Clinton Anderson Groundwork

I've been watching Clinton Anderson's groundwork videos pretty often lately... has anyone ever tried any of his tips? I'm sure a lot of them are great but I haven't tried any yet. Which ones have worked for you and your horse? Thanks.

I love CA :) I do a lot of ground work with my QH gelding but none of it works on my Standardbred mare :/

I like the lunging exercises. Practicing stoping, going in a different direction and going around/over/under things.

I do a lot more other exercises that work good for my gelding :) but just like every method.. It doesnt work for every horse.

I like some of his philosophy, but not the tools used to execute them. It really depends on the horse for me. His method using the stick to 'whack' the horse would have sent my mare through the roof. However, my OTTB needed something more stern....however, I still don't ever 'whack'. I just use something gentler while making the same point. All four of my horses required different mind games to get the point across to them. I do like his book though, because it explains exercises following two different types of horses along with explaining different scenarios/problems that can happen with either the horse or with the human.

His method boils down to making the right choice easy and the wrong choice hard - as gentle as possible as firm as necessary. He's not always whacking the horses with the stick.

For my horse, I've yet to find a technique of his that hasn't worked.
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I agree that he makes the right choice easy and wrong choice hard and that he is not always 'whacking'. I am just saying with my horse 'whacking' her ever would never be the right thing.....she needed something gentler to get the same point across.

I like his methods. I got his book "Establishing Respect and Control", and it has helped my horse and I. I have watched his videos, he is funny, clear, and to the point. I'm thinking about getting his problem solving dvd too. His methods are basically just common sense, but he puts them in a way YOU can understand. I do think his "tools" can be bought elsewhere for much cheaper though:)

Yes! I love CA! I've done all of it. My boy (well now someone else's boy...) and I could do it all halterless. I've found that it just makes the horse better, overall. They will be more prone to respect you, stop and think about things instead of reacting, and listen! If I were you, HorseGirlFive, I would do it on ALL of the horses at the rescue LOL! Especially Bejou! Hahaha Her and her squeals. I miss her so much!

You don't always whack the horse. First, you gently tap the air, tap the air harder and harder until you are gently tapping your horse. If the horse is still not listening, tap the horse harder and harder until he/she moves. Once the horse moves, rub it away immediately and let them stop and think about it. You are not just stepping up and smacking the horse with the stick. Smacking the horse is the last resort, and, you only do it AFTER you have asked by tapping the air.

I do agree, however, that some horses do not need the stick. Sometimes its best to drop the stick with touchier horses. In that case, I'd use the end of the lead rope and my finger. But, in all of the years that I have been working with horses (I have worked a TON of them) I have only met ONE horse that I needed to just drop the stick. I have worked at a horse rescue, on a lady's ranch (I STILL don't know how many horses she had ), all of my aunt's crazy horses, and numerous others who friends have asked to help with.

Thank you BarrelBunny! That's amazing that you and your horse could do all of CA's grounwork...halterless. And yes Bejou really needs the groundwork. She misses you too! Theres a newer OTTB that we got in and I pretty much fell in love with her today. This other guy likes her so I have to wait until Monday to find out whether or not he's going to take her. Hopefully not.. I may have found a great horse!

[QUOTE=BarrelBunny;1570029]You don't always whack the horse. First, you gently tap the air, tap the air harder and harder until you are gently tapping your horse. If the horse is still not listening, tap the horse harder and harder until he/she moves. Once the horse moves, rub it away immediately and let them stop and think about it. You are not just stepping up and smacking the horse with the stick. Smacking the horse is the last resort, and, you only do it AFTER you have asked by tapping the air.

I agree.....I know the method and it worked great on one of my other horses. It was the sight of the stick alone that sent my mare over the edge more less tapping the air....lol.