Olympian Vittoria Panizzon shares one of her favourite polework exercises, which can benefit horses at any level, in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers
This simple fan pole exercise is designed for encouraging suppleness, rhythm, rideability and improving the canter. It’s often used when training horses for eventing at all levels, so three-time Olympian Vittoria Panizzon explains how this polework exercise can benefit you and your horse, as well as how to increase the difficulty.
How to set up the fan pole exercise
Lay out seven poles in a fan shape, with each pole 3m apart if taking a line through the middle of the poles (as shown below).
Depending on the level of the horse, for this training exercise you can raise various poles into fences, for example two poles to an upright, pole upright, and then two poles.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
How to ride the fan of canter poles
Approach in a balanced canter and ride over the poles/fences following the curve.
Open the inside hand and use the inside leg to turn the horse smoothly.
Keep your balance in both stirrups, not twisting.
As with any gridwork exercise, you should build up very gradually. Once you start adding jumps in, the basic setup is essentially a double with poles either side, but there are plenty of variations (see below).
Ride the exercise an equal number of times on each rein.
How the fan pole exercise helps you and your horse
Vittoria explains that canter poles are always beneficial, and particularly so in this fan exercise, which she was taught by Jay Halim.
“Having to turn while cantering over the poles or small fences can be particularly helpful for horses that rush because it’s easier to help them not to rush on a turn,” she explains, “whereas on a straight line they can charge through the whole lot.”
“As well as helping the canter rhythm, the fan can be a useful exercise for horses that are a little stiff, as it encourages flexibility, asking them to bend and lift through their middle while coordinating and jumping.”
The poles do the job for you, Vittoria explains, although you need to use your body correctly.
“When the poles are on the ground, you could be in a sitting canter, but once they are off the ground, you need to be in a light seat through the poles to avoid restricting the horse’s back.
“Keep your balance in both stirrups and avoid twisting your body, opening your inside hand with your inside leg on, rather than pulling the horse round and blocking them,” she advises.
“I try to use the poles and the way I build the grid to correct a horse rather than forcing them. You shouldn’t be pulling them round the turn, because while you might have got through the exercise, you haven’t got the result you were after as you’ve ruined the quality of the jump. If you can do this with the poles guiding the horse then you’ll keep the quality of the jump while achieving the correct line.”
Variations of the poles in a fan
To increase the difficulty and prevent anticipation, you can try the following variations.
Add a parallel, for example, alternate cross-poles and parallels. This means the horse has to stretch and turn at the same time.
Raise one side of some poles to help the horse stop drifting his preferred way. Raise the outside to help turn the horse who is not turning enough; if they’re cutting in and “motorbiking” round the turn, raise the inside.
Raise consecutive poles to cavaletti height – you could do four or five bounces on a curve.
Raising the outside of the poles encourages the horse who isn’t turning enough.
(Image credit: Jasmine Punter)
The importance of the approach and landing
Vittoria says you should be fussy about how the horse lands.
“What you do after the grid really affects the approach to future jumps,” she explains. “For example, if the horse lands and rushes off, it will rush on the approach next time. If it lands in a heap, it won’t go forward into the fence because it knows it can stop afterwards.
“They should go straight after landing, neither rushing nor falling into trot. Whatever is their default, ask them to do the opposite,” she advises. “If they tank off, bring them back to a halt. If they collapse into trot, keep them in canter.
“It’s a classic mistake to make it through the grid or over a fence and think ‘I’ve done it’, but what happens next really matters, because it affects how the horse behaves into a jump and its general rideability. It also shows the horse is between hand and leg.”
It’s important to make sure you are training the horse and not the other way round.
“This applies to anything, under saddle and on the yard. Obedience relates to rideability. This is a partnership, so it’s not about being bossy or nasty, but it’s in horses’ nature to want to understand the boundaries and what is expected. They become more relaxed, content and settled. A disobedient horse isn’t a happy horse, it’s a lost, confused and stressed horse!”
About Vittoria Pannizon
Event rider Vittoria has been a stalwart of senior Italian teams since 2005. She has contested three Olympic Games, finishing 11th at London 2012 with Borough Pennyz. Having competed at numerous championships on a range of horses, including at the 2025 Europeans on DHI Jackpot, she is also currently campaigning two of Pennyz’ offspring, Borough Tuppence and Borough Threepence.
Based in Redmarley D’Abitot, Gloucestershire, Vittoria is a former junior European champion who has lived in England since she was 17.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
