Monty Roberts Equus Online University | Monty's Horse Training Post: Using ground poles

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About This Week’s Lesson

Using ground poles

By:

Tekoa

Date:

2012-Aug-25 at 12:20AM

The last question has the wrong answer. The opening between the poles is where the horse should walk. If the poles were together without an opening, that would make it more difficult for the horse. The fact there's an opening makes it easier.

Kleinne - Utah, U.S.A. 2012-Aug-26 at 12:34AM

I think what they mean't by the question is that it's more difficult for the horse to walk a straight line without the aid of the poles. It took me a minute to understand exactly what the question was talking about too.

Tekoa 2012-Aug-26 at 04:10AM

Look again at the question. What is the effect of leaving an opening in the poles?
* It decreases the level of difficulty of the exercise
* It has no effect
* It raises the level of difficulty of the exercise

So you are saying the poles, and the opening between the poles which is what the question asks, actually make it easier for the horse to learn to walk a straight line. I agree. You'd choose the first answer then, as did I, but the quiz would say you got the wrong answer. The quiz says it raises the difficulty, last answer. I say that's the wrong answer and I take it from what you said, you agree with that.

The thing is, the premise of the lesson is that the poles raise the level of difficulty for the horse. That may be true the first time the horse sees the poles, but the poles, and the opening between them, very soon help the horse learn to walk a straight line, forward and backward, ultimately without the poles.

The quiz should be rewritten to accord with the purpose of the lesson.

Kicki -- Sweden 2012-Aug-26 at 07:53AM

I agree the question and its answers is a bit fuzzy.
In my case I had a hard time grasping the very meaning of "leaving an opening in the poles".
I chucked this up to the language barrier (since I'm in Sweden), but regardless I also think the correct answer is valid.
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You do raise the difficulty of the exercise by using poles, not just the first time, because there is any number of exercises you can do with them, both over and between.
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For example, you can increase or decrease the distance between the poles; you can raise one end from the ground, or raise alternate ends, you can build them in a straight line or fan-shaped (for circles); you can lay them out end to end in a long line and walk in serpentines across them and then try to make the line as straight as possible; you can build a corner and try backing out of it.
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Possibilities are endless! And they train the horses balance, build muscles and suppleness through hind and back, (great for horses with problems there, rather than lots of gadgets!) attention to where he put his feet etc.
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Since my youngster has Wobbler's I need to do lots of these exercises and also work a lot on the long reins.
Granted, the ultimate goal is to not need the poles to achieve straightness, but I can always return to them and find a way to increase the challenge on the new level my horse has reached.
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PS. May I recommend careful fitting of the surcingle. Be careful of paddings that are too thick and put pressure on the horse's back.
Ideally it should be in two halves, connected with a metal "bow" so they can move with the horse. Like this:
http://www.anders-eriksson.se/Portals/88/itemimages/1c3988fd-86fb-48cf-816e-cc7ad3bcb46d.jpg