Groundwork
Beginner
20 min
Lunging Over Ground Poles
Focus: Engagement, Balance, Coordination
Equipment: Lunge line, Lunge whip, 4 ground poles
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Set up 4 ground poles on the lunging circle, evenly spaced about a quarter of the circle apart.
- The poles should be fanned: narrow end toward the center (3 feet apart), wide end toward the outside (5 feet apart).
- Send the horse out at the walk over the poles. It should walk calmly over each one.
- Progress to the trot. The horse will naturally lift its legs higher over the poles.
- Watch for the horse rounding its back and engaging its topline — this is the desired response.
- Work 3-4 minutes in each direction. Remove poles and compare the quality of the trot before and after.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Poles placed too close together or too far apart for the horse's natural stride.
- The horse stepping on or knocking poles because the circle size puts it at an awkward spacing.
- Not adjusting the circle size to match the horse's stride over the poles.
- Working too long over poles, causing the horse to become careless.
Variations & Progressions
- Raise the poles to 4-6 inches on cavaletti blocks for more engagement.
- Use 6 poles for a longer pole exercise on the circle.
- Add transitions over the poles: walk over two, trot over two.
Tip: Lunging over poles is one of the best tools for building topline muscle without a rider's weight. Use it liberally for young or rehabbing horses.
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