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What kind of Ground Work do u do!

2K views 16 replies 10 participants last post by  HorsesAreForever 
#1 ·
I need ideas of ground work for chance cause im gonna try and stay off of her for a long time just so we can gain trust and learn to communicate with each other and i she needs to do some ground work anyways :) Most likely ill be doing stuff in a round pen but sometimes in the arena.

so ..

What kind of ground work do you do with your horse??

Are you in a round pen, arena or feild.

What kinda of equitment do you use??

thxs :)
 
#3 ·
I follow most of Clinton Anderson's method mixed in with Monty Roberts and some Lyons. I like Anderson's because they are easy for me to understand. I do all groundwork in the round pen at first, then move them to ope field to do it all over again. I do this because my horses tend to think the training is only for the round pen and forget when we get out into ope areas. This has helped tremendously. All of my boys are calm, curteous, and responsive. We have worked A LOT on groundwork and continue to every chance we get. We tryt o do something EVERYDAY!!!!

Equipment- I use a long lunge line that is weighted at the end. I also use Clinton Anderson's version of the Parelli carrot stick. I also use a knotted halter that is pretty thin and adds pressure to the nose when they are not so responsive!

There's tons to explain so if you have any questions...fire away!
 
#5 ·
So i was working with Dumas this afternoon. We were litterally just taking a walk, me and him on the ground (not like he would be riding me :roll: ) ANYWAYS... I got to thinking. I do this a lot, ya know , like walking your dog. I think it builds trust when we really have no where to go and we are just being together. Watchin the birds or whatever comes by. He knows that I'm not gonna work him to death and when he gets a little goofy on me, I am more relaxed and its easier to correct the little things gently because I'm not trying to remember MY TRAINING and have no goals, other than to enjoy the company. :wink:
 
#6 ·
You could do serpentines on the ground, work on walking and trotting in hand without crowding you and stopping when you stop. Work on turning on the forehand and hindquarters as well as lateral flexion, it will aide in turning. Also, if you want to make her more sensitive to the bit, try ground driving, bit her up and put a set of long - reins on. I'd suggest saddling her too and slipping the reins through the stirrup irons.
 
#8 ·
I also do Clinton Anderson. I cannot even begin to tell you how it has helped me and my horse! I bought the "Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground" DVD set - worth EVERY penny. My horse will back up with just a wiggle of my finger. He turns on the forehand, hindquarters. He says "Yes Maam" when I tell him to move on the ground. I cannot recommend it enough. I use the handy stick and rope, and I do ground work and RIDE my gelding in the C.A. rope halter. I am about to get the Gaining Respect in the Saddle series next.

My trainer has taught me some Parelli and it is excellent too. :)
 
#9 ·
I going to start parelli soon I just ordered the DVD set lvl 1

And i like the idea of going for walks :) I think that would be very relaxing but i may doing that when she decides not to pull my arm off.

Ground driving- I cant really do that because i dont have a set of long reins. JDI ill go look at you post in a min :)

I need to look at that video again of serpentines cause i think it will deff help :)

It very interesting to see what they do with there horses :) also im gonna having to work on leading but keep posting people! :)
 
#10 ·
I don't do a lot of ground work because Vida is pretty calm. Shes 9 years old and has lots of miles on her. That said I always do some flexing when I get on her just for safetys sake. When I do feel the need for ground work I flex on the ground, yielding on the hind and fore. All close work, I've never lunged her and I'm not sure she would know how. I've just never felt the need to lunge her. If I can get her paying attention with the close work I figure we are good to go. I know thats probably not correct but it works for us.
Oops forgot to add we work in the round pen and I use a combo of Clinton Anderson and Frank Bell. I have the Parelli DVD's and its ok but its a little too complicated and drawn out for me. Guess I'm too simple minded :lol:
 
#13 ·
I ground drive my Arabian mare and lunge her. I also work on standing and respecting my space.

I tie my geldings head odwn and lunge him, then i work with showmanship, pivoting and such. Walking, stopping, setting up.

I really only work with those two with ground work. except my 2yr old, which im trying not to work with him so much.
 
#16 ·
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond!!!

I am a true believer in groundwork!! I have personally seen it transform my 3 geldings completely. They are all older horses and very set in their ways. They had picked up some very bad habits along the way that groundwork helped me correct. It also let's them know I"M IN CHARGE...the end. I can move you where I want you no matter what.

Like I said I use Clinton Anderson methods. I start from the very beginning with desensitizing. Now, my boys weren't spooky at all...atleast I thought they weren't until I tried some of the exercises. Thank god we weren't on a trail or on the side of a road because that would have set them off. Now they are calm as can be. Then we worked on disengaging hindquarters. VERY IMPORTANT!! Without knowing how to do this, you horse is pretty dangerous. This is a way for you to always have control in case of a run off situation.it's also nice to be able to swing that butt around anytime you need to. I can honestly now just look at my horse hindquarters and they will move. Working with backing up just by your energy is pretty darn helpful as well.

Next we work (on the ground) where the leg cues will be. I work all 3 positions with numerous different exercises. This lets your horse know what you want even before you get in the saddle.

Lateral flexions are done every day no matter what. It helps tremendously to get them soft and with your one rein stops. You'd be amazed at how many horses have trouble with this and are so stiff. My quarter horse could barely do it at first. Now he stretches like there's no tomorrow. I think it feels good to him. Kind of like when we strecth out.

There's so much more to list. I just wanted to scratch the surface just to point out why it's so important. (Now, for all of you disagreeing with me right now, I understand. But please understand that my horses were not bombproof. They needed A LOT of work and this was one way to achieve that)

If you have any questions or want to know HOW to do these exercises just let me know. It's a lot to type, and would prefer you were devoted to it before I type it all out!! :wink:
 
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