groundwork in the field?

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impresario08

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Any recommendations for groundwork exercises that can be done in the horse's field?

I'm looking to do some groundwork with my old loan horse who I may be getting back soon, but his fieldmate is very attached so if I took him away I would have to bring them both in and I'm a bit short of time for the next few weeks (using the horse as a bit of 'down time' to visit him). The field is big enough to work him (and includes some slopes too).

Or should the field stay as 'rest and play' area and not be associated with work too?

Hope this makes sense :)
 
Personally I don't do any work in the field they live in. Especially if live out 24/7. Although understand sometimes there is no choice.

Just be diligent of his companion following or getting in the way / distraction.
 
I expect Jay to work wherever I ask him to. Occasionally we work in the field, for instance if he is excited by something when turned out, and he has to do a few minutes of groundwork to bring some order into proceedings.

If we had better land he would have more work there, such as dressage training, and even huftering some jumps out there!

I would avoid if the other horse is clingy, as getting between two clingy horses when on your own is a high risk strategy.
 
As above I expect horses to work wherever I ask. Whether that be on the grass by the road (leg yield not schooling!) or an indoor arena with a full length of mirrors.

If something they are not used to I would allow some glacing/spooking but never any stupid behaviour like bucking or bolting.

Fence out a little arena in your field and use that. :)
 
I've made a non permenant round pen type set up in my field, it is usable most of the year and is incredibly useful without taking up too much space. you can see it in the background here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW2uScl35ZI

I have a few jumps that I put up for inhand jumping, lunge and free jumping
We do polework free and in hand
I set up poles in an L shape and get him to reverse between them
Weaving between cones
Trotting a triangle (good for making them agile!)
walking and trotting shoulder in
The gateway to the round pen is taller so I string torn sheets etc over the top for bombproofing
 
I've done a fair bit of long reining in the field. I steer clear of lunging these days as the field is on a slope which has caused him to stumble a bit, and im not sure if an occasion when he hyper extended his leg after going over on his fetlock exacerbated his psd which occurred not long after.
 
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