About Pole Work
Just like us humans, horses learn through visual stimuli, poles can be used to help the horse to understand where you require him to go, it also gives the rider more focus, which can help with more precision and accuracy when riding dressage movements or jumping fences.

Pole Work for Dressage
Through repetitive work can improve transitions, suppleness, strength and clarity. If your horse falls in or out when working in an arena, simple pole exercises that can help a horse to understand how to work around corners and turns, with the correct balance whilst being ridden, also how and when to work in a straight line.
Other exercises can help the horse to know where his feet are, they can encourage him to work various muscle chains through his body in a very positive way, encouraging stretch and lift through the back, allowing the hind legs to work in a more active way. Poles can improve regularity of the rhythm in all paces and lift, or spring, in trot and canter. They can allow the horse to understand the cues for medium and extended paces and improve the quality of the pace.

Pole Work for Jumping
If your horse is worried about jumping or rushes fences, often caused by anxiety, working with specific pole exercises can build the horses confidence and help the horse learn to stay calmer and become more balanced when jumping.
Pole work is a great way to introduce young horses to jumping, if they are confident about poles on the ground they are more likely to be willing and understand what to do when you ask them to jump.
They can be used to introduce more technical jumping exercises for example angled rails and allow more practice for the rider without the worry that you may be over jumping your horse.

Pole Work for the Rider
Poles are great for the rider too; it encourages them to focus on where they are going, to be clear with their intentions, teaches accuracy, as well as allowing variety, structure and interest to everyday schooling. Schooling with poles has so many benefits, but above all it brings focus and enjoyment to a schooling session for both horse and rider.

Ben McClumpha is a professional rider who has recently moved to Heathfield Park just off J9 of the M40. Ben competes up to 4 star eventing but also showjumps and pure dressages professionally, and trained with the Funnells and Piggy French.
The clinic will be held in the well lit indoor school so no need to worry about the weather!

You can enter using our Secure Online Entry System.
Payment is secure and it goes directly to Bicester Riding Club.
You will receive an email confirmation of your booking and payment.

Cancellation
If the booking is cancelled by the booker, a refund (less a £5 administration fee) or transfer to another event will only be given if the Organiser is able to fill the place.
In the unlikely event that we have to cancel an event we will offer alternative arrangements, if these are not acceptable to you we will refund all of the event fee, but will not be responsible for any other losses incurred.

Bad Weather or Conditions
Activities might be cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.
You should call the event organiser before you leave for the centre if the weather is in doubt.
We reserve the right to cancel riding because of bad weather at any time. The Committee’s decision is final.

Clothing Standards
Hard hats (to current BHS requirements) must be worn by all riders.
Body protectors are strongly advised for jumping and mandatory for cross country.

Horse Riding
Horse riding is a risk sport. We make every effort to ensure the safety of our members and their property. Members must accept the risk of personal injury or loss for whatever reason, while attending an event.