So my daughter wants to enter this local playday buckle series coming up next month. To qualify for the year end they have to compete in poles as well. While my horse is pretty patterned on barrels, he can do the job and take care of her, I've never done poles on him. I'm trying to be realistic but again,  it's for a fun playday. I do actually have a set of poles here at the house, just never used them on him.. my daughters pole horse passed away some time ago and she just stopped riding after that.. she's been slowly riding my horse around and messing with the barrels. Can I fast track him on the poles to get him ready in a months time to just wing it?? He's a very broke horse and I have been working him daily on more reining maneuvers and getting his flying changes down and really getting him to use his body... I'm pretty pleased with our progress. Any tips on starting him on poles?? I haven't done poles since I was a kid 40 something years ago lol! 

I would just start using poles at home, since you say you have them. You'd be surprised how fast they pick it up if they already know barrels. I have a set put up and walk or trot through them a couple of times almost every time I ride. I believe it helps me to use my legs more instead of my hands.

Like you said, it's a fun playday. Whatever happens, it won't hurt them either way.

Poles aren't too hard for a horse to learn.  Biggest thing is using your legs with your hands (lots less hands though) and having the horse listen vs just run. 

When going through the poles, even at a walk, highly over emphasize the weave.  Push them over with your leg about 5-8 ft off the poles and lift the shoulder with your hands.  At the center of each opening, drive them through/across to other side 5-8 ft out the other side. 

Trot through them this way.   Loping is much harder, but slow, make sure they're over emphasizing the movement.  

This will naturally get their feet working on cross overs like needed.  Turn the end poles like you would a barrel.  Give them a pocket and wrap it to return. 

Yes I think I will set them up today. Funny she came to me and asked, yesterday I only was able to walk him thru the pasture because my arena is still too soggy to ride in. And I wasn't happy with they way his feet looked, had my farrier out this morning to reset him.. anywho, yesterday I just decided to walk him around and work on his flexing and picking his shoulders up.. I had him doing serpentines up and down the pasture ... after about the 3rd time up, he automatically started doing it himself with just a tad of my leg pressure. I think he'd be a blast on poles myself! 

I love poles!!!! Makes you and your horse really concentrate, lol..If your horse is really broke it wont take long for him to learn poles. 

Speaking from the owner of three world champion pole horses, I would make sure your horse moves off your leg and and moves well off your inside rein. Lots and lots of basics but leg and inside rein are critical. You can start practicing on poles to get these basics down but a little prep work before the pattern is really helpful. When you head down the arena make sure you go a stride past  the pole. (You need to start at a walk but can progress pretty fast to a trot). As you weave through the poles you move your horse away from the poles with the rein on the inside which is the one on the same side as the pole. When you leg gets even with that pole you are past it so pick up with the other rein and move the horse away from the next pole. When your leg is even with the pole move the horse away from the next pole with the inside rein. If you ever start pulling the horse off the poles with the outside rein you are going to end up with a bulldozer that wipes out the poles. Remember slower and smoother is way faster than fast and choppy. You need to get you daughter out practicing two handed so she will know how to ride the horse. Start out at the playdays slow and in control. I think if you try and rush the horse you are going to end up with a hot mess for all evens. At a play day you aren't trying for a 20 second pole run anyway. Seriously, if you set you goal at a 28 second pole run the first time you are doing excellent. 

Thank you. I love this advice, I can easily understand it and implement it in our sessions. Hes 13 this yr and spent pretty much the first half of his life as a head horse... when I bought him he didn't know the right lead ... he only knew to go left and face ... its taken me a very long time to get him to go up the side of the arena absolutely STRAIGHT while moving forward.. he will still try to cheat you on occasion but its gotten TONS better and consistent lately. I stopped the barrels after too many fights and took him back to basics and he's done really good the last few months staying balanced and quit dropping shoulders, especially to the left.. 

This is excellent, easy to follow, and concise.  I would make my daughter memorize this.  I also like the idea of starting slow, like at a walk, and not adding speed until all these elements are mastered.  Eventually, you have everything memorized, including muscle memory.  I like thinking of the rhythm at faster speeds like slalom skiing.  One thing I figured out on my own that seemed to help me on a patterned horse was to not look at the pole you are approaching, rather, always focus on the pole beyond that, if that makes any sense.  Muscle memory is important in pole bending, I think.  

Maybe they will let you borrow this guy!  Listen to the crowd!  I love this video. Have no idea how he got loose!  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MZRUuO_J-r4