Читать книгу 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses - Jec Aristotle Ballou - Страница 15

PURPOSE:

Increases symmetry, stride awareness, and body control.

Switch between the extensor and flexor muscle chains with the footwork required in this pole arrangement for increased symmetry body-wide. It targets the thoracic sling, stifle muscles, and pelvic stability. It is not uncommon for horses to trip or bang the poles the first time through this routine until they make the proprioceptive improvements to go through cleanly. This deceptively difficult exercise does wonders for the horse’s stride awareness and control.

1 With the inside edge of the poles raised to a height of 12–16 inches, set up four to six poles in a fan shape as shown. Space the raised inside ends of the poles approximately 1 foot apart; set the wider ends 4½ feet apart.

2 Begin by riding around the narrow end of poles at the walk. Ask your horse to take just a single step between each pole (fig. 1.3 A).1.3 A: Sara tests Diamante’s coordination and balance by asking him to bend tightly through his body and step carefully between the raised ends of poles.

3 Maintain a clear bend to the inside by applying light pressure with your inside leg.

4 Circle around to cross the poles again, but now move over to the wider end of the pole fan (fig. 1.3 B). 1.3 B: Sara then rides a slightly larger circle that crosses the outer edge of poles, asking Diamante to extend his stride in the wider spaces.

5 Ask for two steps between each set of poles while maintaining inside bend. Really ask your horse to extend his strides as you cross this end of the poles.

6 Circle around again, but now go back to the raised, narrow end, and be sure to get just a single step between each pole.

7 Continue circling over the poles, alternating which end you cross over and the number of steps between each pole as described above.

This exercise should feel like taking the horse back and forth from a finely controlled collected walk to a big extended walk. It will highlight any instability in his pelvis, though, so do not be surprised if he struggles with the footwork.