DMC Stables
230 Lariat Loop T3Z1G1 Calgary, AB, Canada

Anyone else need a break from the cold? Hoping for a warmer week!

DMC Stables would like to thank all of the brave men, women and animals that serve our country. Past, present and future you will not be forgotten!

Good morning sunshine! https://www.instagram.com/p/CHIvV22Fj3K/?igshid=ok7zuh11l113

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4 POLES 7 EXERCISES A series of exercises that can be done with minimal equipment and in short preparation time. These exercises are based on precise lines ...and the right timing to get your horses swiftly through. Ideally the poles are placed so that the innermost circle has at least a 6-7 meter diameter. The goal of these exercises is to improve aids/communication and precise changes of direction absolute focus by both horse and rider is needed. EXERCISE 1 Ride a circle over the outer sides of the poles this can be done in walk, trot or canter. Ensure the horse is slightly bent to the inside to promote an active hind. With an experienced well trained horse you can do this exercise over the innermost part of the poles in walk or trot still too easy? Try to back up your horse around the outer circle :-) EXERCISE 2 Ride in a big circle around the poles and a small circle around each pole when you reach it. Start with larger circles and reduce them when the horse is properly warmed up make sure the horse does not lean on the inner shoulder. This exercise too can be ridden in walk, trot or canter experienced horse/rider combinations could do this in pairs. Or you can change gait, e.g. ride the large circle in trot and walk the smaller circles around the poles. This needs both precise aids by the rider and excellent response to the aids by your horse. EXERCISE 3 With this exercise ensure your horse is absolutely straight on the straight lines in the middle (marked darker in the picture) and that your horse is not leaning on the inner shoulder. Ride this on both leads in walk and trot. EXERCISE 4 Whilst you can do this one in walk, trot or best in canter. The change should happen at X. Whichever gait you are in, you should focus on changing hands precisely at X ensuring that your horse is in an absolute straight frame at X. Do this exercise on both leads. EXERCISE 5 This one looks much easier than it is especially if ridden in canter. Approach each pole in the middle in canter there should be 3-4 canter strides between each pole (depending on the horse’s size, stride and the ridden circle). Try to have the same number of strides in each quarter of the circle. EXERCISE 6 Great to teach flying changes. The moment your horse goes over the pole, change your leg position (the new inner one now being forward and the new outer one going back), slightly bend your horse to the new direction and make sure you look into the direction you now want to go to. Ideally your horse would use the stride over the pole to correctly and swiftly change and to land on the now leading leg which needs an exact timing of your aids and a quick response to those by your horse. Less experienced riders /horses might want to start this exercise in walk and trot to establish exactly timed aids and quick response of the horse. EXERCISE 7 Can be done in walk, trot or canter. Ensure the horse is correctly bent whilst in the half circles and straight inbetween. This exercise is great to combine with exercise 4 just to avoid repetition and boredom :-) HAVE FUN :D :D :D :D (by Hummel Pferdetraining)