FROM THE GROUND UP

When you work with a horse on the ground, it’s easy to underestimate the amount of communication that takes place between you and your horse. Even if you have only a half hour to work with your horse on a given day, the feedback from your horse during that time can be just as valuable as the feedback from an hour-long riding session. It’s not about the amount of time you have, but the kind of time you spend being productive with him.

Here I’ll offer my best tips for using even a short ground-work session to get the most from your horse and build your relationship. I’ll help you break up your session into 5- to 10-minute increments so you can use your time wisely, set goals, and communicate your expectations to your horse so you can develop his mental and physical fitness for your next big show or trail ride.

THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES: GROOM FOR SUCCESS

Those first few minutes spent grooming are just as important as the rest of your training session. If you don’t spend quality time with your horse, you won’t get to know him, and that’s going to affect your working relationship.

When you brush your