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Groundwork exercises are important but mostly straightforward and can be used when training either your own horse or a horse you are training. Ground exercises are a vital part of getting to know each other and of building trust between you and the horse. Future training success is dependant on good groundwork. Safety and your personal space bubble must be respected by your new ton-sized friend.

The key to success in horse training is to be patient, persistent and to employ positive reinforcement techniques in every exercise you perform together. These three P’s can be applied to all current and future levels of horse training.

1. Groom your horse. Grooming represents more than just a perfect first exercise for you and your horse. It is this quality time during which you and the horse will get to know each other. Stand beside him and brush his neck and back. It is not unusual for the horse to bring his teeth around to you for a little love bite. He must not be allowed to do this to humans, even though horses do it to each other. You can discourage this easily enough by the wave of a hand or by pushing his head back to the straight position. Horses have enormous teeth so it is important for your safety that you let him know that this is unacceptable. Use patience and keep calm. He’ll get the idea and will cooperate. There’s no need to get carried away and shout or frantically wave or smack. This will send you backwards where trust is concerned.

2. Lead your horse. Hold the lead rope in your right hand, just below the horse’s chin, and walk beside him on his left side. With a slow step, walk forwards. He should not try to go ahead of you but should remain at your right side. You should walk around to you left in a circle if he does try. You may need to do this a few times to get the point across. Show persistence. By circling to your left you will stay just ahead of him as it should be. Should your horse not want to walk with you then stand slightly behind him, at his shoulder, facing the same direction. Hold the rope close to his chin and push forward. Give praise and positive reinforcement when he takes a small step. Once he begins to walk of his own accord, walk on in a position which is slightly ahead of him. Remember that in order to stay safe, you should never wrap the lead rope around any part of your body. If the horse decides to bolt you’ll be going along and it will not be pretty.

3. Lunge your horse.This exercise is fantastic and is used by every trainer and most horse owners I’ve ever known no matter what the horse’s function is. Lunging will teach many of the skills and commands, or cues, your horse will need to know when you’re ready to work him under saddle.

In a large open area (an arena works, too, if you don’t have a round enclosure) clip your horse to a lunge lead specifically for lungeing. This rope will be a lot longer than the one you use for leading – about ten metres is normal. Clip the lead to the horse’s left halter side and hold the lead in your left hand. Begin by holding the lunge line and facing the horses left side. In your right hand hold a lunge whip; this is to guide him along. Now step to your right sideways toward the rear of the horse while holding the whip out behind him. The horse should step forward as a natural reaction. Let the line out and follow the horse just behind and to the left side and make a kissing sound. He’ll begin to associate that sound with “move forward”. As you’re turning and the horse moves in a circle around you, hold the whip slightly behind his hindquarters. The whip is not for hitting. Simply by waving it about a little the horse should pay attention to you.

Now that he’s moving forward, you’ll move slowly backwards to the centre of the virtual circle. With the lunge lead fully extended, stand in the middle and turn as the horse walks around you in a circle. Watch your horse’s hip area as he’s going round.

This is the perfect time to teach your horse to understand “whoa”. In a low, calm voice, say the word “whoooaa”. At the same time, step toward your horse’s head and repeat the word. When he stops, give him lots of praise and a little neck rub. You will help him remember what to do through this positive reinforcement.

Changing your position now will allow you to lunge your horse in an anti-clockwise manner. It’s done in the same way, but with the lead clipped to the right side of the halter and the lunge whip in the left hand.

These few exercises are just the very basics to help you get started with training your horse. Bear in mind that a horse is a huge and powerful creature. This alone should be enough to remind you to have adequate horse insurance in place should either you or your equine be injured. Your success with training and all future activities depends both on safety and trust. As well as a loyal friend, your horse is also an investment, so remember to protect that investment against theft, accident or misadventure by making sure you compare horse insurance policies to ensure you are getting the best level of cover for both of your needs.

Spending time with your horse not only enables a close bond to develop between you both, but it also enables you to learn how your horse responds to situations and how they are in themselves. You will learn to read their body language over time. A calm and responsive horse is generally a happy one. When happy, your horse will keep his head lowered, his jaw relaxed and have soft eyes. Your horse will both show and seek affection and will not invade your personal space – these are signs of a happy horse. When a horse yawns this is not a sign of being bored, but a sign that he is calm and relaxed. A horse will show that he is uncomfortable in a number of ways, including holding his head high and with a tense jaw, darting his eyes around, and not wanting to stand still. Allow the horse time to settle himself slowly in order to avoid the onset of “flight” mode and further stress.

