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Liberty and groundwork

4K views 23 replies 9 participants last post by  jaydee 
#1 ·
Hi I would like to start doing groundwork with my gelding on a consistent basis I just don't know where to start any ideas?? I just want to bond with him and understand him and he understand me so that when we ride were better connected if ya know what im saying. I would like the groundwork to be similar to what Clinton Anderson teaches lunging,backing,sidepassing ect..

My other question is liberty how do I start teaching my horse this my ultimate goal is to do liberty with him any hits or advice is appreciated.
 
#2 ·
To start the bonding process, put him in a paddock, remove his halter. Grab a book and chair and go sit and read. You can put some hay near your feet. Do not attempt to interact with him. This is his time to check you out if he choses. When a person is reading, the horse knows you're not thinking of it and this seems to invite them closer. That is the first step. Do this 3 or 4 times.
 
#3 ·
really if never herd of this?? me and my horse already have quite a bond I've known him 2 almost 3yrs. now and just recently bought him the lady who previously had him was very rough and hit him a ton so hes developed bad qualities hes a real sweet horse I just wanna recreate our bond and I want to restart with with him. he is 22 yrs. old but I just want him to relearn somethings in a nicer not so rough way I don't want him to fear me or anyone else.
 
#4 ·
Are you riding him now? and how's it going? you cannot teach your horse groundwork unless you know some yourself, first. So, if you choose to watch videos and such, your first goal is to teach yourself. I don't mean to be discouraging, but it's hard to teach something while learning it at the same time.
 
#6 ·
Are you riding him now? and how's it going? you cannot teach your horse groundwork unless you know some yourself, first. So, if you choose to watch videos and such, your first goal is to teach yourself. I don't mean to be discouraging, but it's hard to teach something while learning it at the same time.
Yes I ride him now and hes wonderful I've done extensive research as well as watched many clinics,videos ect.. I just need a place to start.
 
#5 ·
Clinton Anderson has a book called Establishing Respect it is relatively inexpensive and will give you some ideas for starting groundwork, but he also explains why being your horses leader and gaining his respect is important. You can also go to giddyupflix.com (I think thats the name of the website) and rent training videos to watch and learn how to do what you want to do. As far doing liberty you must first gain your horses respect, teach him the basics on the ground and he has to have a good draw to want to stay with you.

Or your other option might be to find a trainer who can help you learn what you want to learn.

Groundwork is important and teaching your horse from the ground gives you a great foundation for riding. It is also a skill you carry with you to every horse you ever own, or handle for the rest of your life.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Constructive criticism.... a helmet?? Yes, I am a mother! ;-) Heels down, feet forward, unless you're actively wanting to yield his HQ or such. And practice riding more with your seat & less with your reins. If he's doing as you ask, loosen the reins.

Groundwork? Yes, very good idea. Depends what you want out of it & what you & he already know as to where you'd start. So if you don't know what he knows, I'd start at the very beginning.

I think just hanging out with your horse is valuable too - as Saddle suggests, you can take a book or something else, to do in his presence, or you can just be there & ask nothing of him.

As for doing 'stuff' on the ground with him to further your training, I think the principles of Parelli's '7 Games'(do they still teach this the same? Maybe go for older stuff...) is invaluable for both horse & human to understand. It is the same sort of approach as CA(I think differences between them are mostly about personality). It will give you the basic foundation to do whatever you want with him on the ground or under saddle... or harness.

As for liberty, get really good at everything else first, get him *reliably* able to be ridden without having to touch your reins before considering doing away with them... in a controlled environment... wearing a helmet.
 
#10 ·
Constructive criticism.... a helmet?? Yes, I am a mother! ;-) Heels down, feet forward, unless you're actively wanting to yield his HQ or such. And practice riding more with your seat & less with your reins. If he's doing as you ask, loosen the reins.

Groundwork? Yes, very good idea. Depends what you want out of it & what you & he already know as to where you'd start. So if you don't know what he knows, I'd start at the very beginning.

I think just hanging out with your horse is valuable too - as Saddle suggests, you can take a book or something else, to do in his presence, or you can just be there & ask nothing of him.

As for doing 'stuff' on the ground with him to further your training, I think the principles of Parelli's '7 Games'(do they still teach this the same? Maybe go for older stuff...) is invaluable for both horse & human to understand. It is the same sort of approach as CA(I think differences between them are mostly about personality). It will give you the basic foundation to do whatever you want with him on the ground or under saddle... or harness.

As for liberty, get really good at everything else first, get him *reliably* able to be ridden without having to touch your reins before considering doing away with them... in a controlled environment... wearing a helmet.
Haha yes I ride him without a helmet but I like what you said many times I have just gone out there to brush him and let him graze no riding or lunging he bonds with me and will follow me like a dog everywhere I've just been told since he has a stubborn streak its not possible for him to learn groundwork or do liberty and because of his age as well.
 
