Pole Work

[dalesvic]

I'm hoping to start schooling Sammy over the next couple of weeks when I'm revising for my exams, as I won't really have the time to hack out.

I'm going to aim for 20-30mins twice a day, or as little as it takes for us to achieve what we're aiming for. I don't want her to get bored by this and so trying to think of new things we can do.

I'm quite interested in doing some pole work with her to get her thinking, and I'm hoping we might start jumping some time later in the year.
Can anyone give me any tips on good exercises that have worked for them? Also what distance apart do they need to be for a 14.1hh dales roughly?

I think I might add some obstacles and handy pony type games for a bit of a break as well. Any other ideas to add variety to our schooling would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[dalesvic]

Thanks very much Laura, good to hear what you've been doing with Sonny too. Sammy is nearly 6 so not that dissimilar. In fact I'm sure Sonny is way more coordinated than her as she is only ridden intermittently.

I have just started playing around with leg yield and turn on the forehand, like you say it's good to keep them thinking and listening but gives them a change too. I'll prob try and improve on that

I'll have to get thinking about the handy pony stuff- I want to take her to the performance show even if we only do the handy pony so we'd better practice- plus it's good for building trust isn't it. If you have any good ideas let me know!

I keep intending to do some ground work with her, thanks for reminding me lol. I could break the days up with that too couldn't I.

Hope you have a fab summer with Sonny- you seem to be doing plenty together

[dalesvic]

Hiya- yea that's me! Fancied a change of identity!

Sounds like you're in a similar boat to me then regarding riding etc- do you get to ride during term time? Not doing him any harm though as he's young, that's what I console myself with anyway. She isn't wasting the prime of her life in a field and it gives her time to grow and mature without putting to much stress on her- it is frustrating though!

Thanks for the handy pony ideas, thought I might also have fishing nets or flags to carry around that type of thing but get stuck there.... gives me something to think about anyway!

Good for you going for the cross country, it's good to have something to aim for isn't it. I want to get sammy over a single jump amongst other things lol. Here's to a pony filled summer!

[DalesLady]

We have loads of ideas Vicky - give us a ring when you get back to the board.

Oh and here's to summer, should it ever arrive!

[ang]

Vicky, Joy and i are doing a Tec comp in june and Joys away for first 2 weeks in June. I'm thinking of doing lots groundschooling, clicker training, trec and handy pony practise in these 2 weeks. we need to get together. We have access to a school now if you ever fancy it - we can all share and work on each other!

[dalesvic]

Oo that sounds fun- it's a good job I'm not at home revising at that time as I wouldn't get anything done lol.
I'm home for the weekend of the 10th-11th June, though it is fairly busy- might be free Saturday morning if you want a hand then? Wish I could be around to help you but unfortunaltely the holidays don't start quite that early! Sounds like you're going to have a busy 2 weeks anyway- good that you can use the school too. Think you would be a good person to watch working with Charlie as I think him and Sammy are quite similar in many ways. I'll try and finalise what I'm doing then maybe we can meet up