• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Care
    • News
    • Fun
    • Heartwarming
    • Videos
    • Rescue
    • Horse Fun
    • Tips For Riders
    • Fun Facts
    • Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Tips For Riders

    5 Great Groundwork Exercises To Do with Your Horse

    Modified: Mar 5, 2020 by ihearthorses · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Groundwork is an important part of your horse’s training, and the lessons he learns through groundwork can transfer to his work under saddle. Make sure to do these five great groundwork exercises with your horse to enhance his training.

    woman and pony in silhouette. Horse being exercised on long reigns on soft arena surface within a countryside backdrop

    Walk in a Circle

    This exercise is a good way to begin your groundwork with your horse. With your horse in a halter with an eight-foot lead, ask your horse to walk in a circle around you.

    Depending on your horse, you may need to really drive him forward with your body language, or you may need to help him to relax and slow down. Your ultimate goal in this groundwork exercise is for your horse to walk around you continuously without you having to create any extreme pressure.

    older Arabian brown and white mature horse in pasture exercising

    Turn on the Forehand

    Asking your horse to turn on the forehand can help to establish his respect for your presence and body language. With your horse halted, angle your body back toward his hind end and step towards your horse. You may need to add pressure by raising your hands or even lightly touching your horse with the rope, but with practice your horse should readily turn on the forehand in response to you. This groundwork exercise will take a few tries to master.

    Horse gray animal exercising outdoors in sand arena afternoon blue sky.

    Turn on the Hind End

    The turn on the hind end is very similar to the turn on the forehand. Instead of turning to the hind end, focus your position on your horse’s neck and shoulder. Raise your hands slowly and walk toward your horse, pressuring him to move away from you. Be sure to practice both of these exercises on both sides of your horse.

    Horse, Lunge, Exercising,snow

    Lower the Head

    Asking your horse to lower his head on command can help to establish focus and to get him to relax. With your horse at the halt, put gentle downward pressure on the lead. Sustain the pressure until your horse gives – even just a little bit – to the pressure, then immediately release. Repeat this process to teach your horse to fully lower his head.

    Horse gray animal exercising outdoors in sand arena afternoon blue sky.

    Back Up

    Teaching your horse to back up can help to establish his respect for you. After halting your horse, turn to face him and step towards him. Ideally, your horse should back up in response to the pressure.

    In order to teach him to back up, you may need to wiggle the lead line some. Wiggle the line, gradually increasing its intensity, until your horse makes any movement away from the line, then let the line go slack and remove the pressure.

    Horse equestrian animal close up exercising sand arena outdoors afternoon blue sky

    Groundwork takes time, especially when teaching your horse new exercises, but groundwork can pay off in big rewards with your horse’s training.

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    groundwork

    More Tips For Riders

    • A young woman in an equestrian outfit stands next to a white horse.
      17 Gorgeous Equestrian Outfit Ideas for Women
    • Woman on blonde horse with hair in the wind
      20 Expert Tips to Reduce Riding Horseback Anxiety
    • Kids petting a horses nose
      5 Best Ways to Teach Kids Healthy Fear of Horses
    • Horse jumping over rail in dirt
      Top 6 Types of Jumps In Horse Sports Competitions

    Sharing is caring!

    16.5K shares
    • Share12.7K
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 17 Gorgeous Equestrian Outfit Ideas for Women
    • 15 Fantastic Pictures of Horse's Jumping to Make You Smile
    • Pros and Cons of Braiding Your Horse's Mane or Tail
    • 10 Things to Do with Your Horse That Aren't Riding
    • 30 Stunning Pictures of White Horses You Must See

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    16.5K shares
    • 12.7K

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy