Transitions with the Heart Exercise

with Tania Grantham

As usual, with my layouts I’ve split the exercises up into sections. Once you have mastered all the different lines and exercises, I’d encourage you to mix them up within a training session. I often revisit layouts again and again, and each time I still get so much use from them.

How to set up the exercise:

Eight standard three metre (10ft) poles.

It’s super simple to lay out; all the gaps are a pole’s length. If in an arena, set up the top and bottom of the heart to point to A and C, and the centre line will run through the middle.

Focus: Transitions

Well-prepared, well-balanced, active, smooth, accurate transitions are what we are all striving for, whether you are performing a dressage test, jumping a course or simply riding through the countryside. Fluent transitions make the whole thing not only more productive but also more enjoyable.

When using shapes of poles to help with transitions, I do one of two things:

Make the transitions on either side of the poles. Doing this helps to balance, regulate and activate the middle pace whilst helping the rider with placement.

Make the transition in the centre of the shape. This helps engage and focus the horse while improving rider accuracy.

When riding transitions, focus on what each of your aids are responsible for.

The leg not only creates energy and activation, but also helps guide straightness and/or maintain bend. The upper body helps to maintain balance by staying upright (shoulders back over your hips), and it also asks for bend when you turn from the waist. The outside rein maintains balance with half halts and alignment, be that straightness or bend, through placement. The inside rein also helps maintain straightness or bend and it is the rewarding rein by lightening (combine this with a pat) and confirms to the horse they are doing the right thing. The seat is what actually chooses the paces and regulates its tempo. It does this by the way/shape that it moves in and the speed of this movement.

All transitions have 3 phases: preparation of the old pace, the change of pace and riding away in the new pace. Focusing on these three stages can help produce fluent transitions.

Exercise One: Transitions on either side of the shape

Transitions on either side of the shape can be made in any combo of paces on any of the straight lines or circles, for example Exercise One A and Exercise One B.

The poles should help to focus your horse on the line and encourage them to keep moving forward. Having previously done the poles whilst maintaining the same pace, they may not be expecting you to ask for a transition, so they might not be as reactive as normal. Initially, start by making the transitions further away from the poles, focus on the quality of the transitions and maintain the correct line, using the poles to check your accuracy. As you both gain confidence, place the transitions closer to the poles, making them evenly spaced on each side. There are lots of different variations within the transitions you can ask for.

On the circle, you would generally maintain an inside lead canter; on the diagonals, you can change the canter lead. Don’t forget all the different-sized circles you can ride from the last feature.

Try the following variations on both the circles and diagonal lines:
Walk - Trot - Walk
Trot - Walk - Trot
Trot - Canter - Trot
Canter - Trot - Canter 
Canter - Walk - Canter
Walk - Canter - Walk

Make sure you work both reins evenly in all paces.

Exercise Two: Transitions between paces within the heart

Transitions between paces within the heart can be made on any of the straight lines or circles, for example Exercise Two.

These transitions require a great deal of focus from the horse and rider. The poles may initially be a distraction for the horse; however, once the horse is confidently listening to the rider’s aiding, the activity and engagement gained from riding over the poles will increase the quality of the transitions.

Again, try variations of training.
Walk - Trot
Trot - Walk
Trot - Canter 
Canter - Trot
Walk - Canter
Canter - Walk

Don’t be put off if you can’t get them initially. Some of the lines have very little space in the middle of the poles. In general, upward transitions are probably easier. Take note of which transition is easiest. Is this the same on both reins? Work on the transitions away from the poles as well as over them.

Exercise Three: Halt transitions

Halt transitions can be made on any of the straight lines. I would particularly use the centre line for these. 

Riding halts within polework layouts is one of my favourite exercises. To successfully halt your horse needs to be really focused on you, and you need to apply your aiding at exactly the right moment. Too early or an overreaction, and they will likely knock the pole on the way in. Too late or an under-reaction and you will likely overshoot. 

The first time you ride this exercise your horse will not be expecting to halt, so simply repeating it may well improve it. However, you may need to adjust the strength or timing of your aids to place the halt perfectly in the centre. 
In the halt, make sure you maintain immobility and encourage the horse to relax with a pat or scratch on the neck. To really get the most from this exercise, try to ride a direct upward transition from the halt out over the poles all the time, of course, maintaining straightness!

With transitions, there are so many things to work on. The poles add another layer to the work and help you gain maximum benefit from a transition session. That might be focussing on accuracy/placement or quality. 
As always, remember that polework is strenuous, both mentally and physically. Give your horse and yourself plenty of breaks and stretches within the session.

Tania Grantham of Inspire Dressage is a Grand Prix rider and trainer and Pole Work specialist. Based in the South East of England, she works with a wide range of horses and riders striving to bring out their best using innovative and fun polework layouts and exercises.

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See other Polework exercises from Tania:
Circles and Curves with the Heart Training Exercise