LEAD WITH POLES
This exercise can be done in two directions — what Patrick calls going ‘into the lead’ and ‘away from the lead’. Into the lead means you’re pushing into your horse’s shoulder to take him around the corner (and could be considered easier), whereas going away from the lead means you’re moving away from your horse’s shoulder, with him having to follow you to perform the exercise. It tests your leadership and whether your horse is concentrating on you. “This is good preparation for being in a horsebox, as you might have to back him up to get him in the right position,” says Patrick. “It gets him used to what you’re asking with your hand.” SET IT UP Place four poles on the ground in an L-shape, as shown in the diagram above. The L-shaped gap should be 4ft wide to start with. As you get better at the exercise, you can gradually make the gap narrower. 1) Stand on your horse’s left, keeping his muzzle in line with your shoulder. 2) Walk through the poles, going ‘into the lead’ as you turn the corner. 3) Turn around and come back through, this time going ‘away from the lead’. 4) Repeat three times. 5) Go into the lead and through the first half of the L-shape. Stop your horse before the turn and ask him to back up, out of the L-shape poles, using the ‘ask’ and release method. 6) Walk through the poles again, as far as the corner. Stop and back your horse out again. 7) Walk through the poles and at the end of the L-shape, stop and back him up all the way through the L-shape. 8) Walk through the poles and repeat the stopping and backing up exercise in the other direction.