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  Discussion on Groundwork Ideas
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Member:
dove2

Posted on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - 7:53 am:

Sorry is this is off subject, but Dove2, would you give us your opinion of the book--and any other with creative ground work? I've been buying one or two yearlings in the spring of their yearling year, working with them on the ground and selling them as two year olds with a year of ground work. My way of insuring they get one of the limited good permanent homes! Anyway, I'm always looking for creative stuff to do on the ground. And as everyone has said, boy does that translate to a listening, focused, soft horse almost from the first ride! If only every horse could have a year of pre-saddle training! Along the way, they develop an attitude of thinking rather than reacting, of looking for answers instead of resisting, and are about as bombproof as horses get! Maybe we should start another post--Creative Groundwork?? Thanks, Julie


Great idea, Julie. I've just started reading the book, "Groundwork Training for your Horse" by Lesley Bayley. I like the fact that she's gathered several prominent trainers' ideas into one book. I'll be happy to post exercises that I like as I get to them.

Meanwhile, one of the best investments in groundwork books, I think, is Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship. I think it's especially good for the more "undisciplined" type horse. If your youngster (or any age, for that matter) is more sensitive, I'd be mindful to be as gentle as possible with these exercises. If you have a more willful horse, I'd be more insistent with the exercises. These exercises are the basics of having your horse learn to yield to pressure, flexing, move hindquarters and forehand, learn the sending signals, etc. In other words, all skills you'll be using in the future.

I used these exercises with great success when my colt went through his little adolescent rebellious period (late 3's, early 4's). He'd get a bit defiant with just lunging.

The main thing is to start gently with the yearlings, know their temperament and adapt your willfulness to theirs, with CA's exercises.

The exercises I did with my first horse was to lead him everywhere, paying attention to keep myself at about his neck. If he'd drag behind, I'd have a crop in the hand farther away from the horse, reach behind myself, and tap his hip to get him to move forward. Meanwhile, try to keep your pace steady.

I did a lot of backing up of the horse by jiggling the leaDrOpe, starting slowly and working up to more and more until the horse either shifted his weight back or took a step. Then I'd stop and pet his forehead. Work up to several steps backwards.

I also did the long rope from the halter, around the side hip, behind the tail, and midway to the other side of the horse. When I signaled (put a little pressure/tugged on the rope), the horse was to bends towards the rope and follow where the rope went, and uncoil himself from the rope. This is the beginning to moving away from pressure.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - 9:25 am:

Thanks for the review and book recommendations as well as moving the post! I do most of the level 1 parelli stuff with all my horses except the circling game. I like lunge work to be more focused and it's just a personal thing with me. I also do lots of funny stuff when I'm working around the horses. If I'm sweeping the stalls, I'll be sure to sweep under the horses belly, deliberately touching their feet, etc. Sweep them too. Ask them to move hips or shoulders as I work. Picking up manure they get scratches with the manure fork (plastic) all over and under. Ask for "head down" each time I halter. Send them through doors and gates ahead of me and have them turn and face as I walk through. It's surprising how much they learn when you don't think you're teaching! Sending is especially important as it will be the basis for trailer loading. I hope everyone chimes in with more ideas--this isn't just for young horses! I run out of challenges once I get past tarps and sidepassing over various objects. I'm so not creative! Thanks again Dove2! Julie
Member:
juliem

Posted on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - 9:37 am:

Imogen, Dove2 started a new thread-Ground Work Ideas. I don't do a lot of round pen work as I think it's hard on young joints, but do teach them the basics of lunging. I do a lot of in hand obstacles--and I prefer to "send" them or direct them rather than lead them. This means first establishing a go forward cue. If I am on the horses left, I will face them at about the shoulder, reach my left hand with the lead rope out to my left, pointing the way I want them to go. Then if that doesn't work, a tap on the hip with a short, ridgid whip. At first you may have to keep tapping until the first sign of forward movement, then immediately stop. Pretty soon they respond to just the pointing. Once they have learned a "go forward", or "send" cue, you can use it for lots of things, especially trailer loading. This way, you don't have to go inside a trailer with them. You can send them over things like a square of cardboard, a tarp, a piece of carpet, etc. You can send them between a fence and another obstacle like a barrel or mounting block. You can send them between or over ground poles or cavaletti. Anyone have any more imaginative ideas?
Member:
dove2

Posted on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - 9:54 am:

Great ideas, Julie. I also practice ground tying every chance I get. At first, when I'm grooming my horse, I have the leaDrOpe in the crook of my arm. Once I feel comfortable that the horse is good with that, I DrOp the leaDrOpe in front of the horse (hoping he will step on it and stop himself). Apparently, my horse has taught himself because he always seems to double-check and if the leaDrOpe is on the ground, he won't walk forward. Usually. But if and when he does, I just put him back into position, and repeat the cue, "Tie."

