Some exercises for groundwork?

Groundwork is done alongside your horse. The aim is to get to know each other better and to work as one. For the process to succeed, you need the right tips, the right methods and the right exercises. Here are a few to get you started.

The standing still exercise

The horse is a companion and a means of getting about. He sometimes has to use his head to help his rider work, or to let the rider deal with other things without having to keep an eye on him. For that, he needs the sense to stand still without causing trouble or demanding attention. It is, incidentally, one of the requirements in the Galop tests.

The standing still exercise involves letting go of your horse, leaving him on his own and moving away to see how he reacts. To begin with, praise is what counts. You must always encourage him to stay at the halt, even when his rider moves away. Take it gradually. The first time, dismount and leave him where he is, moving one, two or three metres away. As long as the horse doesn't move, you can keep going further. If he takes a step forward or back, walk slowly back to him and tell him to stay put.

Moving the hindquarters

Moving the hindquarters is an important step in building the partnership between horse and rider. It's the aid that lets the rider bring the horse to a quick stop without putting him at risk. The idea is to get the horse to shift his quarters over slightly so that they press into the ground, bringing him to a halt if need be.

For this exercise, you need to stand in the right place. The space beside your horse's barrel is the one to go for. From there, the rider applies physical pressure to the horse's quarters. If he steps them across, or at least tries to, praise him. This movement counts towards working as one. At some point it should become second nature, to the point where the lightest suggestion of pressure from the rider on the horse's quarters is enough. If all goes well, your horse will even move his quarters both ways on request.

The rein-back exercise

The rein-back shows how much control the rider has over his horse. It calls for complete obedience from the horse. It allows you to take a break or to retrace your steps, rather like a motor vehicle. The difference here is that the exercise features in many Galop tests and in competitions for amateur and professional riders alike.

The exercise involves getting the horse to step backwards with simple pressure. To succeed, start with pressure on the horse's chest. The first few attempts needn't work. Over time, though, the horse will learn to adapt and to follow his handler's instructions. You'll then be able to do a "back up – halt – back up", even over several strides.