The idea of groundwork is a crucial—and frequently disregarded—part of horse training. Groundwork is the cornerstone in the broad field of horsemanship that builds the relationship of trust, communication, and compliance between the handler and the horse. This essential training method creates a strong understanding and bond between the horse and the trainer through a sequence of ground exercises and activities. Groundwork is the term for a variety of techniques used to improve a horse’s responsiveness and the handler’s control when the rider is not in the saddle. These techniques include lunging, leading, desensitization, and liberty work.
This investigation explores the value of foundational knowledge in the field of horse training. Groundwork establishes the foundation for a courteous and productive equine partnership, from setting boundaries and demonstrating respect to perfecting key cues. This study explores the subtle art of foundation. It emphasizes its significance in creating a robust and peaceful link between humans and these magnificent creatures using a combination of traditional wisdom and modern approaches. Come along on this adventure to learn about the significant influence that groundwork has on horse behavior and the art of horsemanship.
Describe Groundwork
Groundwork means any training you do on the ground with your horse, away from the saddle. Along with methods like liberty training and horse agility, it also involves long-reining, lungeing, and in-hand work. Even though they don’t call it that, almost all young horse trainers include groundwork in their process of getting young horses started under saddle.
One of the main components of many different horse training programs is groundwork. Warwick Schiller’s Attuned Horsemanship, Tristan Tucker’s TRT, and Pat and Linda Parelli’s Parelli Natural Horsemanship are a few of the most well-known. However, there are several more.
Which horses are good candidates for groundwork?
In many circumstances, laying the groundwork is advantageous. Since it can occur before a horse reaches the appropriate maturity for work under saddle. It’s frequently the first exposure a young horse receives to training and learning to navigate the human environment. Groundwork is an excellent way to teach a young horse basic cues when starting a horse and also gives you a solid foundation for road work.
It’s also a helpful tool for older horses. Whether they need to complete a rehabilitation program after returning from an injury or are just looking to mix up their training. In some situations, groundwork allows riders to work their horses and maintain their fitness and training regimen even when they are unable to do it while in the saddle. It is beneficial for injured riders.
What advantages does groundwork offer?
With horses of any age, groundwork is an effective means of fostering connection and communication. When working with a horse from the ground. The rider/trainer can observe the horse’s preferred gaits and natural movement patterns without having to compromise the horse’s comfort level. It can produce valuable information that is applied to the development of exercises in hand and under saddle to improve a horse’s gait.
By laying the framework for trust and establishing sensible boundaries for personal space. The handler and horse may make the horse a safer companion. Its application in a training or rehabilitation program can improve a variety of physical attributes, including strength, coordination, flexibility, and proprioception.
Some riders and trainers utilize groundwork while teaching new motions. Such as turning on the forehand or leg yielding. It’s an excellent way to concentrate on specific exercises like lateral work. The ground is another common way to teach pique to a horse so that it can develop the strength required for the maneuver without having to bear the weight of a rider.
Horse groundwork exercises
Learning to guide your horse
Generally, the first step in educating your horse to lead graciously is to educate them on how to handle pressure well. Start lightly pressing any area of his body, and release the stress as soon as he gives. Just as vital as educating the horse to walk forward is teaching them to stop and back up. Many trainers start by asking the horse to lower his head while he is standing motionless softly. They do this by lightly pressing the nose and releasing it as soon as the animal does so.
After you’ve mastered this cue, gently press toward his chest until he offers to back up, then let go. You can begin walking once he is reacting to your pressure cues promptly and reliably. Once you’ve decided on your desired distance from your horse, walk a few paces forward or side by side with them, and then stop. If it doesn’t already follow, apply some pressure to the rope until it does. To ensure success, you must maintain consistency by soothingly correcting your horse. Whenever he makes a mistake, he reinforces the notion that he should keep up with his pace.
Exercises using poles from the ground
From a ground position, you can lead or long-rein any riding pole work activity. You can also do some basic pole exercises while lunging. You may do a variety of workouts that improve strength, flexibility, and proprioception with just six poles by using this maze configuration, as shown in the figure below.
Starting with the green path is a brilliant idea. It’s a straightforward pole exercise that your horse has probably done before. It’s an excellent step up from stepping over a single pole on the ground. The red path, with its non-traditional parallel pole formation, will make your horse consider where he is dancing. The purple route will encourage your horse to sidestep and bend under the body to keep from running into the poles.
When introducing pole work, always start cautiously. Even strolling poles can be taxing, and even though your horse doesn’t appear tired, their muscles will be under stress.
Stop/Stand Still
Among the most beneficial groundwork tasks you can perform is teaching your horse to stop or stand still. It works well for lunging and needing your horse to stop. As well as for trying to mount at the mounting block and modifying jumps in the arena.
How to instruct in stop, stand, or both
When you stand with your back to your horse and the lead rope in your hand. You should be able to see it clearly. Shake the lead line back and forth to signal to your horse to back off. When it inevitably tries to come closer to you. Try asking your horse to approach you for a predetermined number of steps after. They have stood motionless for a considerable amount of time. Then, ask them to stop by swaying the rope gently from side to side and raising your other hand in a stop gesture. Put more pressure on them to back up if they don’t stop. Once they can do this reliably, consider combining your hand signal with a spoken cue.
It may take some time for fidgety horses to learn how to stand still correctly, so have patience! Repetition and consistency are vital components.
Advance
shift over, which is merely asking them to move their hindquarters away from you with a light physical signal to the side. It is an excellent groundwork exercise for horses. Being able to get horses to shift over quickly is crucial since they are pretty huge animals. Teaching them this will help reinforce good manners and make them simpler to handle overall.
How to instruct moving over
To get your horse to move over, start by standing in the middle of them and gently pressing your fingertips to the area right before their flank. Use a tactile cue, such as pointing to their side, or add a cue word, like “over,” after your horse realizes that this pressure indicates going over.
Conclusion
Groundwork is an essential but frequently disregarded technique in the field of horse training. This thorough investigation has illuminated the various aspects of the groundwork’s importance in the equestrian community.
By using methods such as lunging, leading, desensitization, and liberty work, equines become more responsive and more accessible to control for their handlers. Groundwork is not just for young horses; older horses can benefit from it as well. It helps with post-injury recovery and offers mental stimulation for riders while they are not in the saddle.
Additionally, groundwork develops physical qualities, including proprioception, strength, flexibility, and coordination. It paves the way for better gaits under the saddle by enabling trainers to watch and comprehend a horse’s natural motions.
To sum up, groundwork is essential to horse training. It fosters mutual respect, trust, and collaboration between handlers and horses. Establishing a solid foundation through tolerance, understanding, and perseverance leads to a deep partnership.
