Groundwork fun with your horse?

Blizzard

Blizzard

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Can anyone recommend any groundwork games or exercises, to make life a bit more interesting!

Beau already loves loose schooling, but running around in a circle gets a bit boring after a while!

I was thinking maybe introducing scary objects, tarpaulin etc, doing a bit of bombproofing, but would be interested in any recommendations people have!
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I tried some 'bombproofing' kind of things last night, didn't seem to interest him much, no matter what I introduced all he did was try to eat it haha!
 
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Do u do any long rein work? Thats good and you can get lateral work and bending exercises

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no I havent done any long reining.

any tips?
 
I long rein George and it's fun, but I usually have an audience as it's so hysterical watching me get in a muddle!! I just run the long reins through the middle ring of a roller and away we go, we even did a walk/trot dressage test on Mon - our straight lines weren't very straight though and I was knackered at the end!!
 
How about a bit of a obstacle course to test your handling and make things a bit different. You could have some cones (or something similar) for bending in walk and trot. Set up a square on the floor with poles and try to walk in, stand square and then walk out etc or lay out poles in an 'L' shape and try walking through without touching the poles. You could try turn on the forehand in hand. We use a blue rug held down by poles for a bit of bombproofing.
 
I agree with GinaGem... set up a mini handy pony course with cones, scary bags, ect. the one at our local show has a washing line where you are supposed to peg out your washing if you can get near it (as it is only held by two cones so drops 2ft when you put something on it lol)
and have to carry an umbrella down the long side of the school walk over a plastic bin liner, jump a jump with lots of scary stuff around it

Or could you set a jumping course, or how about just going for a hack to break up the schooling
 
Chancer loves to play tag, he also loves his space hopper being thrown/kicked at him (also great for bomb proofing) and he noses it around and pushes it along.

He does walking over plastic, over and between poles, through cones, back up, follow the leader.

Long reining - practicing dressage tests, loose schooling, loose jumping, lunging round the whole school with the occasional circle.

At the moment I do more ground that ridden work as he is only 3 and started the groundwork at 18 months building up very slowly and increasing time and things we do.

I enjoy groundwork as much as ridden work.
 
Umberellas are easy. Get him used to them if not already. Start with one folded down then gradually unfirl! Get hin used to one waving about by his sides then over his head. Upgrade to a really large multi coloured one.Useful when you are out hacking.
 
where did you get the space hopper from? I like taking new things into the field CJ to look at, she is only 2 and investigates everything with lots of enthusiasm:-)

We also walk over and through rugs/tarpaulin/poles/branches/wooden plates depending on what is at hand.

She has not been lunged or long reined yet but we have been practicing standing still when held, being touched by the looped up lunge rope on her back and legs, backing, moving hind or back legs sideways, and are about to start loading practice, getting used to clippers near her, bathing, walking out in hand etc but only for very short periods at the time.
 
Good old e-bay about £10 with postage.

I got the supersized one and have to admit to hopping round the yard myself - rather fun and brings back memories of my childhood.

Have also considered smearing it with molasses and leaving in the field to keep him from being destructo beast when he gets bored - he is not the sort to eat all day and poor old Cairo can only play so much with him.

Have also given him a couple of logs about 3' long and 1' round which he chews and generally "kills".
 
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