As horse owners and enthusiasts, we all want the best for our equine companions. Whether you’re a competitive rider or simply enjoy leisurely outrides, ensuring your horse’s physical well-being is of paramount importance. Equine physiotherapy is a fantastic way to maintain and improve your horse’s health, and one highly effective aspect of this therapy is polework. In this blog, we’ll explore the many benefits of incorporating polework into your equine physiotherapy routine.

1. Building Muscle Strength

Polework exercises engage a horse’s core muscles, hindquarters, and abdominal muscles as they navigate over or between poles. This engagement is akin to strength training for humans. Regular polework helps your horse develop stronger muscles, particularly in the hind end. Stronger muscles mean improved performance and overall athleticism.

2. Enhancing Balance and Coordination

Navigating poles on the ground challenges your horse’s sense of balance and coordination. As they carefully step over or between the poles, they must pay close attention to their foot placement. Over time, this leads to better balance and coordination, which is essential for preventing injuries and enhancing movement quality.

3. Increasing Range of Motion

Polework requires horses to lift their legs higher and engage their joints more, leading to increased joint flexibility and suppleness. This can be especially beneficial for horses with stiffness issues or those recovering from injuries.

4. Distributing Weight More Effectively

Horses often have a natural inclination to favour one side or limb over the other, which can lead to muscle imbalances and increased wear and tear on specific areas. Polework exercises encourage horses to distribute their weight more evenly between their front and hind limbs, reducing strain on individual legs.

5. Strengthening the Core

Engaging the core muscles during polework helps horses develop a stronger and more stable topline. This contributes to better posture, body control, and overall physical condition.

6. Mental Stimulation

Polework isn’t just beneficial for the body; it’s great for the mind too. These exercises mentally engage horses, making them more alert and focused. This mental stimulation can be especially helpful for horses on stall rest, reducing stress and boredom.

7. Adding Variety to Training

Variety is key in keeping your horse engaged and motivated in their training routine. Introducing polework adds excitement and new challenges to their training sessions, making them more enjoyable for both you and your horse.

8. Enhanced Proprioception

Proprioception, or the sense of one’s body in space, is crucial for a horse’s coordination and balance. Polework improves a horse’s proprioceptive abilities, making them more aware of their body and movements.

Useful Extra Information

• Walk is the most effective pace to perform polework in, as there is no moment of suspension (i.e. all four legs off the ground), so all movement is performed through muscular effort instead of the horse relying on momentum.
• The closer the poles are together, the more the horse has to sit back and push from behind and, alternatively, the further they are set apart, the more the horse has to lengthen his or her stride.
• The benefits of working horses over poles without a rider/in-hand are that it allows the horse to move more through their back and core. This is also beneficial as the rider then has the chance to see how the horse is moving.

Incorporating polework into your equine rehabilitation routine can provide a wide range of benefits for your horse. From building muscle strength and improving balance to enhancing mental stimulation and overall health, these exercises offer a holistic approach to equine care. However, it’s crucial to remember that targeted polework should be introduced gradually and under the guidance of a qualified equine physiotherapist or trainer. With the right approach, polework can be a secret weapon in helping your horse become stronger, healthier, and happier. So, saddle up, grab those poles, and start reaping the benefits of this fantastic equine training tool. Your horse will thank you for it!