Working with your horse on the ground is a great way to introduce new obstacles, goals and tasks. When working with young horses, it’s as simple as learning to walk alongside you in a halter and lead rope. Older horses are worked on the ground to introduce new concepts. It eliminates the stress of having the rider on his back while allowing the horse to simply focus on what they’re being introduced to.
Some riders like to use groundwork as a warm-up each time they ride, because it is a great way to build and grow the horse-rider relationship. Tough1 Sales Rep Maddie works with mustangs, pleasure horses and project horses and spends a lot of time working alongside the horse on the ground. And when she’s working with her horses, some of the key tools she utilizes come from Tough1.
Here are the tools mentioned in the video:
- Tough1 Twisted Rope Halter with Knots and 14’ Lead
- Tough1 Extreme Vented Sport Boots
- Tough1 48” Training Flag – desensitization
Tough1 Twisted Rope Halter with Knots and 14’ Lead
This product offers pressure points along the nose of your horse to provide a little more control when asking for specific movements. The longer lead offers room to work your horse in small circles and other exercises for a safe distance, but not it’s too long that it can’t be used daily.
Tough1 Extreme Vented Sport Boots & Bell Boots
Using polo wraps or sport boots, such as the Tough1 Extreme Vented Sport Boots, will help to protect your horse’s legs from injury while being worked. Horses tend to knock into their sensitive lower legs with their hooves while performing maneuvers such as side passes or turns, and using a sports boot can help prevent any bruising. Adding a well-fitted bell boot, such as the Tough1 No Turns or Ballistic Bell Boot, can prevent knicks and bumps as your horse can overreach and possibly pull a shoe.
Tough1 48” Training Flag
No T-Rex arms here! Using a training stick or a training flag can help be an extension of your arm for motivation and maneuvers. Using the training flag also helps work your horse through desensitization while keeping you a safe distance.
Grab these few tools from your local Tough1 dealer and get to work! Adding groundwork into your regular training regime with your horse can be a rewarding and fun way to connect (or reconnect) with your horse. If you don’t know where to start, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional who can give you exercises and tips to improve your groundwork sessions.
