Top 5 Groundwork Exercises for Horses

Top 5 Groundwork Exercises for Horses - Clearly Communicating

Рет қаралды 186,617

2 жыл бұрын

There are five of the first groundwork exercises I do with all horses. The sixth one I would have included was flexing... maybe in another video!
I use these exercises for all horses from mustangs to seasoned show horses needing a refresher to green horses and everything in-between. Yielding the HQ, moving the shoulder, the backup, sending, and poll releases. I talk about the importance of when to add pressure and take it away. The importance of relaxation with the release is something newer to how I practice, but it has made such a difference! Hopefully this video shows you the "how", "what to look for", and "why".
Facebook/Instagram: @vanfleetmustangs
Website: vanfleetmustangs.com
#wildhorse #horsetraining #coltstarting
Hey! My name is Sam and I enjoy making content of all my horse adventures and sharing some training tips to help others understand horses a little better. I enjoy competing in Extreme Mustang Makeovers and traveling cross-country with my horses and teaching clinics! I love interacting with all of you so feel free to leave me a comment or message me on Instagram :)
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Re-occurring Horses (Personal + Current Training)
Stargazer- 9yo 15.2hh pinto gelding BLM Mustang (Onaqui UT)
Nora- 4yo 14.1hh grey mare BLM Mustang (Onaqui UT)
Lynx- 8yo 14.2hh grey gelding BLM Mustang (Wood Hills NV)
Calliope- 17yo 16hh pinto mare Draft X (PMU foal)

Пікірлер: 135

@Mik-qr6yr 2 ай бұрын

I am as beginner as they come! I have a sassy fjord. And I tried this for the first time today!! My Maggie has search and rescue training, trail riding experience, etc. I bought her fully loaded and ready to go! No buck or bolt. I had her boarded at a place that let too many things slide with her, so I’m essentially starting from scratch for a horse that HAS the training but just got away with it. I recently moved her and I’m planning on doing much more ground work with her for a while before I even think about riding. Thank you so much for your video!! After trying these exercises with my horse today, I feel less discouraged 🤎

@debbiecurtis4146 2 жыл бұрын

I've been doing some of these (waiting for spring mud to clear up), and with a new horse, a Standardbred off the track, I think it also helps us get to know and trust one another. I live by myself, and my friend/helper travels for business, so the stars have to align for the first ride I've been waiting for. I use to hop on anything, but I'm over 60 with a new knee - so I'm more careful than I used to be. Your videos are well presented, and I really like your style of training. I'm not to old to learn new things! Thanks a bunch!

@dariaharruff7025 7 ай бұрын

I'm too old to ride horses I was given an opportunity to get to ride horses I didn't like it when I was a kid it's wasn't my thing

@CrissiEscamilla Жыл бұрын

I've never commented on anyone's videos and my husband has a channel 😬🤣 But I felt I needed to tell you how helpful and easy you make it to understand. Thank you! 💚

@tammiekanters6496 2 жыл бұрын

You have always been amazing with horses but I just wanted to say your explanations and just speaking to the camera are so good now, not you were ever bad!, But you have come a long way and you should be proud. Your helping so many people.

@KingsMom831 2 жыл бұрын

Sweet Lynx needs a “head UP” cue!😂 I will never tire of watching you work with these beautiful, magnificent creatures!

@cadencefarm7005 2 жыл бұрын

This is so helpful! I know many groundwork exercises, but they are just a jumble, with no organization or structure. Sometimes I even forget how to do them correctly. Presenting it this way is marvelous!

@anndreiloriginal1224 2 жыл бұрын

You are getting really really good at teaching others what you are doing. Great job! And thank you! This is very helpful.

@GH_Equestrian 2 жыл бұрын

I love ur vids and lynx is so cute ur a great trainer too 💝

@TheCreaturekeeper Жыл бұрын

LOVE this! Thank you for sharing!

@ayla2790 Жыл бұрын

I learned so much SO clearly from this video. I took my 3yr old to a month of training to understand what you did in 10 minutes. Thank you!!!

@redshorse 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent !

@ToriMcDivitt 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sam! This is very helpful.

@susanmatthews5901 2 жыл бұрын

Another great video! Thank you for taking the time to share these exercises with a thorough and detailed explanation and video.