A recent experiment my daughter came up with: those bubble wrap sheets used for packing. When she asked two tack stores for a discarded piece, they both said she was going to die if she asked her horse to walk over it. Well, she and I both enjoyed watching our horses walk over it with no problem. Of course, we first stepped on it ourselves to show the horse it wasn't dangerous. Then we asked for one foot on the bubblewrap, and backed away. Then two, etc. Pretty soon they were walking over it with complete disregard! Guess we're ready for mounted shooting!
Member:
lhenning

Posted on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - 1:57 pm:

I like doing turns on a lunge line. This is for a horse with lunging experience and not the youngsters. The horse first must be taught to stop, disengage, and turn. I set up my lunge line so it can be used regardless of which direction my horse is moving. After he circles a couple of times, I cue him as if stopping, but immediately say "turn", then send him off in the other direction. I started at a walk, but now only do this at trot and canter. It is very good for establishing respect. At first, my horse was very bratty about being made to do this, especially at canter, but after working through his "issues" he now performs it without fuss. The end result is much like dancing and good for building up those hindquarters.

Linda
Member:
leilani

Posted on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - 3:38 pm:

Julie,

That's so funny that you sweep your horses. I have been sweeping mine since they were babies. I also sweep my dogs and cats. Leilani
Member:
dove2

Posted on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - 3:43 pm:

Too funny, guys! Linda, thanks for sharing the not so pretty parts ("At first, my horse was very bratty") because that helps me realize I'm not the only one having difficulty in getting the results I expect. Yours sounds like my horse. I'm encouraged to keep trying this turn on the haunches now.
Member:
lhenning

Posted on Friday, Jul 13, 2007 - 12:08 pm:

Dove2, he was so bratty when asked to turn at canter that he pulled the lunge line out of my hand. Someone had left the gate to the arena open and my boy saw his big opportunity and ran out of the arena! Normally, he is very sweet on a lunge and I was not gripping the rope as I should have been. I fixed his butt though, and made him come back in and work until he did the turn "nicely". Ever since he has steadily improved and now is very good at it.

Linda
Member:
campr2

Posted on Friday, Jul 13, 2007 - 3:09 pm:

Good to see Im not as "crazy" as my neighbors think I am..haha. I also sweep my horse and he helps me out by balancing the broom on his back as we go from one area to sweep to another. He also helps me move cones around the arena the same way..carrying these huge cones on his hip. If he DrOps one, he stops..which is good as it makes the same thump as I do when I hit the ground. If I have to many cones I tie a couple on each end of a long rope, drape these over his withers and off we go. He loves the interaction and it keeps our learning time from becoming boring time to him.
Member:
dove2

Posted on Saturday, Jul 14, 2007 - 7:37 am:

Linda, you should really be pleased with your efforts and persistence. I know how frustrating it can be when your horse has other ideas and is not afraid to act on them. My colt, when he was 3, would lunge and try to intimidate me by coming really close to me with his shoulder. A couple of times he tried the rear-end kicking out. Once we got all that sorted out, he decided the turn on the haunches was too much work, and tried the intimidation routine again. I did notice that he got very anxious about lunging right about then and, as one who is always trying to anticipate my requests, he started to try to make his own decisions again. That's where I got mixed emotions about how to proceed. I want a horse who listens to me, but I also want to listen to his side as well. I thought he might not have been ready for that, physically or emotionally, at that time.

Now that we are out of the woods about hierarchy between the two of us (he's 5 now), he's an amazingly sweet and smart horse.

You've given me the inspiration to try this higher level type lunging once again. I can see where it would be an excellent way to develop his haunches, back, and ability to collect. I guess he'd first have to understand the concept at the walk, even though the turn would not be from the haunches. The ideal turn would be a 180 degree pivot with total weight on his hindlegs. The trick will be to not have him make a "screaming U Turn." Did your horse figure that out himself, or did you use a technique of some sort to get his weight shifted?
Member:
lhenning

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 12:48 pm:

Dove2, I began at a trot. He figured out how to shift his weight himself. It took a lot of praising; really making a big deal when he turned at the trot without any fuss. The first time he turned on haunches at canter and did it without fuss, I immediately stopped for that day and let him absorb "good boy/ we stopped" and "bad boy/ more turns". As he got more relaxed about the turns the real pivot on haunches happened and his weight shift was very natural for him. I do think it takes a lot of work on his part, so I try to mix up our routine and not only ask him to do this each time I lunge. That keeps him from getting sour to it.

I think if my horse started to anticipate this turn, I would "trick" him and not ask for it. That way he would not know what I would ask for next. My understanding of lunging is to look for "complete obedience" and reward that behavior. Obedience can be not doing something (i.e. anticipating) just as much as it can be completing a maneuver.

Linda
Member:
dove2

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 1:15 pm:

Thanks, Linda. I'll try again and report back.
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