In addition, the emergence of YouTube videos and training DVDs have helped educate amateur horse owners on safer approaches to breaking horses.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'besthorserider_com-box-3','ezslot_3',125,'0','0'])); Safety is always a priority in any hobby or sport we engage in. You can learn a lot about your horse from being on the ground and establish the mood or temperament the horse is in before you ride. In order to ask your horse to go from a walk to a trot, say the gait you want: “trot!” If they don’t respond right away, use the whip to urge them forward. You may have noticed that when you did this, your horse swung their hind-end the opposite way trying to bring their neck around. If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the horse you riding was never taught how to properly respond to pressure from the reins or the bit. We can teach your horse all lateral movements in hand from the ground with a cavesson and a longe line. Then you’ll love my new YouTube Channel! To move the hind-end, bring the one rein to your hip on the side that you want them to move away from. In the wild, if a horse is doing something that the alpha horse doesn’t like, the alpha will make the other horse move its feet. The groundwork for beginners and pros is an important part of working with and training horses. This is essentially what you are doing with this exercise; you’re re-establishing your authority with your horse as well as making it clear to them that you don’t like what they’re doing. Groundwork sets the foundations for discipline and trust. The first thing you'll want to do when riding a horse is to do some groundwork. It’s said in the horse world that if you can’t do it on the ground, then you’re going to have trouble doing it in the saddle. Groundwork is a great way to introduce new tasks to horses. This groundwork exercise is an easy way to correct one of these little problems. Likewise, turn on the forehand is when the horse’s front legs stay planted while its hind-legs cross one over the over, circling around the front legs. Since horses can only concentrate for a few seconds at a time, having them change transitions while on the lunge will keep them focused and entertained, drawing their attention from their distraction and putting it back on you. To teach your horse to soften, simply put a hand at their poll and one on the lead under their chin. Reasons you may want to teach off-horse skills include: Your student’s long term goal is to graduate from the therapeutic riding program and ride at a public barn, therefore they need to know horse care and groundwork as well as riding. Body Language The first thing we’re gonna talk about is body language. It’s easy for a horse’s attention to wander, and you can usually tell by the horse tugging on the lead trying to look at something or the horse trying to hurry past you, basically dragging you in the process. In order to properly drive your horse forward on the circle, always keep your body even with the middle of the horse’s barrel. As your horse travels out into the circle, let out some rope from your hand. If the horse braces against it, simply keep holding the pressure until they drop their head. When you face your horse and shake the lead lightly, does your horse back up with ease or is he really heavy and refuses to back? Once they get to the point where they can lead correctly at the point of your arm, make sure to praise them. They’ll soon learn that following the pressure is a good thing. This is because when they stretch their neck down, they have to round their back instead of carrying it hollowed out. This is can because their neck muscles are either stiff or just not strong enough to do it. Basic and Continued Groundwork There is Basic Groundwork and Continued Groundwork. If you pick up your pace, they should do whatever they need to in order to stay in the position parallel to your arm. The horse should respond to the pressure by swinging their hind-end the opposite way, stepping one leg in front of the other. This will ask them to back up. This signals for your horse to back up. The whip should stick out behind you, parallel to the body of the horse. Likewise, in order to slow your horse down, say “whoa!” If they don’t respond, you can tug the rope. Head dropping for haltering, standing in cross-ties, and willingly giving feet for hoof maintenance are all important manners for a horse practice. Quiz Flashcard. Softening refers to your horse giving you the pressure if you were to either put a hand on top of their poll and push down or simply slightly tugging their head down with the lead rope. Groundwork is an essential tool every equestrian should utilize. P.S. If your horse is looking at you with their ears pointed in your direction, then they are focusing on you. To first understand what you’ll be trying to correct, simply take your horse on the lead and stand. You can learn more here. Even non-trainers can use groundwork basics to improve their own horsemanship skills and a horse’s disposition. If you’re interested, click the button below to go to the course