The Cattle Guard Exercise

Use of ground poles and the cavalletti, continued

by Alice Trindle

2010 marks another year of opportunity to grow together in our horsemanship skills and knowledge through the pages of The Northwest Horse Source. We have a great progression to explore, starting with two more articles regarding the use of ground poles and cavalletti. After that, we move into a ten-month exploration of starting and bringing a young horse along. The theme for T&T Horsemanship clinics in 2010 is “Observing with Integrity,” and I hope to share some of those observations the horses have shared with me over the years, in a manner that is based on honesty and sincerity, the way it was presented to me—by the horse!

Continuing with Cavalletti

I hope you have been able to use the exercises over the ground poles described in the past two issues (remember, there is always more at www.tnthorsemanship.com/articles). You should be experiencing a new confidence in your horse, a lightness in his step from picking up his feet and becoming more balanced, and a freedom in moving all four corners of his body. Add this new ground pole exercise to your bag of tricks to help you focus and gain balance with the beginnings of engagement in your horse. No matter the discipline you are ultimately pursuing, this exercise will help.

Progressive Cattle Guard Exercise

Purpose: Sending or riding your horse over the "cattle guard" poles will help promote:

• Attentiveness from the horse to the placement of his feet


• Focus for both horse and rider


• Effective use of aids without intimidation


• Stretching over the topline as the horse looks where he is going


• Eventual gathered softness, the beginnings of engagement and rhythmic picking up of the feet

Equipment:

• 6 to 8 ground poles, about 6 to 8 feet long


• Horseman’s halter and lead (when riding use a snaffle or bosal to begin)


• Patience, focus, and a clear picture of the correct movement.

Preparation: Lay out the poles as diagramed in an area with good footing. The first three poles are 4.5 to 5 feet apart, with the last three poles progressively getting closer to a final distance of approximately 2.8 feet apart.

Note: This is a trotting exercise. Be sure to give your horse room to complete the exercise over the poles on a straight line as you approach and depart the poles.

Ground Work

Your horse should easily follow suggestions and positioning of your body as you send him over ground poles at the walk and trot.

Position yourself out from the shoulder of the horse in a "ground riding" posture. Start by practicing your walk to trot transitions, perhaps along the wall, so the horse is marking well with your body posture and intentions. From the trot, in the same position, focus your energy across the poles. It may help for you to mimic the horse in the shortening of his stride by doing the same in your stride as he crosses the progression. You are looking for the energy to be gathered up, with the horse lifting his feet, and a slowing of forward progression. Practice both directions, and once your horse has made several trips over the cattle guard without touching a pole, quit and reward.

Riding Aids

If you have a competent human partner who understands the purpose and procedure of the ground work, you may want to begin your riding over the progressive cattle guard by having your human friend take control of the lunge line.

From a rhythmic working trot, pick up the outside track of the arena. As you approach the cattle guard ground poles, come off the track in a sitting trot, focusing your eyes and core toward the center of the poles. Once you and the horse are lined up with the center of the poles, your focus should be past the cattle guard at a spot located at your eye level. "Feel" the feet over the poles, letting the horse primarily find his own way to picking up his feet in shortening strides. Your balance should be pretty much in the middle of the horse with shoulder blade weight over your seat bones. Don’t hold your breath!

As you progress and the horse begins to pick his feet up rhythmically, think of a slight half-halt as you enter the cattle guard, with the feel of taking the energy a bit back and up. You can experiment at this point with a slight lifting of the reins and a feeling of exchanging the energy through the horse’s ribcage between your calves. These are just slight caresses in your calf muscles that ask the horse to lift his shoulders and drop his hips. Continue a trotting feeling in the small of your back.

As you depart the cattle guard, focus right or left and pick up a raising/posting trot. Remember to reward! This exercise feels really good when you and your horse get it. Don’t drive it into the ground, or you will risk going backward in the benefits.

Planning for 2010 With Alice Trindle

Invest in education and fun in 2010!

Check out the schedule of clinics and vacation packages at www.tnthorsemanship.com

Join us December - February

Horse-drawn Elk-Viewing Tours

Call T&T Horsemanship

541-856-3356