First Groundwork Exercise for Your New Horse

Well we're back. We had to get caught up on some things at home after our Oregon extravaganza. We are grateful for your patience! Pat wanted to do this video for some of the people in our lives who buy older horses that are already being ridden but don't have any groundwork foundation. This one exercise covers a lot of things like giving personal space on the ground, disengaging the hindquarters and stepping across with the forehand. It's also a important when teaching a horse to load in a trailer. Pat starts off by showing how it's supposed to look with Chinaco. Then he moves on to Gabby's new horse, Moon, who has never done any groundwork in his life. We hope you'll find it useful on your horsemanship journey. For more information, visit our website, www.thediscipli... . Please take a moment to hit the Like button, Subscribe to our channel, and Share with your friends. You might also consider becoming a member of our channel by hitting the Join button. As always, thank you for watching!
On a side note, Pat's mic decided to quit midway through this video so you'll need to adjust your volume. I apologize for the lack of quality! I have a back-up mic on order so this won't happen in the future...hopefully!

[@gab2hell]

If I had tried to brush Homer’s tail he’d have kicked me…such a difference in them. Homer, aka Spotted Fever, will live his best life in a pasture with another gelding and be a lovely lawn ornament. I promised that horse I’d care for him for the rest of his life and that’s exactly what I will do. Pat & Deb have saved my life. We all know most others would have pretended that he was fine, not wanting to admit that was just not in the cards for him. Best humans ever. ❤

[@meycoe]

poor Chinaco is saying "why am I back in kindergarten? " His ears are fun to watch. So glad Gabby has a safe horse now. Old pony didn't get it at first. Best exercise for groundwork ever!

[@meycoe]

p.s. he was closing his eyes at the finish. Felt a little bad for him, but he is a much safer horse to be around now.

[@tracyjohnson5023]

When a great horseman with years of experience tells you a horse will get you hurt, believe him. Pat thank you so much for telling everyone the lick/chew response so lauded by internet "trainers" is worry, not acceptance. Apparently, they don't look at the eye.

[@KennethMcMurry-h9s]

This is why I like your frankness you tell people what that horse is going to do to them

[@tinoyb9294]

Love Chinaco's floppy ears. Totally relaxed and trusting horse.

[@valbeech7509]

That was just brilliant. You have a wonderful way of teaching your audience Pat. Leading by example 😊

[@ruliliru2378]

Not every horse can be fixed. Thank you for not following trend of modern youtube trainers that convince people that every horse can improve by correct work. Some psychological traumas and behaviour issues are so deep rooted that horse can not fight it and is so much so much scared that it becomes danger for itself, the herd and owners too. Best thing for those animals is to give them couple acres of gods carpet and let them enjoy their life in peace.

[@larag4646]

Seems like that horse might be prone to being reactive and then someone in his past gave him a reason.

[@gab2hell]

I’m actually impressed how quickly Moon came around! & unlike when I did this with Homer, he didn’t try to kick anyone.

[@larag4646]

Well that sucks about Homer. Glad Gabby has your guidance though. Riding a particular horse isn't worth her life and not all of them can be fixed. If Pat says the horse is dangerous, she's wise to listen. And I'm glad to hear Gabby isn't passing off a dangerous horse to someone else. It's an honorable choice to just pasture him. I like her new one though. Looks like y'all will get somewhere with him.

[@gab2hell]

At first I cried (not in front of Pat) when he told me that Homer would never be safe around people- but then I eased into the idea that he can have a happy life just being a pastured horse…& maybe a watch dog! I found a lovely spot for him and can still go see him weekly. Some horses just aren’t right for our needs and that’s ok. Thanks for caring. ❤

[@larag4646]

@@gab2hell You did good by him. You gave him the best opportunity he could get. You did your job. It's a shame he couldn't come around but it is what it is. Your new horse looks like a really good one so enjoy him!

[@ALWAYZSYDWAYZ]

@@gab2hell is pastured him short for saying PTS or is he really living in a pasture somewhere. I’m only asking because I assumed the later which I understand needs to happen in certain situations.