page for more info. At some point, you should be able to leave your horse in the middle of the ring at a standstill while you’re at the ring’s fence. Getting a new horse naturally demands that you bond with it. If the horse were to respect the pressure, then they would instantly lower its head towards the ground. Before you get started with groundwork, you’ll need: A rope halter is recommended for groundwork because a rope halter allows for the pressure applied to the lead to be felt more clearly by the horse. The best groundwork exercises are: Train your horse to stand still Train your horse to lead properly Train your horse to flex and soften to pressure Train your horse to go on a circle Train your horse to move the front-end and hind-end. It should never be used to hit the horse, rather you can point it, wave it, or crack it. This will encourage the horse further to step away out of your bubble. Have you ever rode a horse that would stick its neck up straight in the air whenever you gave it any cues? These basic exercises will give you a foundation of on the ground skills that will set the stage of respect and understanding between you and your horse. Once your horse can stand still for a longer amount of time, start asking them to step toward you a certain number of steps by applying pressure on the rope. Stand face-to-face with your horse. This will ensure no twisted ankles between both you and your horse. By teaching your horse to soften, they will learn to stretch and round their neck into the contact that the reins would offer. Test your knowledge on horses using this short quiz. Groundwork for horses isn't only about your horse reading you, it also allows you to read your horse. When they’ve stepped forward the certain amount of steps, ask them to stop by a slight side-to-side with the rope and holding your other hand up in a “stop” command. As soon as the horse steps it’s hind leg away from you, release the pressure and praise them. Teaching your horse to move their hind-end and front-end on the ground will greatly impact your ride in the saddle. In the herd, the pecking order is often challenged. Save this article to your “Horse Training” Pinterest Board! In this instance, you should lunge your horse until they show signs that they don’t want to act up anymore. You … One thing to remember is that horse training requires groundwork. Horses can be dangerous animals to work with, making groundwork for beginners essential. Groundwork for Horses: 5 Basic Beginner Training Exercises 1. You can either do this with a halter and lead rope/lunge rope or even in a round pen without any rope attaching to your horse. As soon as they respond correctly, lower the whip. My husband and I started Equine Helper to share what we’ve learned about owning and caring for horses. Once you know how to put your horse on a circle around you, you now have a tool that can fix most bad behavior you come across with your horse. This may look like your horse pulling their head down to get a bite of grass, dragging you with them. Helping your horse to remain fit on every level: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual And very important: if done well, it's fun to do for both! Vocal commands are always recommended to do this; however, your horse may not pick them up right away. Equinehelper.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. How Do I Know If My Horse is Paying Attention to Me? 5 types of groundwork exercises for horses Lead exercises. When you call your horse, they should walk towards you and when you say whoa and hold up your hands, they should stop. Take your lead rope in your hand closest to your horses face. Training a horse requires to things; consistency and persistence. There are a few ways to tell if your horse is paying attention to you. Learning how to read your horse and teach him a few simple groundwork exercises can make all the difference on those days where you have only a few minutes to prepare for a ride. Groundwork can also help improve dominance issues. Make sure you work your horse on a nice level area. You’ll have the lead rope in one hand and the lunge whip in the other. When they learn to stay at that line, then they respect that you’re the leader and that anything ahead is considered your space. This exercise can be used for a number of things: working your horse in order to get their extra energy out, having your horse move out to see if they are lame, loosening up a stiff horse, and correcting bad behavior. As a beginner, there are few basic groundwork exercises that you should consistently work on until you have mastered them with your horse. Ground manners are equally (if not more) important than manners under saddle. If they do happen to walk into your personal space, ask them to back up. Piaffe 7. Horses don’t like to do more work than they have to. Horses learn things one way, and that way is repetition. Although it is advised to seek assistance from a professional, there are many resources available to assist in groundwork for beginners. As soon as they do that, release the pressure and reward them. In-hand work and lunging both fall into the groundwork category. If the horse refuses to budge, you can use the end of the lead in your other hand or the lunge whip to get them to step over. If their responses to your cues are quick, then they are paying attention to what you are asking them to do. The second reason is to establish respect A horse that respects you, is also going to feel safe with you. Groundwork helps the horse learn, as well as the rider, and is a vital part of training. Bonding Exercises. 