I bought an 14 year old OTTB a year ago. I have riding anxiety from falling a lot at a bad eventing barn and wanted a calm horse to build confidence. Turns out he also has trauma and he panicked a couple of months ago when a horse raced up behind him. He bolted and I panicked and fell.
Then he got an abscess and blew a hole in hoof. So, I’ve been not riding and doing a lot of groundwork. I’m also starting Brainspotting to deal with my anxiety.
I wanted ideas of groundwork to help us both. He reacts to sounds not objects. I’ve done umbrellas, tarps, etc and no reaction. I’ve been bringing him on the road near a highway because some truck sounds bother him.
I’m looking to start riding him in a month but want to work on everything I can to help bond. Looking for exercises.
Has he been ridden in ear stuffies? I recently spent about a month riding a friends teenage horse that has always gone in them but no-one told me. So I happily rode him all month without them and he was definitely more reactive to sounds than I expected given his age and how much he’d shown in his life.
No but I will
Working equitation and TTouch have some good systematic ground work exercises with purpose!
For fun, you could also look up in hand trail/obstacle classes on youtube to get ideas of things to try at home.
Check out Jec Ballou’s books; great stuff!
I think finding a philosophy you agree with and following their process is best. The same exercise can be done 10 different ways with 10 different results based on the humans body language and timing. Following a philosophy and process builds a personalized toolbox and then you can find exercises to build on it. In isolation, I don’t think anyone should tell you do X activity because what could be very confidence building for a horse can also be confidence shattering if the right pieces aren’t in place. TRT is a good option. Warwick Schiller if you are open to going really really slow. Featherlight is another popular option.
GraceLikeRain This is so true.
It can be very hard to explain how to execute an exercise and why you do it this way not that way.
If the horse is reactive to sound have someone bring over a quad/dirtbike/lawnmower. Get a pop gun, put rocks in a plastic milk jug.
You tube is a good idea also.
Keep in mind that the goal is really to teach a proper, safe reaction to whatever stimulus bothers him. You can’t possibly expose a horse to all sights and sounds that might be scary, but you CAN teach him how to respond.
Be careful with YouTube and generally googling things. There are probably more wrong ways to do things than right. Go with trusted resources listed above, John Lyons is another good one.
My journey with groundwork has morphed into the goal of softness. I want to keep a “belly” in my lead rope. Do you know what I mean by that? I want to get an “ear” upon request. I want a horse that stays with me - just behind me - following my lead like a dance team.
If you approach groundwork with the goal that, at the highest level, everything you could do under saddle, you can do from the ground…you could spend the rest of your life pursing the art of beautiful ground work.
My mustang was and is rattled by some sounds. We’ve worked through many things and I’d suggest you work on sounds. Start small and with things that barely take him over thresh hold and then back off.
My guy was terrified of the mower, tractor, vehicles, on and on. Even things like chimes and any metal banging. Oh and the clippers too. I use R+ to help with confidence and communication.
Over time we would approach the chainsaw running, air compressor, weedeater, etc. You can work on all that - just small and keep it positive. Key is stopping the noise when they show you a moment of relaxation, give, or head drop. Rinse and repeat over and over.
Let me know if any of this interests you and you want to pursue more depth.
Yes, for me Featherlight (Yvette) is amazing - TRT - Warwick - and oh my Frederic Pignon and his brother Jean Francois.
