23/09/2026
Walk poles are often seen as the easy, warm-up exercise, but they're actually one of the most revealing tools we have.
Here's why:
⭐ Everything slows down. Walking over poles give us time to really watch how a horse plans and organises each step. The subtle details aren't so easy to spot when you move up to trot or canter.
⭐A simple line of walk poles tells you a lot. Small differences in coordination, body awareness, and postural control that are hard to spot at speed become much clearer at walk. It's like putting your horse's movement under a microscope.
❓ But here's the question every rider needs to ask:
If your horse loses rhythm, hollows, or knocks a pole — what's really going on?
Is there something in the horse's body making the exercise difficult?
Are the poles set at the wrong distance?
Or is the exercise simply too advanced for where the horse is right now?
Before we blame the horse, we have to look carefully at the question we've asked.
That shift in mindset from "my horse got it wrong" to "what is this telling me?" is what turns pole work from a simple exercise into a powerful tool.
Want to learn how to read what your horse is telling you?
Join Gillian Higgins live for her The Power of Poles webinar series. The first one is all about walk poles.
Walking into Strength: Poles for Core Stability and Strength
📅 Wednesday 28 October
🕡 6:30pm
In this webinar, Gillian will explore how walk poles improve:
✅ Core strength & postural stability
✅ Balance & body awareness
✅ Coordination & clear limb sequencing
✅ Thoracic sling function & abdominal engagement
You'll learn how pole placement influences spinal control and limb loading, and how to use straight lines, curves and gentle lateral exercises to build bend, symmetry, and better movement quality.
Save your seat now - comment poles and we'll send you the link
