Some exercises for groundwork?
Groundwork is done in the company of your horse. It is about learning to know yourself better and to merge. For the success of the process, you need to have the right tips, the right methods, the right exercises. Here are a few for your edification.
The exercise of stillness
The horse is a companion, a means of transport. It must know how to function sometimes intelligently to help its rider work or allow him to worry about other things without having to keep an eye on it. For this, it must have the intelligence to remain still without disturbing or attracting attention. It is also a galloping event.
The immobility exercise consists of letting go of your horse, leaving him alone and moving away to see his reaction. To start, it is the congratulations that count. You must always encourage him to stay in the halt posture, even when his rider moves away. It is recommended to go gradually. The first time, you must dismount the horse and leave him there with a distance of one meter, two meters or three. As long as the horse does not move, you can continue to move away. If he makes a movement forward or backward, you must slowly come back to him and signal him to stay where he is.
Hip Mobilization Exercise
The hip mobilization exercise is an important step in the bond between horse and rider. It is the gesture that allows the rider to make his horse stop quickly without putting him in danger. It involves forcing the horse to shift his hips a little to exert pressure on the ground, even if it means stopping.
For this exercise, you need to position yourself properly. The space next to your horse's belly is recommended. From this location, the rider is invited to exert physical pressure on the horse's haunches. If he shifts his haunches or at least tries to, he should be encouraged. This movement counts in the fusion process. At some point, it must become acquired to the point of being achieved with the help of a light virtual pressure from the rider on the horse's haunches. If all goes well, your horse will even be able to move his haunches in both directions on demand.
The exercise of hindsight
Backing up is an operation that shows the rider's mastery over his mount. It involves blind obedience from the horse. It allows for taking breaks or turning back like a motor vehicle. The difference here is that the exercise is part of many galloping events and competitions for amateur or professional equestrians.
The exercise consists of making the horse move backwards by simple pressure. To succeed, you must start by pressing on the horse's chest. The first few times do not necessarily have to be successful. However, in the long run, the horse will learn to adapt and give free rein to its master's orders. Thus, you will be able to do a "back-stop-back", even in strides.