Introducing a Young Horse to Poles

There’s nothing quite like watching a young horse figure out their first set of ground poles. One moment, they’re suspicious of this weird striped thing on the ground. The next, they’re hopping over it with all the enthusiasm.

Polework is one of the simplest and most underrated ways to help your young horse develop balance, confidence, and athleticism.

Here’s how to keep it positive, low-drama, and genuinely fun for both of you.

Start with One Pole, Not a Grid

Less is truly more. Begin with a single ground pole in the arena. Lead your horse over it in hand so they can sniff, paw, and generally investigate. It’s normal if they overjump, sidestep, or look at you confused.

Once they seem comfortable, hop on and walk over it both directions. Then, try trotting. Remember, their first attempts might look clumsy, but that’s part of the process.

Keep It Short & Sweet

Young horses may look full grown but still have baby brains and baby muscles. A short 10–15 minute session is plenty when introducing poles. The goal isn’t to “get it perfect” in one day, it’s to finish on a good note while they’re still curious, not fried.

Mix in walk breaks or a few big circles to keep it relaxed. Think of it as “taste testing” polework rather than an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Build Curiosity, Not Anxiety

Polework should feel like a fun puzzle, not a test. Reward every small try, a brave step forward, a quieter trot, even just walking calmly over the pole without spooking. your praise and relaxed energy teach your horse, “See? That wasn’t so bad and you did great.”

Add Variety Gradually

Once your young horse finds one pole boring (yes, it’ll happen faster than you think!), add:

• A second pole for a short line placed 72′ apart.
  Work on trotting through at a working trot and collected trot, graduate to cantering between the poles and work on getting the add step at 6 strides or the number at 5 strides.
  
• 3 trot pole exercise. Place 3 poles about 4.1/2′ a part, first practice at the walk and then with confidence trot through, as confidence is gained gradually add another pole 4.1/2′ apart until you reach 5 poles. Save your canter work for another day, these poles are spaced for walk and trot only.
  
  The exercise here is teaching the horse to think through the poles and where his feet are. Once he is confident trotting over the poles, add figures that incorporate trotting over the poles and then between the poles. Mix it up with halts and transitions when in the narrow space between the poles.
  
• Circle of doom – ok. not anyones favorite exercise but it has it’s place. Using one pole canter a circle over the pole. Your working on balance and adjustability at the canter as well as finding different distances to the pole. Overdoing this exercise will leave you both dizzy and annoyed. Keep this to maybe 5 times in each direction and move on to something else. You can come back to it after a bit.
  Keep the circles big for younger horses, strive for balance and straightness over the pole.
  
• Raised Poles – Using rail raisers or similar recreate the above excercises with the poles slightly off the ground to create a little more challenge. This is really good for helping to strengthen the hind end and for fitness.
  
• A fan or curve to make them think about foot placement, bending and balance. Placing each pole about 4.1/2 feet apart, place them on a curve. Trot figure 8s and serpentines through the curve teaching your horse consistency, and to stay on the aids.
  
• 9′ ‘take off’ rail. Place one rail 9′ in front of a small gate or brush box. The 9′ rail will help teach your youngster where to put his feet at take off. This is a trot in canter away, or canter excercise that will assist you and your horse in developing an eye for distances while focusing on straightness. This exercise comes in handy once your horse graduates to jumping in the future.
  

The goal isn’t to create a fancy grid overnight, it’s to help your horse learn to balance, look where they are going, and think about where they’re putting those big, sometimes clumsy legs. It’s easy to get caught up in the social media trends of creating massive grids of poles. Keep in mind just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Pole work is great for fitness, balance, awareness and so much more, but it’s also hard work across the spine, hocks and stifles. Ever seen football players at camp running through tires? Pole work excercises are similar.

Laugh at the Weird Moments

You will get:

• Olympic-worthy leaps over a single pole
• Tiny stumbles followed by an offended head shake
• Side-eye that says, “Why did you do this to me?”

Laugh it off. Horses mirror our energy, and when you stay lighthearted, they stay calmer and braver.

Why It Matters

Polework isn’t just about jumping prep. It helps young horses:
– Build rhythm
– Strengthen muscles and topline
– Improve coordination
– Learn to stay focused on new challenges

It’s a low-pressure way to teach your horse. That mindset pays off everywhere, from trail rides to show rings.

Introducing poles should feel like a quiet conversation, not an exam. Start small, praise big, and keep it fun. Because today’s slightly awkward trot over one lonely pole? That’s tomorrow’s confident canter through a grid.

And honestly, watching your young horse go from “What is THAT?!” to “Watch me do this!” is one of the best parts of the journey.