[@gab2hell]

Well he’s currently at our barn, getting cookies and a fruit salad daily! But in November he’ll go to a real 10 acre pasture with another gelding and a mare. What is PTS? Pasture Traumatic Syndrome? 😊

[@ALWAYZSYDWAYZ]

@@gab2hell oh lovely!! Thank you for sharing your journey with us I’ve really enjoyed these videos with Homer and now with your new horse.

[@twildy8917]

Pat, you are a true friend, and Gabby is a wise woman to heed your advice. I'm sure having a good horse to ride made it easier for her. Homer will be a beautiful pasture ornament.

[@janetschmitt6760]

Moon is a good name for that horse.

[@myearthlytreasures3]

Interesting comment about how some people use endless ground work to avoid riding

[@suehelling8770]

Thanks for showing the eye blocking that can save your life i try to tell people how important it is to learn this

[@davidsaldivar3043]

Great lesson as always

[@artemisXsidecross]

Well done and an excellent explanation of both why and how ground work is to be accomplished ⾺

[@NNLBC]

Great lesson

[@shelleyrbarry8501]

Thank you! This is really informative and I’ll put it to use this week

[@ObsidianWolves]

Fantastic video as always. Thank you for sharing. May I ask, what breed is Chinaco?

[@Isabelle511]

Very helpful video, thank you Pat and Deb! Would love to see more like these to continue groundwork training

[@l.d.b.r5141]

Gracias

[@ALWAYZSYDWAYZ]

Loved the video as always. I was doing this with my horse I’m starting last week. Pat has nerves of steel I think I probably stepped back a few to many times 😅

[@PatnDebPuckett]

You have to teach yourself to get in your horse’s eye up to and including making forceful contact with it. This will have the effect of making you stand your ground. Bottom line is if you don’t take over, the horse will.

[@ALWAYZSYDWAYZ]

@@PatnDebPuckett Thank you I will watch this again before I go out do it again. Such a great video thank you.

[@janasharooni5203]

Thank you

[@Livefreejeeper]

Great that was my next move.

[@robertcarazo8839]

👍🐴

[@jjackson-7660]

Can you please explain the reasoning for this specific lesson. I see it in a lot of your videos, and I’m just wondering if there is more reason than spacial awareness. As in helping them develop proper movement by crossing front legs, etc. Love your stuff. Much appreciation from BC Canada 🇨🇦

[@larag4646]

Horses are claustrophobic. He’s teaching him to not be worried about it so he can be safely loaded into a trailer. You don’t want to be in the trailer with the horse worried about small spaces. Outside the trailer, you have room to move if the horse completely loses his mind.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

It teaches the horse to respect your space and never consider running through you. It teaches the horse to yield the hindquarters and the forehand. And it teaches the rider to be aware of the mechanics necessary for the horse to accomplish this.

[@jjackson-7660]

@@PatnDebPuckett this is more what I was wondering as far as the mechanics of their turns. Should we be focusing on them crossing their legs in a specific way? And then those turns are building blocks for how those turns should be done under saddle. I’ll keep watching and learning. Thankyou for spreading your wisdom.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

@@jjackson-7660 observe what the horse has to do in order to accomplish his turn: disengage the hindquarters and bring the front end across.

[@jeffdunn9865]

Good exercise, but for more inexperienced people I would recommend starting without the squeeze first…ie just lunging on the lead rope so they know to go forward first…the squeeze is the next step.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Disagree. We’ve taught this exercise first for quite a few years with pretty good results. It’s called total emersion and making the person step up. Not to mention the boredom on the part of the horse mindlessly wandering in a circle.

[@DS-Horseman]

What needs to happen with a rider and a horse for Pat to consider taking the horse on in training?

[@Livefreejeeper]

Watching you brush that horses tail it made me ask a question. My horse has a very very think tail loaded with hair. What’s the best product to use to untangle his tail

[@Grapejuice190]

u can use human conditioner and even leave it in after the first wash (just to clean his tail) and while its wet gently brush it, it should help loosen those knots

[@beckygossett4697]

Is there any reason to start farther away and then move closer to the trailer? I have an older horse (5) that was never handled and seems claustrophobic. She tends to push into me on the right side when worried.

[@PatnDebPuckett]

Yes you can start farther away especially if it will help you to not step back. Pat knew that this gray horse could handle the pressure.

[@beckygossett4697]

@@PatnDebPuckett thanks!