How do you teach a horse to step over logs?

Teaching a horse to step over logs builds from the ground pole work that should already be part of its foundational training, progressing through larger poles to natural logs in a sequence that allows the horse to develop foot placement awareness and confidence at each size before the next increase. A horse that cannot walk calmly and deliberately over a single ground pole placed flat is not yet ready for logs, and the groundwork — literally — should happen there first. Once the horse steps over ground poles consistently, increase the diameter gradually using larger poles before moving to actual logs, which introduce the additional variables of irregular surface, bark texture, and slightly unpredictable positioning. The approach to log work should be controlled and slow: a horse approaching a log at a walk or slow trot has time to see it, assess the height, and place its feet deliberately, while a horse approaching at speed relies on momentum to carry it over rather than developing the proprioceptive awareness that makes log stepping genuinely safe. Rushing over logs is both a training failure and a physical risk — a horse that charges through a log set rather than picking up its feet is vulnerable to tripping, catching a toe, or losing balance, particularly over multiple logs in sequence. Teach the horse to look down by riding toward a single log with a still rein and quiet leg that allows the horse's head to naturally drop and the eyes to focus on what is ahead of the feet. Rewarding a deliberate, careful crossing every time — including pausing before and after to reinforce the calm approach and departure — builds the habit of thoughtful log navigation that remains safe as the height of logs increases. Multiple logs in sequence add the challenge of maintaining rhythm and continuing to place feet correctly without the head coming up between obstacles.