Going straight
Posted 16th January 2025
Fine-tune your horse’s stride patterns with a simple but testing exercise from eventer Susie Berry

Sometimes, the exercises that look the simplest are the ones that prove the toughest to execute perfectly – and this set-up is a perfect example of that. At first glance, it’s just three poles and a small upright, but it’s surprisingly deceptive and more difficult than you’d think. But, it’s a great learning tool for you and your horse and will serve you well, no matter what level you’re riding at.
Setting up
This exercise requires three poles, plus one jump, which you’ll set up as a small upright. The poles should be placed 14m apart from one another, while the distance from the last pole to the jump is 15m. When you come down the line in canter, that’ll ride as three strides between each pole and between the final pole and the fence – but if your horse is very short striding, you might find it easier to set the distances as 13m and 14m.
Focus on flatwork
One of the great things about this simple set-up is that it’s incredibly handy when you’re working on the flat, too, because the distance of the poles creates a useful visual guide.
Beginning in trot, snake in and around the poles, initially using them to ride a straightforward serpentine and then modifying your lines so you skip a pole and ride shallower curves.
Riding two varieties of the same essential trajectory is a great way to practise adjusting your horse’s bend in a way that’s appropriate to the line he’s on, while having the poles on the ground – and riding really close to them. It also makes it very different from simply riding serpentines around the school, because you’ll be held fully accountable for moving your horse off your inside leg so he doesn’t end up having to trot over the poles.
Once you’ve ridden successfully around the poles in trot, you can begin to do so in canter, using two poles together to create a shallower loop that you’ll then ride in counter-canter.
Top tip
Don’t worry about your horse’s outline through this exercise. Instead, let him use his head and neck to work out where the poles are, and focus on ensuring he’s in a positive, forward rhythm.
Learn how to ride this exercise in March Horse&Rider – out now!