Grooming your horse gives you the opportunity to check him over regularly. You should inspect your horse’s teeth, hooves, shoes, eyes and droppings regularly. Any change in the normal should be reported to your vet at the earliest opportunity – any delay could cause you extra worry, expense and a potential claim on your horse insurance. Ensure you have made appointments with your equine vet for the administration of vaccinations and worming treatments. There are many different types of worms and parasites and you should rotate medications to get the best benefits and to stop them building up immunity. The result of insufficient or unsuitable medicines and treatment could be a colicky equine, with potential heart and immune system problems. Ensure that your horse receives vaccinations for influenza, encephalitis and rhinoneumonitis. A good idea would be to have tetanus and rabies vaccinations too. Regular users of trailers at show and equestrian events may need to show a negative Coggins test for presence of the incurable virus EIA or equine infectious anaemia.

Having regular farrier visits is also essential for a happy and comfortable horse. If you allow your horse’s hooves to get too long it will soon be uncomfortable and this will of course affect the mood and performance of your horse. Your farrier will need to trim your horse’s hooves every six weeks or so.

Your horse will need a blanket or coat during the wet and cold winter months and during the summer, a fly protective horse sheet or mask is advisable. If your horse lathers up during or after exercising, it’s best to use a horse cooler until they have calmed and cooled down. Drinking water directly after exercise could put a horse’s body into shock. It is also important to let your horse cool down properly after exercise and before feeding. Leave it for an hour after meals before exercising your horse.

Horses need to have a purpose, whether it is riding, showing, therapy, carriages or dray. They revel on feeling worthwhile. A horse needs to feel a purpose and that everything is ok – a young horse in particular should be praised often even for simply standing still. Introducing new experiences to your horse will help his confidence and satisfy his inherent curiosity.

A horse is a beautiful and magnificent creature that deserves a good home for life with excellent care. As a horse owner you have a responsibility to provide the best healthcare possible for your equine companion. Keeping a horse can be a very expensive business, and without good horse insurance provided by a specialist equine insurer, it is possible to quickly run into financial problems if your horse should become sick or sustain an injury. Providing the very best for your horse will reap you the rewards of love, loyalty and devotion from your equine companion.

Horses need our undivided attention whilst we are caring for them as they are very sensitive creatures. It’s not enough to only provide the bare necessities like food, shelter and whatever healthcare your horse insurance policy will cover. Like humans, it is those little extras that they need to be truly at peace with their place in the world.

It’s best to keep your horse among other ponies or horses, as they are herd animals in nature and will need to have company. You should be also seen as part of their herd, ideally as the herd leader. A horse’s chewing or licking are both signs of affection and of sumbission to your status as leader. This is where it is so important that you spend time with your horse, ensuring that the trust and emotional bond between you develops. When this is achieved, it will have a positive effect on all areas in the horse’s handling and riding.

Horses are clean animals, so ensure that their stable/stalls are clean and warm, with deep bedding. As well as providing comfort and security, a deep bed will also help to ease the strain on legs and joints.

Mealtimes are important to a horse. As they will be grazing outside during the day, horses should be fed little and often. A balance of all appropriate foods should be incorporated into your horse’s diet. Horses need lots of fibre, so make sure that there is fresh hay or grass. Grain is great for fibre as well, but be careful you don’t give too much as it can upset the stomach. Ensure a supply of fresh water is available. Water prevents the food becoming solid by allowing it to ferment in the horse’s stomach. Horses do better when in a routine, so the timing between feeds is important. Always feed them at the same time every day.

You should groom your horse every day – not only to keep him in excellent condition but also because he will enjoy the attention you give him and will feel loved and secure. Make sure you do lots of rubbing, scratching and brushing. This is a quality part of the day which you should both enjoy. Grooming will also help to keep their coat in good condition and free from pests. Not forgetting the feet – you’ll need to pick your horse’s hooves every daily. They must feel comfortable on their hooves or they will become grumpy, not to mention that failing to take care of your horse’s feet will put him at risk of injury or infection which could cost you a claim on your equine insurance.

A horse needs regular exercise to remain happy. They should be exercised on a daily basis. You should vary standard exercise routines with perhaps cross-country and jumping. What is also important is allowing your horse some time to play. They need to feel the freedom of being turned out in the paddock. Your horse can then play, either alone or with other equines, and have some quiet time too. Let your horse relax as well as work – their behaviour can become erratic if they are not permitted just to chill out sometimes.

The above tips are just a few pieces of advice which can help you look after the physical and pscychological needs of your horse. For more information and to become part of a horse-lovers’ community on the world-wide web, please visit AFI Horse Insurance where you can read and contribute to our brand-new equine blog.