Ground control

Brilliant tips for better manners

Our horses are our children, and just like children, they have to be taught how to behave politely. Teaching our horses good manners is important as a matter of safety for both horse and handler. A horse who is not disciplined on the ground can pose a real danger to himself and those around him. Grooms and owners have been severely injured in the past thanks to rearing and spinning horses who haven’t been taught to walk calmly next to their handler. We look into some of the most common problems when it comes to ground work.

Barging off

Probably the most common problem when it comes to ground manners is a horse who barges off, towing the handler behind. Not only is this uncomfortable for the handler, but it’s tempting for the horse to get out of control when his handler doesn’t seem to mind letting him have his way.

The correct place for you to stand when leading a horse is on the horse’s left side, slightly in front of the shoulder and behind the head. You should hold the lead rein slightly below the jaw with your right hand and hold the end of the lead rein in your left hand. Young and inexperienced horses always tend to try and walk ahead, not out of nastiness but out of eagerness. However, they should be taught from as early on as possible to walk politely at the handler’s pace. If not enforced from a young age, they quickly learn that it’s the handler who needs to keep up with them, and as they grow in age and strength, you’ll find you have a much larger problem on your hands.