Well, it's basically just working our horse from the ground. There are a series of "exercises" that you can preform to get your horse more supple and soft. It all starts from the ground. For example, two weeks ago my horse Romeo would NOT back up for me in the saddle. There was no softness, no anything. He barely moved his feet. Now I was discussing this problem with my instructor Jessie in one of our lessons. She said to try backing up by the knot (on the halter) from the ground, and to get him soft from there. Now, I can barely move my hands and he'll lower his head with a feel and back up real nice for me. Here are a couple of common groundwork exercises that I do with Romeo every day:
Backing up (from the know and from a distance):
If you want to back your horse away from you from a distance (e.g if you're going to start your circles) you'll want a few feet of lead rope between your hand and the horse's head. You'll want to ask real soft first, just by raising the hand with the lead rope in it. then don't be afraid to get it done. What I usually do if my horse isn't responding to that is I yank down hard on the lead rope. That will usually get their feet moving. Then release. Remember to reward your horse with a pet or kind words. To back up a horse from the knot (e.g if you were in the grooming stall and he tried to walk off), grab the knot and pull (gently) backwards towards his chest (to get the feel). If he doesn't move his feet quickly enough, firm up by pulling back harder and moving the knot from side to side. Videos coming soon.
Circles:
Circles is when you have your horse walk or trot (and if your rope is long enough - lope) in a circle around you. First, take one end of the rope in your left or right hand (depending on the direction you want your horse to go) and the tail of your rope in the other (to encourage the horse forwards). Then, you back your horse up from a distance until he is about 3 feet away from you. Now, point the hand holding the rope connected to the horse's head in the direction your want it to go (e.g rope in right hand = horse going to right). Swin the tail end of your rope to the horses' hindquaters. Go a maximum of 2-3 laps (more if wanted, but your horse WILL get bored :) ) that way, then change directions. By changing directions, you change the rope that's in your right hand (if you're going right) to your left hand, and the tail to your right. Then, ask for the hinds (to do that just bring your hand holding the rope to your left, and bump it a little. If the horse has been taught this before, he should retract his hinds). When you have the hinds, ask for the fronts by swing the tail of your rope on the other side of his face. Don't afraid to firm up if needed. Wack him with the rope if you have to (but not on the face - on the neck). This exercise can also be preformed with the flag. You just substitute the tail of your rope for the flag. Videos coming soon.
One-rein stops (emergency stops) from the ground:
TO do a one-rein stop, shorten the rope so that you're holding it about a foot from your horse's face. Then, bring your hand to his withers (where the neck ends and the back begins). Bump a little if you need to. You want his fronts legs to stay still an only his hind legs moving. Release and reward, then do it again on the other side. Videos coming soon.
That's all for now. I will post more when I have the time.
Stelio
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