The horse should be outfitted with a surcingle or saddle and pad, a bridle with a snaffle bit with simple cotton longe lines (no chain) attached to each snaffle bit ring and properly threaded through the surcingle rings or stirrups, and legs protection such as polo wraps or splint boots. The longe lines, which will serve as the reins, should be extended behind the horse.

If an assistant is available, ask him to stand on the horse’s left side with his shoulder at the middle of the horse’s neck. The assistant should hold the horse, if necessary, while you prepare for ground driving. Position yourself approximately six to seven feet behind the horse. For safety reasons, you do not want to be closer than six feet in case the horse kicks. You also do not want to be so far behind him that you cannot control him with the longe line reins.

Neatly coil each longe line in loops so each loop is stacked on top of the one before it. This is the same way of stacking the longe lines that I explained in the longeing lessons. Hold each longe line coil so that the top of the stack lies between your middle and index finger. Hold the line that extends from the coil to the bit between your index finger and thumb. This hand position lets you use your thumb and index finger to easily adjust the length of line that is played out from the coiled stack. The lines are your reins so hold them up as if you were lightly holding a cafeteria tray in front of you with your elbows bent and flexible. Do not drop your arms or the reins may drop too low on the horse’s side or drag dangerously on the ground.

When ground driving, the handler is positioned directly behind her horse. To see around the horse to direct his head and neck, the driver only needs to step out just a little to the side, but he/she should never step inward towards the horse. We will change this position slightly when we progress to ground driving at the trot.

First Step

Ask your horse to walk forward by giving the voice command “walk,” adding a cluck if needed. The assistant should walk forward at the same time and maintain his position because, at this point in the lesson, the horse is following the assistant. Walk forward a short distance and use the voice command “whoa” to ask him to stop as the assistant stops next to him. It is important to use voice commands, especially with a young horse, since this may be the only aid he understands.

Walk far enough behind the horse that you maintain a consistent, soft contact on the reins, but not so far behind him that you pull on the reins and his mouth.

Now, ask the horse to walk forward again. If he responds well, ask the assistant to stay in the same position at his neck, but to move further off the horse’s left side. This encourages the horse to respond more to you and tests his understanding of what you are asking him to do. If the horse does not understand to move forward, the assistant should move closer to him again. As you give the command to “walk,” ask the assistant to extend his right arm as if he was leading the horse. If you have done the basic groundwork with your horse, the assistant’s hand in the leading position will help to reinforce the command to move forward.

Forward motion is an important factor for ground driving as it will be later on for under saddle work. If the horse is not moving forward enough, he will not travel in a straight line or be able to make turns. Instead he will “wiggle” from side to side. To correct this, reinforce your command to walk forward by lightly flopping the longe line rein against whatever side of his body that he is wiggling toward. For example, if he is falling in to the right, flop the rein against his right side. This will encourage him to move away from the rein and stay forward.

Adding Turns

Once the horse understands moving forward, try a very gradual turn to the left. Use the assistant’s position on the horse’s left side to reinforce the turn. Gently flop the reins on his right side to ask him to move away and to the left to make the turn. If the horse gets too wiggly or confused, ask the assistant to come closer to him to guide him through the command. The goal should be for the assistant to gradually move further away from the horse toward the middle of the circles or turns that are being made until the horse can respond independently from the assistant.

To practice turning to the right at the walk, begin by ground driving in a straight line. Ask the assistant to cross behind you so that he is in position on the horse’s right side. Start a gradual turn to the right by getting the horse to move away from the rein against his left side using the method described above.

After you complete several successful, gradual turns, try tighter ones. If turning right, use a gentle give and take pressure on the inside right rein and loosen the left rein against the side of his body. Position yourself slightly to the inside of a tighter turn so that you will not be left behind as your horse walks through the turn. Straighten him out, and then ask for a turn to the left.

I will use a left turn to review the sequence for ground driving a turn. Reverse these directions for a turn to the right:

1. Start with a nice forward walk, reins, even, walking directly behind the horse;
2. Use your left index finger and thumb to slightly shorten up on the left rein;
3. Slightly loosen up on the right rein;
4. Shift your position to slightly come inward to the left;
5. Use a light give and take pressure on the left rein, but do not pull;
6. The horse should be giving lightly to the left rein, his body lightly arcing to the left, his head and neck slightly flexing left;
7. After making the turn, come back straight by shortening the right rein;
8. Gradually get the reins even again as you resume your position behind him;
9. Correct wiggling by gently flopping the reins against the horse’s side.

Ending the Lesson

Conclude your lesson by asking the horse to “back.” Walk him forward and ask him to “whoa.” With the reins even, give the command “back” while giving a gentle give and take motion at the same time on both reins. Walk backwards as the horse backs up. Keep the horse’s head and neck straight while backing. If he goes crooked with his hips going too much to the right because you have used too much right rein, correct it by bringing his head to the right to straighten him out. Ask him for a few steps backwards, and then praise him. Walk him forward and straight and ask him to “back” again.

You should perfect ground driving at the walk before advancing to the trot.

These ground driving maneuvers also can improve your riding skills. The proper way to start a turn under saddle is the same as in ground driving—shorten slightly on the inside rein while lightly loosening the outside rein. As the rider comes out of a turn, the outside rein is slightly shortened as she evens up the inside rein by loosening it. Never use a steady tension on the reins, whether ground driving or under saddle. Instead, use a light, pulsating pressure with the horse’s motion.

Learning these rein aids through ground driving will fine-tune your hands as a rider. Ground driving also will help to improve your eye to understand how to put your horse in the correct body position—either straight or with a light arc for turning to the left or right to attain balance.

You can learn more about ground driving in my “Longevity Training Series.” Go to www.lynnpalm.com to find out how to order this and other Palm Partnership Training™ products, or call 800-503-2824.