10 Questions | By Madassmedia | Last updated: Sep 2, 2020 | Total Attempts: 6217 . When you slow your pace, they should slow too. To move the front-end under saddle, lay the rein on your horse’s neck on the side you want them to move away from. If your horse isn’t paying attention to you, then they’ll be looking away from you, their eyes and ears towards their focus. Mount your horse. If they don’t stop, apply more pressure and make them back up to where they should be. There are books, DVDs, videos, and local clinics/seminars beginners can attend. If a horse is braced against the contact of the reins, then their neck will be inverted or sticking up in the air, and their back will be hollow. You’ll notice how fast your horse shapes up when you introduce this into your routine. The proper position for a horse to be when you are leading them is to have their nose parallel to your arm, neither ahead of it nor behind it. As soon as they step back, release the pressure so they know that they did the right thing. FREE printable .PDF Training Log! You may notice that your horse takes a sly step forward or backward every now and then even though you aren’t asking them to. In your other hand, also hold the lunge whip. When you ask him to do something he is going to do it willingly. Groundwork isn't a simple thing and there are many, many trainers who swear their success on correct groundwork used for many years on their horses. First, start with moving the hind-end. If you are interested in training a horse, review the five groundwork exercises above to see where to start. FREE printable .PDF Training Log! You’ll find that your horse actually likes to round their neck and stretch down because it makes it easier for them to carry you on their back. It can also be prepared for gymnastic work via the use of ground poles and cavalletti use. When done correctly, horses learn simple cues that build upon one another to be … The purpose of this exercise is to teach your horse to respect your personal space. In all of these instances, your horse is not respecting you or your role as the authority. If a horse has been trained to give to the contact of the reins, then the horse will feel soft and floaty, their neck arched into the contact and their back will round. Stand next to your horse facing their side. To ask them to move each end over is the same concept as the one used on the ground. Herds generally survive under the leadership of a head in a group. Even non-ridden horses need to trailer, tie, and lead. Groundwork needs to be relevant to your individual horse, not only to hold his attention, but also to be purposeful in developing him physically. In a horse herd, the leader is usually a stallion. When you come to a stop, they should halt instantly beside you without stepping past the line. Depending on whether you have a lazy horse or an energetic horse may determine how this exercise goes. If this is the case, move assertively towards the side your the horse you want to step away as you wave the lead rope. Imagine your horse is starting to act up; they are offering to buck or take off. When you're in the saddle, your mind goes in a hundred different directions. At a standstill, ask your horse to continue past you. Never offer enough rope that it drags on the ground, as the horse can get caught up in it and panic. exercises that you do with your horse while you stay on the ground and lead the horse on a (rope) halter, cavesson or neckrope and a long lead rope. It’s important that you keep them moving forward on the circle, not allowing them to stop. If your horse is being bad, put them into a working trot, and don’t let them stop until you ask them to. Even just slightly picking up on the cheek piece of the halter will cause their neck muscles to flex and round. Make sure the crop is laying across your arm, stretching out to where your horse would walk. The purpose of this exercise is to establish your authority in the relationship with your horse. This exercise will get the point across that bad behavior means more work. Thank you for reading, and happy trails! Groundwork helps calm your horse and lets your horse know that you're the boss before you get on them! Play as . Half pass 5. It covers the key training tips and techniques that have completely transformed the way I work with horses. This sets the tone for future exposure and minimal-to-no reaction.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'besthorserider_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',126,'0','0'])); Basic commands and standard-function abilities such as leading and “woahing” also have a role in safety.