TRAININGS SPECIAL 2023
ABOUT SCOTT
SCOTT BRASH is an Olympic gold medallist and the only rider in history to win the Rolex Grand Slam of showjumping. This former world number one is a long-standing member of the British team, also winning team gold at the 2013 European Championships.
Trot poles
SCOTT BRASH uses poles on the ground as part of his flatwork training, to improve rideability and focus.
“Trot poles are a really good exercise to keep the horse and yourself engaged while you’re doing your flatwork,” he says. “You are always working towards the end goal of having a more rideable horse, which will in turn help us more when it comes to jumping a course.”
To demonstrate this exercise, Scott is riding his five-star grand prix campaigner Hello Senator. He sets up three sets of four trot poles going across the arena (below), with a distance of one yard (3ft) between the poles in each set. The idea is to be able to ride through the trot poles on a serpentine, although Scott acknowledges that not everyone has a large arena.
“Serpentine loops teach the horse to become more supple; you’re practising getting them bending round your leg, using your reins appropriately,” he says. “It’s a good warm-up exercise, which gets both
