Does the Distance Between Ground Poles Affect Limb, Spinal and Pelvic Kinematics in Horses When Walking In-Hand?
Updated: Sep 9
by Lucy Douglas, Christy Maddock, Ronja Parker, Russell MacKechnie-Guire and Vicki Walker
Equine Department, Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire GL19 3BE, UK
Animals 2026, 16(13), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16131938
Ground poles are widely used in horse training and rehabilitation, but there is limited scientific evidence on how the distance between poles affects the way horses move. This study investigated how different pole spacings influence limb and back movement in horses walking in-hand. Horses walked overground and over five poles set at shorter, normal, and slightly longer distances based on their natural step length. The results showed that shorter pole spacing slightly reduced how far the limbs moved forward and backward, particularly in the hindlimbs. In contrast, all pole conditions increased movement at the hock (tarsal) joint. Walking over poles also affected the horse’s back, with longer pole distances increasing extension (hollowing) of the mid-back, while shorter distances reduced this effect. Changes in flexion (rounding) of the back were small. These findings show that pole spacing can influence both limb and back movement. As a result, the distance between poles should be considered when using polework as part of a training or rehabilitation programme.
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