3-things-you-need-to-do-to-master-groundwork-with-your-horse

January 30th,  2024

By Karine Vandenborre

3 things you need to do to master groundwork with your horse

What should I do to be good in groundwork?

Today, I want to talk about something super important: mastering the basics in groundwork training.

Basic Groundwork is like the ABCs for horses.

If you were to ask me, "What should I do to be good in groundwork, or what should I do so my horse is good in groundwork?" Well, my answer would be:

start with the basics.
repeat the basics.
keep repeating the basics.


Groundwork prepares your horse for the "human world,"

The basic exercises include leading, touching, yielding for driving and physical aids, and circle work. These are essential exercises that make your horse a superstar.

They prepare your horse for the "human world," like daily care, standing tied, traffic, trailer loading,... But, they also prepare your horse for groundwork with the neckrope, gymnastic groundwork, and riding.

Whether you and your horse are just starting or are already pros, doing these basics regularly is key!

And even if you're already great at groundwork, I still suggest keeping it simple and starting each training session with some basic exercises. It's like a warm-up for your horse, and it helps you understand how they're feeling that day.


No more pulling on the lead anymore

I had a chat last week with one of my students who has been doing Basic Groundwork with her 3-year-old mare for the last 6 weeks on a regular basis. She spends about half an hour on groundwork every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Here's what has already changed in those 6 weeks:

When bringing her mare to the field in the morning: no more pulling on the lead anymore – she walks right beside her, and now she also waits patiently at the gate before entering.

Her mare doesn't pull loose anymore when being tied on the wall. Cleaning her hoofs used to be a wrestling match.

Now? She stands there relaxed, no fuss anymore.
She's super responsive to her cues, backs up on command, drops the head when being asked (for example, to take off the halter), she steps to the side on a gentle touch on her hindquarters, she bends in her body on a simple cue (which helps her relax).

She can be led in trot without wanting to get in front.

She's more focused and easy to handle in general.

Pretty awesome, right? Just 12 hours of training over 6 weeks, with sessions lasting only 30 minutes each time. It's incredible how much progress can be made in such a short amount of focused and consistent groundwork.


Explore the Basic Groundwork Program

If you know that this would also benefit you and your horse, why not explore my online groundwork program? I break down each step in simple terms, making it easy for both you and your horse to progress and grow together.

You can even purchase separate modules

For more details, head over to our page: https://horsefulnesstraining.com/basic-groundwork-program/

Cheers to happy horses and awesome groundwork!
-- Karine