#13 ·
To get him to switch directions on the lunge ask him to whoa, then step back a couple of steps (removes pressure) the direct him to go the other way. Keep your lunge line arm higher than your shoulder when directing him. Hold the lunge whip out sideways to see if that will encourage the turn. If not move it a little closer. Reward even small tries by turning your back to him for a few seconds. (removes pressure). As for backing and side passing, you need to learn to accept small tries. Pinch the skin on the point of the shoulder of the foot that is farther forward. At the same time use the halter to bring his nose back toward his chest. If he even rocks his body back without stepping, immediately release the pinch and pull on the halter and rub the pinch spot. Repeat until he takes a step. Now, that foot will be back so use the other point of shoulder. Once he gets the hang of it he will back when you point at his shoulder.
 
#14 ·
the reason I asked if you were already riding, and was it going well, is because it would mean you already had a pretty decent bond. I don't see a real point in doing a lot of ground work if things are going ok in the saddle. I do it rarely, and then only to tune up things like back up, lead by, circling.
Now, of course, I did it quite a lot when I was learning how to do it. And though I am by no means anything close to an expert, I did not try to teach myself how to do what I now can do. I had someone who has good timing , feel and knowledge teach me, over and over and over again.
Becuase, you will do it incorrectly a lot! and it can literally train in negative things. Ground work done wrong can make the horse duller, not more responsive. Can bore and irritate the horse and sour his attitude. Can put you in a LESS dominant position.

So, to me, it's best to learn this under the direct tutelage of a knowledgeable person, or, just enjoy riding your horse, since you already seem to be doing well there.
 
#16 ·
the reason I asked if you were already riding, and was it going well, is because it would mean you already had a pretty decent bond. I don't see a real point in doing a lot of ground work if things are going ok in the saddle. I do it rarely, and then only to tune up things like back up, lead by, circling.
Now, of course, I did it quite a lot when I was learning how to do it. And though I am by no means anything close to an expert, I did not try to teach myself how to do what I now can do. I had someone who has good timing , feel and knowledge teach me, over and over and over again.
Becuase, you will do it incorrectly a lot! and it can literally train in negative things. Ground work done wrong can make the horse duller, not more responsive. Can bore and irritate the horse and sour his attitude. Can put you in a LESS dominant position.

So, to me, it's best to learn this under the direct tutelage of a knowledgeable person, or, just enjoy riding your horse, since you already seem to be doing well there.
Well with him I've noticed when I lunge for a short period before I ride hes a lot better under saddle. and he just needs to learn to back up when on the ground and switch direction on the lunge line are his main issues.
 
#17 ·
how well does he lead? I ask this becuse leading is very fundamental to backing and lunging. Will he stay behind you, with a float in the rope? or does he drag on the line and feel like you must PULL him forward? Does he barge ahead of you, or walk so close that his shoulder bumps into you. Can you send him through a gate, then follow and have him turn around, face you while you do kup the gate, and wait for you to retake the lead. When you turn directions, does he lean in on you, or does he make it hard for you to turn right ? can you lead him from both sides? will he try to stop and graze the whole time?

all have to do with him having a focus on you and a feel for following the rope. And backing up will be much easier if he has that focus and feel.
 
#19 ·
how well does he lead? I ask this becuse leading is very fundamental to backing and lunging. Will he stay behind you, with a float in the rope? or does he drag on the line and feel like you must PULL him forward? Does he barge ahead of you, or walk so close that his shoulder bumps into you. Can you send him through a gate, then follow and have him turn around, face you while you do kup the gate, and wait for you to retake the lead. When you turn directions, does he lean in on you, or does he make it hard for you to turn right ? can you lead him from both sides? will he try to stop and graze the whole time?

all have to do with him having a focus on you and a feel for following the rope. And backing up will be much easier if he has that focus and feel.

He actually has really good ground manners he's very lazy so sometimes it feels like I am pulling him forward lol but that's his only fault on the ground he's pretty much really good otherwise. The reason for his backing issue is a bad experience before I had him a really rough lady owned him and would hit him to back up but he reared once because he was scared and almost fell.
 
#21 ·
If the thought strikes me I will sometimes go into the pasture and stand beside on of the horses, facing the same direction. I mimic his actions, even bending down and mussing the grass with my fingers. One time I turned around while "grazing". My bum was about his front leg and next thing I knew the horse was nuzzling my back and hips, as it would a foal. As my back began to complain, instead of straightening up I turned away from him and then walked past his face before straightening up. When I looked at the horse his muzzle was almost touching the ground while he licked and blinked. Not sure what it means but it was interesting.
 
#24 ·
The best way to bond with a horse is to look after it - food, water, grooming - that's what they appreciate, not being run around, made to do tricks they see no point in or even ridden
That doesn't mean there's no point in doing groundwork but the basics of being led correctly, moving over and backwards should all have been achieved as part of the handling and grooming process that makes a horse safe and easy to be around - not a stand alone thing later on down the line
No horse is too old to be taught something new
I find the easiest way to teach a horse to back up and move over is with firm pressure from your hand and at the same time use a verbal cue and if you are interested in clicker training that's a good time to introduce that. Once they understand the verbal command you can usually just use that and nothing else
I'm not a 'rope wiggler' because I don't always have a rope attached to the horse when I want them to back up - in fact most of the time I don't.
 
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