Photos: Jon Stroud
Polework – when it comes to tools that’ll improve your horse’s technique, this is certainly a firm favourite. Regardless of your discipline, level or goal, it’s widely reported that there are endless benefits to including poles in your horse’s routine. But what are these benefits? How can polework really boost your riding? And what’s involved in the perfect pole-based session? Let’s take a closer look at the answers to these all-important questions.
DID YOU KNOW?
In recent years, polework’s become a hot topic in the world of research and results are confirming anecdotal evidence that equestrians have sworn by for many years. Find out more at bit.ly/POLEWORK_RESEARCH.
Our expert
Nina Gill is a BHS Stage 4 Coach based in Warwickshire. She has worked on a range of yards from riding schools to 5* event yards and is the owner of Fancy Footwork Equestrian.