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Single Rail

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                                         Single rail exercises

 

 This is the time of year that many people are becoming serious about getting themselves and their horses ready for the spring horse shows. It is also a time to be careful not to overdo any exercises designed to get the strength, fitness and timing back after the long winter rest.

With a single rail on the ground, you can remind yourself and your horse about straightness, rhythm, pace and the use of your eyes. This is also the perfect time to really analyze your riding position through the turn, in front of the rail, over it and on that first step going away. Be sure to ride nice smooth turns after the pole and on the approach. The distance will take care of itself if you do first things first. Steady rhythm and pace are key to arriving at the ground pole the same way time after time. Don’t be worried about a distance or spot at all. Remember that when the pace and rhythm stay constant the distance will happen automatically. When you get to the pole and you have to make a choice, a tight distance is preferable to a long and flat one.

 

To get started, place one jumping rail on the ground where you can come to it from the left rein and right rein. Also give yourself plenty of room after the rail- at least 8 to 10 strides.

 To begin, give your horse at least a 15-min. warm up. Depending on the temperament of the horse, you may be able start with the rail in a calm relaxed manner in a short time, but if your mount is excited about anything, flat until your horse is listening and relaxed. This is very important because it sets the tone for all the work over rails in the future. It would be prudent to put off your first rail works until the flatting program is working really well. Don’t ever think you are in a hurry. That is a perfect way to get into serious trouble with your horse’s mental stability. We want to encourage the blooded or the ready types to go about their business in a calm and relaxed manner.

 So, when your horse is ready to begin over the rail, start at the walk and make your tracks straight to and from the rail with smooth turns to the left and right. Next use the trot and follow the walking track you have already made. You want to have your horse be attentive to the rail and adjust the stride to step over the rail without a huge reach or by stepping all over the rail. When the trot is done well go on to a balanced canter.

 The rider’s job is to keep the miles per hour the same, going to the rail and away. This is critical. Steady pace! If your horse wants to speed up, smoothly circle out and come again. Do this until you feel the horse relax and stay in the pace you want.

 When your horse is doing the exercise in a relaxed way, do the same thing from the galloping position. You will be able to count down to the rail as you go along. When this simple exercise gets easy, come from a short approach, or jump angles. The fitness of your horse will determine how long you should stay at this exercise. Check your horse’s resperation often and give plenty of long rein walks when your horse gets to puffing and blowing. Check your watch to see how long it takes for your horse’s breathing to return to normal. At first get your horse’s breathing accelerated once maybe twice and then take a long walk.

 You can use this exercise several time a week and really feel the strength and condition come back. Be aware that you and your horse may be muscle sore after these works. The best thing you can do for your horse is cool down slow and put a little liniment in the rinse water, then after your horse is dry do a thorough grooming.