Groundwork
Try these exercises with your horse to help improve your communication and bond with your horse as well as teach him basic skills and manners.
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Groundwork - Moving the Horse Laterally From Pressure | Chelsea Canedy
Another useful tool on the ground is moving laterally from pressure. Chelsea demonstrates how to do a leg yield from the ground with the horse’s head to the wall, which helps with a boundary to go sideways instead of forward. When the horse gets it right, she removes the aid and relaxes her body ...
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Groundwork - Moving the Horse Laterally from Pressure | Chelsea Canedy
Another useful tool on the ground is moving laterally from pressure. Chelsea demonstrates how to do a leg yield with the horse head to the wall. Doing it along the wall helps with a boundary to go sideways instead of forward. When the horse gets it right, she removes the aid and relaxes her body ...
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Groundwork - Transitions on the Circle
Chelsea moves from leading the horse to circling, which she uses more for building the connection with her horse instead of for exercise. She explains her single cue aids for different gaits, stressing that using a barrage of aids to get your horse to move is just like using your leg constantly w...
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Groundwork - Managing a Less Sensitive Horse | Chelsea Canedy
Chelsea demonstrates how to manage a less sensitive horse on the ground. She shows how to add pressure to get a forward response. It is important to give corrections quickly, so the horse associates the stick and string with the aid she just gave. Downward transitions should also happen promptly,...
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Working at the Mounting Block | Chelsea Canedy
For safety reasons, another important area to work with your horse is around mounting. Chelsea explains and demonstrates the procedures she uses to teach a horse to stand quietly at the mounting block. She also shows what she does if the horse does not stop and stand in a relaxed manner.
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Using the Rope Safely | Chelsea Canedy
Chelsea takes a moment to explain how she safely works with her rope and considerations to take when working with your own horse.
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Basic Groundwork Skills Away From Home | Chelsea Canedy | PART 01
Chelsea explains the basics of groundwork including keeping the horse out of her personal space, how to send the horse on a circle around her in different gaits and how to read the horse's energy. She also explains how going somewhere new will affect the horse's ability to concentrate and perform.
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Basic Groundwork Skills Away From Home | Chelsea Canedy | PART 02
Chelsea continues to work her horse on the line and explains how to be patient and relaxed so that the horse can cue into her and relax as well. If the horse has extra energy, she wants to allow the horse to express her energy. To do that, she allows the horse to go forward, but then gives the ho...
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Basic Groundwork Skills Away From Home | Chelsea Canedy | PART 03
Chelsea continues to work the horse through external distractions and points out the cues the horse gives her to show that the horse's anxiety is lowering. She makes sure to get the same type of reactions going both directions.
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In-Hand Piaffe | Laura Ashley Killian | PART 01
Laura explains and demonstrates her process of warming up a horse in-hand. She shows how she holds the reins and the whip. She goes through what she does with groundwork, including different size circles and leg yielding before going into piaffe steps. Please note: Spurs should not be worn during...
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In-Hand Piaffe | Laura Ashley Killian | PART 02
Laura shows how she asks for quality piaffe in-hand. She shows how she uses her reins and her body language to keep the horse relaxed because she doesn't want him to get tense. She starts off easily and then asks for more.
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In-Hand Piaffe | Laura Ashley Killian | PART 03
Laura gives a piaffe demonstration with her Arabian/Oldenburg to show some differences between how she schools different horses. She also shows how it can be done without the reins.
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Leading a Tacked-Up Horse | Sloane Coles
Sloane Coles demonstrates proper ways of leading a tacked-up horse. There are different options for going to the ring. A leather chain shank is common at horse shows, but it can be very dangerous if not used properly. Sloane shows how the chain can be used incorrectly and correctly.
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Safely Haltering and Leading a Horse | Sloane Coles
Sloane Coles is a hands-on horsewoman. In this video, she demonstrates proper ways of haltering and leading a horse. Basic care is important to Sloane, and safety is paramount. It is important to read the horse’s attitude, keep the horse’s attention and have the horse come to you instead of you g...
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Safely Turning Out a Horse | Sloane Coles
Sloane Coles demonstrates proper ways of turning a horse out in a pasture. Again, safety is important, and it is important the the horse faces you. She demonstrates how to handle a horse that is nervous or wants to get away quickly. Take your time and make turning out a training opportunity.
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Safely Catching a Horse | Sloane Coles
Sloane Coles demonstrates proper ways of catching a horse. Basic care is important to Sloane, and safety is paramount. You should be aware of where you are and where the horse is so that you are in a safe place. It is also important to always close the gate behind you, even if there isn’t a horse...
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Using a Rope Halter | Sloane Coles
Sloane Coles recommends using a rope halter for horses that are difficult, strong, or inexperienced. The rope halter gives excellent pressure and control and is the best training aid for leading your horse.
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Mounting with a Mounting Block | Holly Hugo-Vidal
Keeping safety at the forefront, Holly Hugo-Vidal shows how a rider correctly and safely gets on her horse using a mounting block.
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Relaxing Your Horse on the Longe Line | Lexy Reed
Hunter/jumper/equitation trainer Lexy Reed demonstrates all proper aspects of longeing a horse. She discusses the ways to work a horse on a longe line and why and demonstrates how to set up the equipment for longing correctly as well as safely. She then shows how to get the most out of your longe...
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Introduction to Liberty Work | Dan James
Dan takes a moment to introduce the concept of liberty work and the International Liberty Horse Association.
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Liberty Demo with Swampy | Dan James
Dan does a brief demo with one of his older stallions, Swampy. He demonstrates coming when called as well as flying lead changes and the Spanish walk.
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Liberty Demo with Apollo | Dan James
Dan works with Apollo, one of his original liberty horses. This is an example of some of the fun tricks a horse can learn.
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Liberty Demo with Amelia | Dan James
Amelia is the only mare in Dan's group, and she is very opinionated. She shows that she can be more challenging to work with than the geldings, but Dan lets her do her thing and then is able to bring her in and demonstrate changing directions and weaving cones at liberty.
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Liberty Demo with Two Horses | Dan James
Dan moves on to working with two palomino horses, Vanilla Ice and Spider Pig. These two were stunt doubles on the TV show Heartland. As they start to work, the horses get into a similar rhythm and start to work in tandem. He also shows them working in opposite directions.