@claudiaah6603 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent! So well explained!

@alaia3017 2 жыл бұрын

This is so great! You explained it so clearly and these exercises were very useful! More videos like this please!! 😁

@joannepantale483 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome content, Sam, thank you!

@nicolerackley5336 7 ай бұрын

I love everything you are sharing!! Your very educational and I hope you keep posting videos

@audreygregis8721 2 жыл бұрын

VERY helpful in fine tuning my training. Thank you!

@faithkane8285 10 ай бұрын

This video was a fantastic refresher! Thank you for the time put into your great explanations!

@liamrooney5314 Жыл бұрын

Excellent explanations. Thanks!

@ChristineCHK 4 ай бұрын

This video was sooo helpful! ❤❤❤

@blackdog850 Жыл бұрын

What a great video!!! The audio was really good, one drop in level, but overall outstanding. Just an amazing polished episode! And of course, anything with you and a horse (but especially Lynx) is AMAZING! Well done Sam, well done!

@jimmyyounger618 2 жыл бұрын

The summary thought about positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement each having their place hit the nail on the head for me. I'd elaborate if it wouldn't require a half dozen paragraphs to substantiate Sam's perspective by sharing some recent experiences, but I genuinely appreciate hearing her say it!

@shadowdancer1412 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video. Your explanation and presentation are excellent. ❤

@lisazappolo9989 2 жыл бұрын

I've watched this video twice. Beautifully done! Great content, teaching techniques and editing!!!

@carolynstewart8465 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Samantha ! You are a superb teacher and true horsewoman! A+❤

@skyrocketcoast219 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Your channel is just the best! The hot hot summer is gone& my mare certainly needs a bit of a tune up. She has been in pasture all sumer, On vacation!!

@pamelaturnbull4344 11 ай бұрын

I bloody love your ethos, been looking for energy work for YEARS! Thank You from Britain x

@bastonero7572 Жыл бұрын

Love this video. Very clear and easy to understand. Thank you!

@TimeaWebster Жыл бұрын

Wow, I saw your content the first time, and I'm impressed! You can really feel your connection to this beautiful horse, and it is wonderful to see that he has the same connection to you. His trust in you is truly amazing. You can see the hard work behind it, but mainly the loving work you put in training this horse.

@shazphantomchic1398 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Sam, thankyou really enjoyed this lesson and understood clearly what to look for in my horse and myself. 💜

@Triggerrrr Жыл бұрын

This is a great video! I’m currently doing some ground work with my horse and I think this will be a great exercise, I’ll be doing this tomorrow

@Lefitte 2 жыл бұрын

Love this! Thank you! Excited to try them with my lease horse. I feel like he knows them all but needs a refresher on yielding and could be better at all of them.

@pollybrewer8918 10 ай бұрын

That was excellent! A good reminder of why I should do all 5.

@cnahorses Жыл бұрын

Hey Sam! You tought me how to lay down a horse (well I learned from your laying down videos). But I love watching your other drills as well! Great groundwork drills!

@TeresaCook-de6jo 4 ай бұрын

Her videos are always top notch!

@jessicashaw1796 2 жыл бұрын

I love love love these types of videos so much! I don’t own or lease a horse yet but when I do one day it will be so helpful for me to know how to communicate groundwork with them.

@leeevers8976 2 жыл бұрын

Sam, Your BEST video yet!!

@user-wn5ow9fp6i 7 ай бұрын

Love this!! Thank you!! More please❤

@rosehorsetraining.2290 2 жыл бұрын

Great tips, thanks!

@johnnachurch2261 Жыл бұрын

This is a great instructional video. Thanks for your thorough explanations and demonstrations. I am saving this video to revisit so I can get comfortable doing these myself.

@cutezak Жыл бұрын

I love revisiting your videos from time to time especially when I am stuck with a new horse. I rarely leave any comments but your content and methods are great. Really inspiring thank you so much 🥰

@madamewang 6 ай бұрын

Love this video! Thank you!

@ginaberger6474 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your videos!

@Tvgirlfan86529 Жыл бұрын

I am soooo glad I found you! This is so helpful thanks so much for your time to make the video, new Sub

@vittoriav6356 2 жыл бұрын

Sooo helpful thank you !

