Improve Hindquarters Engagement in Your Horse

What to do in case of inactive hindquarters?

Hindquarter engagement plays a crucial role in riding. A well-developed hindquarter enables the horse to have better balance, suppleness and carrying capacity. One effective way to promote hindquarter activity is through pole exercises.

In this blog post you will read about seven different exercises that will help you improve your horse’s hindquarter engagement:

You can find all of these and 300+ more pole and riding exercises for free in the Happie Horse App!

Feel free to post a photo or video on Instagram or TikTok and tag the @happiehorse_app account! We’re looking forward to seeing your ridden exercise!

The Hashtag

All you need for this exercise are six poles. Arrange four of the poles in the shape of a hashtag as shown in the picture, the optimal distance between the poles should be 2m. Place the remaining two poles on two opposite sides with a distance of 1.30m. Optionally, you can raise some poles with cavaletti blocks to modify the exercise.

And the hashtag is ready!

The hashtag is ridden at a trot. You should be able to cross the middle poles easily with two trotting steps, but of course this depends on the size of your horse’s steps.

The Diamond

You need 12 poles, 4 obstacle stands and a cavaletti block for this pole exercise, which not only trains the hindquarter, but also promotes your horse’s attention and gymnastics at the same time.

Start with the cavaletti block in the middle of the diamond, it is the centre of the exercise. From there, arrange four poles at a 90° angle from the inside to the outside. Bring these poles to the same height as the cavaletti block with the help of obstacle stands.

To complete the diamond shape, add the remaining 8 poles. These form squares with the already positioned poles, as shown in the diagram.

Now it’s done, the diamond is built – let’s ride!

You can ride this pole exercise in different ways. Take a look at the graphic and let yourself be inspired! This way you can develop your eye as well as the hindquarter!

But there is one more tip for you: You can not only change the distance between the poles to adapt the exercise to your horse’s canter jump, but also ride the corners of the poles.

The 3 Triangles

This exercise consists of three built-up triangles placed vertically in a row. Grab 9 poles and let’s go!

Either cross the triangles on the centre line and train the hindquarters as well as the straightness or ride a serpentine line along the three triangles.

You can choose between trot and canter.

You also have the option of raising the poles with cavaletti blocks and thus transforming the exercise for yourself.

Have fun trying it out!

The Fox

Now it’s getting good: it’s the fox’s turn.

To set up this exercise, you need 6 poles and 7 cavaletti blocks positioned like a fox’s head. From four poles you arrange two Vs vertically to each other, each with a 70° angle. Now connect the Vs with two poles to form a fox’s head.

As with the three triangles, you can choose between canter and trot. The poles closer together are intended as trot poles, the others as canter poles.

This pole exercise is not only meant to strengthen the hindquarters activity, but also to train the stance and bend – 3 in 1!

The Zig-Zag

For this exercise four poles are arranged in a zig-zag pattern. Ride the zig-zag at a trot. You can easily adjust the distance between the poles. Choose a distance of 1.20 to 1.50 m for your horse. For ponies, a distance between 1.10 m and 1.30 m makes sense. With this exercise you can not only strengthen the hindquarters.

In addition, you work with the Zig-Zag and attention, rhythm and straightness!

The Snake

9 poles, three of them horizontal at a distance of 1.20 m to 1.50 m (for ponies 1.10 m to 1.50 m) on a straight line in the middle, two on a curved line in front and two on a curved line behind before and after. One so that you can cross the poles in the right position and one in the left position. If you want, you can add two poles at the sides. This exercise is ridden at a trot.

Attention! First ride over the first 2 poles in the right position, the poles in the middle should be ridden straight on, then adjust your horse to the left side again.

The Oval

This pole exercise, like some of the other exercises on this list, is not only useful for the hindquarters, but also for rhythm, position and bend. As with the previous exercise, the snake, you need a total of 9 poles for this exercise.

Start with six poles, which you arrange in two pairs of three as trot poles parallel to each other. Now it’s time for the remaining three trotting poles: position two of them at an angle on the “upper” side of the oval and place the other one vertically on the “lower” side.

It is important to ride the poles in the middle of the oval and not to lose the momentum!

The distance between the trot poles for your horse is 1.20m to 1.50m. For your pony, a distance between 1.10 m and 1.30 m is recommended.

Have fun riding these seven different exercises to strengthen the hindquarter!

Hindquarter training x Happie Horse App

Still haven’t found a suitable exercise? No problem! In the Happie Horse App you will find 300+ free exercises with descriptions and videos. Have fun riding these seven different exercises to strengthen the hindquarter!

And don’t forget: Tag @happiehorse_app on Instagram and TikTok when you copy an exercise!

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