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Discussion on Trail Class Skills
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New Member:
Elgie
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 - 6:13 pm:
I have an awesome trail class horse under my tutelage - has trained easily to back through a narrow "L", side pass, go through water, weave through cones, open and close a gate etc. He is very successful because of all those talents, but I haven't seemed to hit on a training method to have him canter over spokes. He consistently breaks into a trot (I would too, frankly). I wondered what experiences are out there that I might be able to use - appreciate any advice you can offer!
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 - 7:10 pm:
Canter over spokes?!! I've never heard of such a thing. Could you describe what these spokes look like?
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Member:
Elgie
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 - 7:38 pm:
Sure - they're actually just poles set up like like an old wagon wheel, or part of an old wagon wheel. For instance, 180 degrees with a pole, coming from the hub, every 45 degrees. This is a popular trail class obstacle in Wisconsin.
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 10:44 am:
I would start cantering him over poles on the ground spread about as far apart as the outside of the spokes (like mini bounces). As he is successful I would narrow one side a bit at a time until you eventually have what would be half of a wagon wheel. When he can do that well, add the other half. It will be easier to learn what you want when it is a straight line and he can see where he is going and gradually add the bend.
Ella 
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Member:
Stina
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Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 11:04 am:
Not only are the spokes themselves an issue, but the diameter of the overall circle is small. From personal experience, one of the most challenging aspect of that obstacle is making sure keep the horse's inside shoulder up. Because the spokes narrow towards the center, there is a tendency for both horse and rider to lean towards the center of the circle causing the inside shoulder to DrOp. I have practiced by putting two poles end to end in a straight line creating two half cirlces and loping over those. Once that is good, add two poles to create quarter circles and practice that until steady and consistent. then add 4 more poles cutting each quarter in half.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 12:05 pm:
Thanks for the explanation. I was envisioning spokes coming up out of the ground!
Our trail classes usually just have trot poles either laid out straight, or in kind of "jumble" that the horse has to trot over.
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 4:26 pm:
All good suggestions. You can go one step further back and use flour or lime to make white lines on the ground. Trot and canter over these lines. There is a visual and a physical aspect to him performing over the poles.
If it's just the poles being in a circle that bothers him then this isn't necessary, but many horses get worried over color transitions and the flour lines will help.
Good day,
Alden (HTG)
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Member:
Elgie
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Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 7:48 pm:
Excellent advice all and very much appreciated! I'll get back on with results as I get them. Thanks again!
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Member:
Stevens
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Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 4:32 pm:
Hi Louise,
I had a similar problem with a 16 hand Qtr horse when doing trail. All the other horses were around 15 hands or so and had no problems staying in the center of each pole. My boy's stride was just too big for that path.
I was able to get on track by spending much time on very precise pattern work. I did a lot of circling exercises, away from the wagon wheel, making sure that he was properly bent, but upright and not leaning. In his case, that meant really neck reining (pushing his shoulders around) and making sure his inside shoulder didn't DrOp by bending his body around my inside leg. I'd spiral in and out, go straight, make circles anywhere in the area and at any gait. Change directions, change pace. Lengthen his stride, shorten his stride.
I used a Lynn Palm exercise where I'd set up a circle using small cones. I had 2 cones at each of four points on the circle forming a gate about 3 feet wide. Think of a gate on the top and bottom of the circle and one on each side. I could ride through the gates, inside the cones, outside the cones, make smaller circles by circling one set of cones, etc.
Eventually we got to where I could pretty much put his body anywhere. He also got very fit and flexible so it was easier for him too.
Good luck.
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Member:
Elgie
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Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 3:19 pm:
Thanks again to everyone - Chris excellent information. We've structured our training using his history, our past training history, and suggestions from all of you. So far we have a very alert, thoughtful animal (he's so well trained that often he just 'goes through the motions' and his rider tends to just ride it). We're spiraling in and out and his rider is getting the feel of lifting the inside shoulder and maintaining it - not just counting on him doing it after he gets it. We're also maintaining the bend and encouraging a light front end in the bend with the outside leg. The rider has improved her smaller circles considerably in just one lesson. We'll slowly bring the spiral (at a canter) down and then start re-introducing poles (spokes) in various ways.
Again - thanks to all for your suggestions. What fun to have equine conversation so close at hand!
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