@Crabbypink 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for posting these exercises. Short, concise descriptions, notes about how to increase and release pressure, and a short description of why. No fluff or over explaining. Very helpful!

@rachelmerz2122 Жыл бұрын

Love this, thank you!! I just got my first horse, and I want to make sure that I do as many right things with her as possible!!

@Ozunicorn1 5 күн бұрын

Excellent video. Great explanation.

@mh_equines 2 жыл бұрын

thank you for the video! I'll definitely be using these for my EMM mustang!

@maddigrace9535 5 ай бұрын

I really appreciate this video. I knew most of the methodology but it was a great refresher

@ceridwen7785 7 ай бұрын

I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Your explanations were easy to understand and theyve given me hope that I can work with my 22yr thoroughbred ex race horse, who came to me in a dreadful state. After three months of gentle interactions, good feed and veterinarian care, I decided today was the day to see how he'd enjoy being outside of his paddock, with my husband and I each on a lead rope, on either side of him. In a word, poor Bowie was overwhelmed, so we only lasted about ten minutes. We brought him back in to his shelter and he'd worked up a sweat. I felt so bad for him. Tomorrow, Im going to use the methods youve shown in this video and then every day, before we take him out of the paddock. Hopefully, he will learn that he is safe and that freaking out is counter productive. It breaks my heart to know that this beautiful natured horse of mine has been so traumatized before coming into my care and I want to do my very best by him. He has a heart murmur, and hes due for another tooth extraction after Christmas, and it appears that after leaving the track, he was never retrained, or given any stability. He will be with me until he dies and I want him to be a happy, well adjusted, safe to be around, horse. He has such a gentle nature, but fear, at the moment, appears to be his biggest problem...

@ingridblohm-hyde805 2 жыл бұрын

Great exercises. I will do this with my Friesian on Friday. Thank you so much.

@janetclements8988 5 ай бұрын

Excellent video! You explain and demonstrate with a methodology that makes your procedures easy to understand and execute. Just what I was looking for with my horse. Thank you from Ontario.

@myronschabe 2 жыл бұрын

Great summary thx...will be good to show friends.

@abifinnis6608 Жыл бұрын

Totally enjoyed your vlog

@ag4389 4 ай бұрын

I just bought a horse after a decade of not owning one. And this video really served as a great refresher. Your explanations are flawless. Thank you!

@emerwatchorn6971 Жыл бұрын

Great explanation of pressure and release.

@halimadaoudi6015 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this videoupdate Sam I am learning everything about Horses and I Love to Learn everything about Horses one day I will have my own Horse on the farm of my Grandparends all of them had many Horses in their life and they were one with their Horses I feel that one day I will became that too It is a dream what I Love to make it true ♥️♥️♥️

@user-rt1jq7lb6n Жыл бұрын

Thank you, this is great :) I usually send my horses off for professional training, but I no longer have access to the trainer I used in the past. I have a 3 year old gelding that I need to start more serious ground work with, up until this point I have mostly just worked on bonding and building his confidence and trust with me. These are some great tools that I hopefully can put into practice with him

@mariannekaminski5795 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful! Thank you

@Thylax_ Жыл бұрын

I've been looking for great "basic" groundwork exercises to do with my lease horse, and I'm definitely starting these ones! I have been leasing hime for about 2 years now, but as he is also still a lesson horse my time with him is limited. We've had major ups and downs, done some minor groundwork already and I think we can really benefit from doing these exercises together. Thank you!

@alexissierra3327 Жыл бұрын

Excellent

@patriciamiller5939 Жыл бұрын

Awesome. Ty

@RanchMamaFox Жыл бұрын

Thank you Sam! This is great for teaching basics... my boys came from a dude string, and I'm pretty sure they didn't have much groundwork after they were old enough to be under saddle. I tried these techniques today, and it worked like magic with both of them! The only thing I did differently was that I never use a whip. My Mustang is terrified of whips, and my QH shuts down and plants his feet when he sees one... so I just gently use the rope and my hands to direct and add pressure when needed. Thanks so much for your videos, I really enjoy your style!

