Simulating distances w ground poles

[farmgirl]

Hi All, I’ve searched, but not found what I am looking for…

If a 5 stride line is set at 72’ (five 12 foot steps and six feet on either side for landing and taking off), if one trots in and canters out, it should canter in six steps, correct?

So, if one wanted to mimic that line with ground poles, what would the distance between poles be?

Thanks,
fg

[EnjoyThe_Ride]

72’ ?

[INoMrEd]

I’d say 72’ as well. But I always find that without jumping any height I have to really move my horse forward to make the distance using just poles. It is a great exercise though.

[ToTheNines]

When I set ground poles, I add 6’ for landing and takeoff instead of 12’. So if I want to canter 5 strides between, I would set it at 66’. This seems to work well for me when I am making sure I have my jumping canter. This is cantering in, through, and out the poles. I don’t do that exercise trotting anywhere, so can’t answer that question.

[DMK]

60’ for 5 canter strides (or 4… or 6…) pole to pole

IMO, it’s not the best exercise to simulate a jump to jump experience because ground pole to ground pole rides differently than fence to fence.

If you get in deep to a fence you usually have to make up some distance to get out correctly (move up) and when you get in long, chances are you will have to settle to get out correctly.

But it just about the opposite for a pole to pole experience - if your last stride before the pole is very close to that pole (like a deep distance) then you will eat up a lot more ground in your first stride in your 60 feet and generally have to wait to make the 5 work. But if your last stride before the first pole is farther away (long) then the horse lands closer to that first pole and you have more distance to make up. It’s a good exercise and it teaches you awareness of where you are, but you need to understand that it is a bit counter intuitive to how you would ride the line if the same thing came up with jumps involved.

Maybe a better exercise is a pole to X to pole - 60’ before and after. Trying to create the same amount of strides going in and going away will humble most of us pretty quickly (but teach us a lot about the quality of canter needed to jump a good fence, regardless of height)

Also, it’s not a universal 6’0 takeoff/landing arc, the takeoff/landing arc is wholly contingent on the quality of stride approaching a fence. If you float their teeth off coming into a line and create a 9’0 stride, you will not have a 6’0 takeoff, more like a 4’0 takeoff.

[farmgirl]

DMK, that is a great answer. Thanks.

[farmgirl]

To The Nines, I just reread this. I missed your post earlier. It is also a very helpful answer. Thank you very much. fg

[ToTheNines]

Thanks, I use the exercise to “test” my canter so that I am familiar with the same canter all the way around the course as in the lines. I find that adding the 6’ gives me about the canter I want. Maybe a smidge less, not sure, I will walk my poles tomorrow for you. Certainly somewhere between 4’ and 6’.

I extend the exercise with a pair about 30 feet apart on the short end, to do while on course. Plus it helps me make sure I am straight on the short end. Ms. Trainer came up with that one.

[farmgirl]

Hi ToTheNines, That is my goal, as well. I am rehabbing my very wonderful horse, and I do not wish to jump him unnecessarily to get my eye/feel tuned up. If I follow you logic, the 30’ is a two-stride, right? Thanks again for your help.fg

[ToTheNines]

Yes, maybe a bit less than 30’ maybe 28 or 29, for two strides between, with the idea being to have the same nice open canter that you would use for jumping.

[RugBug]

[QUOTE=DMK;7156582]

Maybe a better exercise is a pole to X to pole - 60’ before and after. Trying to create the same amount of strides going in and going away will humble most of us pretty quickly (but teach us a lot about the quality of canter needed to jump a good fence, regardless of height).[/QUOTE]

Yep…this exercise is deceptively hard. It sounds easy, but I was quivering in my boots hoping Mr. New Zealand wasn’t going to make me do it. I have a hard enough time not riding like a frightened monkey…this would’ve just curled me up in a ball.