Groundwork – what is it actually for?
Horses mainly communicate through body language. If you try to explain everything your horse needs to learn from the saddle, you have only a limited scope to express and interpret both your body language and that of your horse. Good communication starts from the ground. Therefore, it is important to regularly include groundwork in your training plan. Equestrian sports are not just about riding. You and your favorite horse form a team that sticks together through thick and thin. From the ground, you can solidify the basics so that you maintain a harmonious and stress-free relationship even outside of training. This includes small things like bumping or overtaking. Most people unnecessarily label their horse as difficult or stubborn, when often the horse simply doesn’t know exactly what you want from it. Groundwork allows you to create a solid foundation for clear communication, trust, and a harmonious relationship, which can then be built upon well from the saddle.
Start with the basics
There are many different types of groundwork. You can vary between leading training and gymnastics, lungeing, circus tricks, and even liberty training. The most important thing here is: practice makes perfect! For example, you can start with simple leading training. The goal is for your horse to respect and pay attention to you. It should accept your space and trust you enough to recognize you as the leader. If it overtakes you or doesn’t adjust to your speed, you can gently correct it. If you don’t know how to proceed, it’s best to get a trainer involved, otherwise misunderstandings between you and your horse can arise, which can quickly become frustrating. The right equipment is definitely helpful for leading training. Knotted halters and a groundwork rope help you give finer aids and can help your horse understand you better. Whips can also act as an extended arm and improve your communication. Additionally, you should wear Gloves so that the lunge line or groundwork rope sits better in your hand and you avoid injuries.
Other disciplines
Once leading training works well, you can try other types of groundwork. With lungeing, you can gymnasticize your horse optimally without additional rider weight using a simple lunge line or a double lunge line. You can work on positioning and bending and build your horse’s muscles. To increase the training here, you can lay out trot poles on the circle or even raise them slightly with a pole block. This way, you can easily make groundwork varied so your horse always enjoys the work.
You can also work on correct positioning and bending well from the ground. This serves to train your horse healthily in the long term and you can also playfully build more trust and understanding with each other. For both lungeing and hand work, working with a Cavesson can be very useful. Cavessons are well padded at the sensitive parts of the horse’s head, are very stable, and do not slip during work. Fine aids can thus be better recognized by the horse, preventing unnecessary misunderstandings.
Forming a unit
For liberty training, you should already have the basics clarified. Your horse should understand you well and be motivated to work. Treats can also support your horse’s motivation and enjoyment a bit. However, it is also advisable here to ask a trainer for help to avoid communication problems.
The most important thing in groundwork is that you have fun. Groundwork lays the foundation for your bond and your shared success. The greatest goal between human and horse is to form a harmonious unit and stick together through thick and thin. Groundwork is the key to a beautiful relationship! Integrate groundwork into your training plan so that you and your four-legged friend always enjoy the varied work!