@KimBTown Ай бұрын

12:00 TS I’m so glad that you gave a decent explanation for why the lunge queens of the past were not doing their horses any big favors. This is really the newest thing that has come out of equestrian training since I retired. My baby sister‘s retraining an off the track thoroughbred and, he may have had some dressage training. We’re not sure about anything but his ground manners are horrific! So much to learn. He’s very timid. These are great mental challenges for us to work on with Kona. Thank you for making this timely video. Indiana-Kim & Connecticut-Nancy.

@wildedibles819 6 ай бұрын

Thanks I'm going to work on the first 2 my pony knows some but I need to work with him this helps thanks

@yogawithkassandra Жыл бұрын

Do you have a more in-depth video that shows when you use positive reinforcement vs when you choose to use pressure and release? I also love and believe in both but struggle with knowing when to use which.

@e-bikeautonomy Жыл бұрын

This is not something that can be taught, it's a connection with the being and mainly the concept of understanding.

@yogawithkassandra 7 ай бұрын

@@e-bikeautonomy Everything can be taught if you're a skilled enough teacher, which I'm confident Sam is!

@TeresaCook-de6jo 4 ай бұрын

The release is the positive reinforcement.

@TeresaCook-de6jo 4 ай бұрын

Sorry. Nevermind, she does speak of a different technique she calls positive reinforcement.

@CeritaBudakKampung Жыл бұрын

thx for the tips

@silky2204 Жыл бұрын

Good job.

@EmW4Change 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, Sam! Thanks for sharing these tips with us. Much appreciated. Any chance you'll be doing any liberty clinics this summer in NY (upstate) or MA?

@stephenh.cummings2987 Жыл бұрын

Those are great my trainer does allot of similar things

@erichermann7553 Жыл бұрын

Next to that white horse makes a super nice pic of u I like to see what the trainer looks like and I love ur videos ur awesome in explaining the video thank u for posting ⭐️

@beautifulfaithhorses 2 жыл бұрын

I loved this video and could relate to all of your groundwork advice! Groundwork is where I started my 18 year old Quarter Horse and wow, it’s changed him so much! Thanks for these videos, they’re so helpful 😁

@gregs8736 2 жыл бұрын

That's great the groundwork helped your horse! What was his training history before you started the groundwork?

@beautifulfaithhorses 2 жыл бұрын

@@gregs8736 He was broke to ride but had sat for at least seven years. He was pretty lazy and stubborn when I started back up with him.

@gregs8736 2 жыл бұрын

@@beautifulfaithhorses Thanks for the fast reply! Seven years idle would be quite the challenge! Well done!

@beautifulfaithhorses 2 жыл бұрын

@@gregs8736 Thanks! Yeah it was tuff but the reward was great 😊

@gregs8736 2 жыл бұрын

@@beautifulfaithhorses That's awesome! All the best!

@Spitfiresong 4 ай бұрын

Ok so obviously you're a great trainer. It is also a pleasure to learn from someone so stunningly beautiful thank you for the wisdom sacred dog goddess

@equi_danielle 10 ай бұрын

I kinda learned myself the cues i use from ground and i can proudly say i do the same for backing and sending horse out ( the walking/sending them out se use it after work while going to stall. Its our small rutine. I let my girl go and ask to stop on the hall, take tack down and send her to her stall). That way i have more space to untack and she doesnt rub her head with bridle on - which She did previously. We need to train the hinds and fronts turns tho 😅

@alexanye Жыл бұрын

This video is great. You sound like the people at like zoos who explain the animals 😂 I'm excited to try these exercises.

@YouGrowFlower 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so very much I am working with 7 Tenessee Walkers and 3 are babies 😂 I need all the help I can get lol

@Bandit_the_wonder_horse 27 күн бұрын

This is amazing!!!! You teach really well and I love the concept of always moving when backing instead of steady pressure!! I have a question; if my boy is good at this one the ground, how do I translate some of these to the saddle? (For example, side passing)

@samantasam1901 Жыл бұрын

Sei bravissima✨

@nicolefinehout8894 Жыл бұрын

Hello, first of all thank you for your hard work with these wonderful animals it's so amazing seeing their transformation. I had a question, have you ever done any training for therapy horses?

@DML51049 2 жыл бұрын

This is great, would love some desensitizing tips

@kathleenkayk Жыл бұрын

Really appreciate your relaxed no drama way of training. Do you have videos with totally green mustangs? (Lots of reactive drama)

@oliviareyes4853 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! This was very helpful! What brand is your dressage whip and what is the length?

