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Groundwork is the key to communicating with your horse in a way he understands. Never underestimate the importance of proper groundwork.
It’s hard to emphasize enough the importance of groundwork. Even with the popularity of clinicians like Pat Parelli and his Seven Games, horse people often think of groundwork as merely cute things to do with a horse – nothing more than trick training.
Groundwork is much more than that. The key to communication with your horse is good groundwork.
How long do I need to do groundwork with my horse?
For the rest of his life, it’s the key to communication.
Groundwork is merely the learning of a language that horses understand. It’s the development of a proper relationship, the establishment of leadership, the basis of communication.
It’s natural, at first, to assume that groundwork is simply another way to “train” a horse. That’s why we tend to think there is a point where we are finished. Communication is never finished, in fact it should be continually developed.
Give up the idea of training and grasp the idea of communication. Groundwork is communication – something that should be continually developed throughout your life and your horse’s life.
Begin learning groundwork by watching good horsemen do groundwork with good horses, wild horses, and problem horses. Invest in videos by some of the following horsemen: Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt, Dennis Reis, GaWaNi Pony Boy, and Pat Parelli. Buy all you can afford!
Then – get out and try it!
Watch the videos and try again – and again. You will be amply rewarded for your efforts!
The copyright of the article Communicating with Your Horse in Horses is owned by Duane Isaacson. Permission to republish Communicating with Your Horse in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Nov 12, 2006 1:57 PM
jamie mcbride :
i know this might sound stupid but i am a new horse owner . and i was
wondering what kind of groundwork do i need to do to get my horses to do
what i want them to and to trust me? could you please give me some ideas
Nov 14, 2006 8:17 PM
Duane Isaacson :
Well my friend - that is a huge order! You might try the following videos
first - The Seven Games by Pat Parelli, and Groundwork by Buck Brannaman.
That will give you plenty of ideas. Remember, that groundwork is not
"training" but is a means of establishing a language between
horse and human (plus a whole lot more I won't go into yet...).
Dec 20, 2006 6:11 PM
Kristiena Maria Shafaria :
how do I do Ground work with my new 3 year old horse. he just knows
everything but does not do well with me not knowing how to do ground work
and i can't help him if i don't know what I am spost to do!!!:(
Jan 16, 2007 9:09 AM
Duane Isaacson :
Hi Kristiena!
I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you. I
run a horse rescue in my "spare" time and winters are always
incredibly busy!
A good place to begin with groundwork is by
studying the Pat Parelli video called "The Seven Games". You can
probably find a copy on Ebay or certainly at www.parelli.com.
Start there, and don't hesitate to email me with any questions you might
have.
Jan 16, 2007 7:11 PM
Cathy :
I have an 8 year old Mustang Gelding and he hasnt been worked with at all.
When i try to round pen/lounge him all he does is turn in my direction and
stand there. I dont know what to do to teach him not to come in to the
middle. If anyone can help i would apprecate it
Feb 1, 2007 7:21 AM
Duane Isaacson :
Be careful with the round pen work. It is easily overdone and done wrong.
You might ask yourself why you feel the need to chase the horse around a
pen. Consider this - in wild herds, horses are punished by being driven
from the herd - a literal death sentence. When you took the horse to the
round pen he was probably submissive and well behaved. He let you catch
him, halter him, lead him, take him in the pen, and release him, probably
all without incident. Now you suddenly drive him away. In his mind he has
done something terribly wrong - and he doesn't know what. By turning to you
he is asking to come back to the herd. Contrary to most "round pen
clinicians" there is no need to chase him around the pen. It is really
just psychological abuse.
Remain friends and forego
"training".
6 Comments
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