Training Exercise - CrossFit for Horses

This article is from the January 2020 Horse Deals magazine.

With over 20 years of experience as a coach and in the saddle breaking and training, Amanda Lewer from Lilydale, Victoria, runs highly popular pole clinics. These clinics use up to 80 poles and 40 wings, and take Amanda up to an hour to set up, but the results are worth it. The poles classes attract everyone from dead-set beginners through to Grand Prix, endurance, jumpers, racehorses, western pleasure, competitive trail horses and everything in between.

CrossFit for Horses

AIM:

For the horse: To provide a gymnastic exercise ultimately improving strength, rhythm, softness and balance.

For the rider: To provide an enjoyable form of cross-training that improves connection and feel while improving balance through the seat, the timing of aids and use of eyes.

SET UP:

For the complete exercise you will require 36 poles and 24 blocks. If you don’t have enough equipment for the whole exercise, you can set up a part of the exercise.

Place 12 poles on the centreline of the arena. Leave an even amount of distance at either end of the centreline. Each pole is placed 1.25m to 1.45m apart depending on the horse. Blocks on opposite ends of each pole to be raised later. Start with poles on the ground.

Place six poles on a curve at the top right and left corner of the arena as shown in diagram. The distance from the centre of each pole to the next is 1.30m. Blocks need to be placed at the inside of each pole to be raised later.

The triangles need to be placed far enough away from the curved poles to allow a counter bend (green arrows) line from the wall and a transition to, or from, canter on a straight line (blue arrows). Triangles need to be made from 3.6m poles. The distance between triangles is three standard strides (10.8m or 36ft).

THE EXERCISE:

1: Warm-up appropriately. Enter centreline of poles in trot from the open end on your left rein and maintain a straight line until you reach the other end.

2: Turn left onto the curve of poles aiming for a line just slightly to the outside of the centre of each pole. You will need to adjust your seat to allow the horse to bend through the curve of poles while maintaining correct use of outside rein to ensure the horse does not fall out of the exercise.

3: Continue on to the outside track of the arena and make a curved line through the side of the triangle, change to right bend and follow the line through the second triangle (green arrows).

4: On return to the outside track regain left bend through the turn and straighten up as you begin the second repetition down the centreline of 12 poles. Repeat the exercise in trot on each rein four times and allow the horse a walk break.

5: Add canter.
Repeat the centreline and curved lines in trot but instead of taking a counter bend loop through the triangles execute a canter transition from the curved lines (follow blue arrows) and ride a straight line through the centre of each triangle. The rider must maintain a straight line through the centre point of the triangle, which is not always easy. Aids and balance of rider must be even and apply more pressure where needed to keep the horse straight while executing three even working canter strides. Once through the second triangle, transition to trot, before continuing down the centreline. Repeat exercise four times on each rein. Walk break.

6: Raise the poles.
Raise the poles at opposite ends down the centreline. This creates a criss-cross image as the horses approach and helps the rider see and maintain a straight line through the exercise. It also causes the horse to lift their legs and core higher as a strength training exercise. The curved lines have only the inside of the poles raised which causes the horse to rotate their inside hind higher, lifting through their middle and back enhancing lateral bend. It also causes the horse to carry more weight on their outside hind again training strength. Continue to canter once you have completed the curves.

7: Don’t overdo the repetitions once the exercise is raised and only raise it a small amount if your horse is not very fit. My clients call my classes “CrossFit for horses.” Ensure you give your horse walk breaks when required and a good fifteen minute cool down of long and low work encouraging them to stretch and move freely.

Amanda’s Tips:

Keep your eyes looking at the line you want to take 15 strides ahead of you. This improves your position while allowing you the time to prepare for each component. Stay as balanced in the seat as possible to help your horse.

Walk your horse through the exercise first if they have not worked through such a big poles exercise before.

Watch Amanda talk through the exercise here: horsedeals.com.au/news/crossfit-for-horses

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