@hoorselover Жыл бұрын

omg lol i can't believe i found you. I work in a stable and my boss showed me these exact moves when lunging, with the lean, pointing and everything. But she told me and everybody else that this way her idea like she was the one that came up with it.. so embarrassing to see that she actually just stole it from someone else and called it her own..

@Evelyn_equestrian Жыл бұрын

I currently are treating a miniature horse, and I would love a video for that because we are currently teaching her that when I am lunging her that the lunge whip will never touch her body, she spooks a lot and is scared of it

@SKuhn 4 ай бұрын

Thank you! 🙏🏻 I have some fun work to do with my man now. Would this be okay to do it weekly, if not daily?

@sarahwagland1559 4 ай бұрын

Every day, short sessions, works wonders.

@momtaylor3169 Жыл бұрын

hey Sam, id like to do liberty with my horsey but i don't know how to get her to pay attention to me. i can lead her just fine, do all the groundwork exercises, and anything else in her halter, but once i take it off, she will just stand by the gate of the dry lot i use for training. part of that might be buddy sour-ness, but her buddy is usually waiting right outside the gate too. I'm not sure where to go, or what to do, if you can find the time please give em some exercises i can do to help her acknowledge my existence!😩😭 or anything else really, i would appreciate it so soo much. thanks!!

@lindsayCswain Жыл бұрын

Do you have a video on what you were mentioning for lunging?

@janinepotts796 Жыл бұрын

Sam, I have two Mini Wildies. They were only Gelded at 6half years old which was a couple of months before I picked them up. (5months ago) I have only ever had Domestic young big & small horses before so have struggled with them a bit, but have found it a good learning curve for me. The biggest problem I have been having is "Them bring scared of Humans'" they are fine with me but with anyone else they are terrified. If we meet someone on a track where I am leading them they completely freak out. Any ideas of how to get them comfortable with anyone else besides me?

@SRhorsemanship 2 жыл бұрын

My horse does the opposite when I ask him to yield his forequarters, he backs up out of it and it’s really hard to stay with him when he does this. Another thing that he does is freezes a lot and he actually has kicked his front leg out at me before when I was just sending him out on a circle, any thoughts or tips would be appreciated

@WildLilyHorsemanship 2 жыл бұрын

As I was watching your back up, I had a question pop up. In the very beginning stages of teaching a back up, would you ever release for shifting weight? Or would you specifically look for an actual step backwards?

@andreabyrne6527 2 жыл бұрын

If you have a horse that's new to the exercise or wary/confused of what ur asking, you would reward (Release pressure) for that shifting of the weight backwards. Progressing to when they give you those first steps backwards. The second they think 'backwards' is a good point to reward for starting them. ;) (It's the same for anything reward for those positive tries before progressing to the actual task.)

@Mustangsinfinity 2 жыл бұрын

@@andreabyrne6527 What Andrea said!

@tasharowe8437 Жыл бұрын

I have a question. So for when you don’t have a whip could use the lead line to act as a whip being waved? Or is it possible without one?

@christensing2904 3 ай бұрын

What do you do when they come at you with their shoulder and rear at you on the lunge?

@michaeldaly4017 Жыл бұрын

? On anticipating the release. You said if you finished the movement/exercise and he keeps moving after the release, you keep rubbing until he stands still and then take the whip away. Why go to a rubbing until still and then release? Is it to get him to relax and realize that he just needed to stand still and had finished and you are using the nice rubbing to get that through to the horse for positive training at that moment for pressure and then take the whip away?

@Dani-pc4ke Жыл бұрын

What about a horse(OTTB) who doesnt like his ears or anywhere around his ears being touched how do I get him to do that last exercise?

@DML51049 2 жыл бұрын

Could you use these for foals as Well?

@brittdhondt797 9 ай бұрын

what can you do when your horse starts moving forward when you're asking the first exercise?

@Dani-pc4ke Жыл бұрын

What about a horse (OTTB) who isnt a fan of whips in general? I dont want to force him to get used to me using the whip id rather not use one at all but i do use a dressage one when lunging him he is just getting over a injury and just got cleared for full turnout and lunge line work so I'm trying to get him used to it again just ground work specifically