[TravelingGirl]

I need a list of ground work I can do with my horse. I don't have an arena or round pen to work in, but he will lunge on a line.

So leading, backing, lunging (with transitions), standing...what else can I work on with him?

[ridingthebreeze]

standing still when tied up..bathing...if thats considerd ground work

[taydajumper93]

Yeilding haunches and forequarters. Pressure points.

[HawaiianPaint]

everything is ground work You can pretty much do everything on the ground that you can do in the saddle! If you're planning on riding this horse you can also put a saddle on and longe with a saddle. If you're not quite that far then you can still work on leading to a mounting block and standing still when you ask. (part of that whole 'standing' thing I guess..)

Trotting in hand, picking up feet, asking him to yield his hindquarters (just working with yielding to pressure in general, when you tap his foot you want him to move it etc).

[Crazy4Bays]

you can always go to RFD if you have it, it's a tv channel (may just be on direct tv, but im not sure). It has a lot of different horse trainers (including pat parelli, clinton anderson, etc.) and doing all types of things to do with your horse

[sher327]

crossovers are a wonderful way to get the horse listening and moving around you! You can also rope around his rump and apply pressure to get him to turn out of it etc. Send him out on the lead (back him) and ask him to stay put and stay focused on you while he's doing it then invite him in.

Work on bathing,teach him to high tie,tie to a tree/pole etc. Teach him a tricks, that sort of thing. It is SO true that we are constantly teaching or un-teaching every second we are with our horses and I find that on the ground, just like in the saddle, my horses are much more alert and eager if they have something to do.

[TravelingGirl]

Originally Posted by HawaiianPaint

If you're planning on riding this horse

I ride him now, but due to a move and some minor barn sour issues, I need to get him refocused on me, so I figure lots of ground work is the best/safest way to go while he's settling down.

[Dancinglite]

Originally Posted by TravelingGirl

I need a list of ground work I can do with my horse. I don't have an arena or round pen to work in, but he will lunge on a line.

So leading, backing, lunging (with transitions), standing...what else can I work on with him?

Don't you have a trainer you got recently. I am sure he would be better suited to suggest the right kind of training required for a horse like yours.

Maybe this will help...

http://www.tlcgaittrainer.com/trainingtip.html

[ChaseroftheCans]

Besides the normal 'moving' activities associated with ground work, I also consider sacing-out to be ground work.

Grab some tarps, horse-eating plastic bags, brooms, water bottles, scary ponies/sheep/cows/mature children, trash cans, things that make noise, etc.

Desensitizing will help build trust in each other, and teach him things aren't as devilish as they seem. This way, when you're on him, these horse-eating beasts won't be as scary. Good luck!

[TravelingGirl]

Originally Posted by Dancinglite

Don't you have a trainer you got recently. I am sure he would be better suited to suggest the right kind of training required for a horse like yours.

DL, we recently moved to a new barn and my horse is a bit stressed and unfocused. ANY ground work will help get him refocused but I don't want him getting bored and tuning me out...hence, the request for ideas.

I don't have a lot of money to work with a trainer on every little thing (you, of all people, should understand that one), so if I can do some ground work with Traveler to refocus him so that when the trainer comes out on Tuesday we can address some more important issues, then that would be best, wouldn't it?

And I've never heard of ground work, done correctly, negatively effecting a horse.

Oh, and should I remind everyone that Trav is gaited? Just so there's no confusion? Maybe there are some nuances of ground work that wouldn't be appropriate for a gaited horse that I'm not aware of.