Floor work in general
Ground work is the foundation of every trusting relationship between man and horse. Here it is important to grasp and understand the body language of the horse in order to be able to communicate with it. No matter in which area of equestrian sport, whether carriage driving, racing, western riding, English riding or vaulting, everywhere the horse-human relationship is first started from the ground. Ground work does not necessarily only mean circus work like liberty dressage with the horse.
Ground work begins already at foal age with getting used to the halter, the practice of lifting the hooves, etc. In the further course, for example, the halter guidance is trained. Generally speaking, the ground work conditions different body language signals through which the horse can be guided in everyday life from the ground.
This work also has something to do with the hierarchy between horse and man. The horse has to learn to trust and follow the human and his commands.
Once a trustful communication has been established from the ground, communication on the horse's back is also made easier.
Ground work is a diverse field:
- Basic training of the foal/young horse in the form of halter work, giving hooves, lungeing,...
- Everyday communication with the horse, be it cleaning, leading it from the paddock, etc.
- Gymnastics of the horse with the lunge work
- Preparation of various lessons such as side steps on the cavesson, knotted halter, long reins, double lunge,...
- Developing circus lessons like compliment, Spanish step,...
- Liberty Dressage
There are special schools that provide basic principles of floor work, such as those according to Monty Roberts, Pat Parelli, Philippe Karl etc.
