Groundwork Strengthening Programme (Stage 1)
A downloadable guide of how in-hand exercises (groundwork and polework) can help to develop strength and condition, from the guidance of a BSc (Hons) Veterinary Physiotherapist.
This programme will be different to many - it is not about intensity and progress, it's about mental stimulation and small movements to stimulate the engagement of positive postural muscles. Because of this, your horse should leave each session feeling engaged, happy and refreshed... not tired, lethargic and confused!
This background of training has come from my own experience training my PRE called Meji who was very nervous when he was imported from Spain. I quickly realised I needed an approach to training that was holistic, and gave as much attention to the horses mental well-being as well as their physical one. I found too many programmes to be focused on physical training, and I found this made Meji anxious as he hadn't developed his self-confidence in understanding how to move his body correctly; me simply asking a basic question elicited a negative response of biting, rearing, barging...
In order to improve his confidence and physical strength, it was essential for me to exercise him in a way that provided his body with a "one way street" to correct engagement. Positive reinforcement, clicker training, strategic polework layouts, lateral work and groundwork patterns provided an essential base to changing his posture. So - this programme aims to provide you with inspiration and a framework to integrate into your horses regime that will start them off on their journey to a more functional and positive posture. Each horse is very different, and so providing a single plan with repetitions and timings would be a closed-minded approach. The programme has therefore been separated into stages - starting with lower level exercises and progressing upwards; it outlines the foundation steps to correct strength.
I hope this programme will provide users with an insight into how to strengthen your horse without rigorous exercise, training aids and a sole focus on forwardness. Instead, holistic movement patterns and strategic polework layouts to "switch on" the correct arc of muscles to allow for their engagement and therefore strengthening.
A downloadable guide of how in-hand exercises (groundwork and polework) can help to develop strength and condition, from the guidance of a BSc (Hons) Veterinary Physiotherapist.
This programme will be different to many - it is not about intensity and progress, it's about mental stimulation and small movements to stimulate the engagement of positive postural muscles. Because of this, your horse should leave each session feeling engaged, happy and refreshed... not tired, lethargic and confused!
This background of training has come from my own experience training my PRE called Meji who was very nervous when he was imported from Spain. I quickly realised I needed an approach to training that was holistic, and gave as much attention to the horses mental well-being as well as their physical one. I found too many programmes to be focused on physical training, and I found this made Meji anxious as he hadn't developed his self-confidence in understanding how to move his body correctly; me simply asking a basic question elicited a negative response of biting, rearing, barging...
In order to improve his confidence and physical strength, it was essential for me to exercise him in a way that provided his body with a "one way street" to correct engagement. Positive reinforcement, clicker training, strategic polework layouts, lateral work and groundwork patterns provided an essential base to changing his posture. So - this programme aims to provide you with inspiration and a framework to integrate into your horses regime that will start them off on their journey to a more functional and positive posture. Each horse is very different, and so providing a single plan with repetitions and timings would be a closed-minded approach. The programme has therefore been separated into stages - starting with lower level exercises and progressing upwards; it outlines the foundation steps to correct strength.
I hope this programme will provide users with an insight into how to strengthen your horse without rigorous exercise, training aids and a sole focus on forwardness. Instead, holistic movement patterns and strategic polework layouts to "switch on" the correct arc of muscles to allow for their engagement and therefore strengthening.
A downloadable guide of how in-hand exercises (groundwork and polework) can help to develop strength and condition, from the guidance of a BSc (Hons) Veterinary Physiotherapist.
This programme will be different to many - it is not about intensity and progress, it's about mental stimulation and small movements to stimulate the engagement of positive postural muscles. Because of this, your horse should leave each session feeling engaged, happy and refreshed... not tired, lethargic and confused!
This background of training has come from my own experience training my PRE called Meji who was very nervous when he was imported from Spain. I quickly realised I needed an approach to training that was holistic, and gave as much attention to the horses mental well-being as well as their physical one. I found too many programmes to be focused on physical training, and I found this made Meji anxious as he hadn't developed his self-confidence in understanding how to move his body correctly; me simply asking a basic question elicited a negative response of biting, rearing, barging...
In order to improve his confidence and physical strength, it was essential for me to exercise him in a way that provided his body with a "one way street" to correct engagement. Positive reinforcement, clicker training, strategic polework layouts, lateral work and groundwork patterns provided an essential base to changing his posture. So - this programme aims to provide you with inspiration and a framework to integrate into your horses regime that will start them off on their journey to a more functional and positive posture. Each horse is very different, and so providing a single plan with repetitions and timings would be a closed-minded approach. The programme has therefore been separated into stages - starting with lower level exercises and progressing upwards; it outlines the foundation steps to correct strength.
I hope this programme will provide users with an insight into how to strengthen your horse without rigorous exercise, training aids and a sole focus on forwardness. Instead, holistic movement patterns and strategic polework layouts to "switch on" the correct arc of muscles to allow for their engagement and therefore strengthening.