5 groundwork exercises to strengthen connection and trust with your horse

February 12, 2026

Why school your horse from the ground?

Groundwork is far more than a simple add-on to ridden work. It is a complete set of disciplines in its own right, accessible to all riders, whatever their level or that of their horse.

On the ground, you learn to:

  • communicate more clearly with your horse,
  • strengthen mutual trust,
  • work without physical constraint or weight on the back.
  • develop calmness, focus and relaxation

For the horse, groundwork often means being offered a different type of activity, and meeting their rider on equal terms. For the rider, it is an opportunity to refine timing, posture and intent.

In this article, we suggest 5 groundwork exercises, taken from the Appaloo Equestrian app and various disciplines, to improve connection and confidence with your horse.

Travail à pied avec son cheval

1. The halter (Equifeel)

Exercise sheet: https://appaloo-equestrian.fr/fr/equifeel/le-licol

Goal: respect, immobility, responsiveness to the handler.

Level: beginner, suitable for all horses.

Discipline: equifeel

Groundwork always starts with the basics: walking together, halting together, turning together. The halter exercise helps establish clear, consistent communication between horse and handler.

Why we find this exercise useful: 

  • It teaches the horse to yield to halter pressure
  • It develops calmness and confidence
  • It allows you to school the horse’s standstill

Tips:

  • Work with a loose lead rope, aiming to use as few actions on it as possible. Communicate with your horse mainly through your body language.
  • Ask for little, but reward generously (as always!).
  • Look for the lightest possible response and, little by little, progress towards doing this exercise at liberty.

A horse that understands this exercise already understands a large part of in-hand work.

Exercice du licol en equifeel

2. Halt on a ground pole

Exercise sheet : https://appaloo-equestrian.fr/fr/longe/arret-sur-une-barre-au-sol

Goal: focus, accuracy, control of the gait

Level: beginner to intermediate

Discipline : Lungeing

The ground pole here becomes a visual marker for both horse and handler. The aim is straightforward: to halt quietly, in the right place, on cue.

Benefits

  • Improves the quality of transitions
  • Helps the horse clearly visualise the handler’s aids
  • Strengthens attention and responsiveness

Tips

  • Approach the exercise in walk.
  • Prepare the halt carefully with your body position and energy.
  • Do not correct abruptly if the horse does not halt: repeat calmly, and reward (with a treat for greater impact) when the horse is halted over the pole.

Schéma exercice arrêt sur barre au sol

3. The Obstacles (Equifeel)

Exercise sheet : https://appaloo-equestrian.fr/fr/equifeel/les-embuches

Goal: confidence, coordination, management of the environment.

Level: all levels.

Discipline : Equifeel

Negotiating obstacles (poles, objects on the ground, marked-out zones, etc.) helps the horse develop proprioception and handle new situations without stress.

Why this is a key exercise

  • The horse learns to think his way through a variety of different objects
  • He develops his ability to cope with the unknown
  • Trust in the handler/rider increases

Tips

  • Give the horse time to look and assess
  • Never force him through an obstacle
  • Reward every attempt, even imperfect, step by step.

Schéma embuches equifeel
passage embuche passage étroit jeune cheval

4. The target

Exercise sheet: https://appaloo-equestrian.fr/fr/travail-a-pied/la-cible-1

Goal: motivation, accuracy, mental connection.

Level: all levels.

Discipline: clicker training

The target is an excellent training tool. The horse learns to follow, touch, or move towards a specific object on cue.

Benefits

  • Develops the horse’s natural curiosity
  • Strengthens initiative: the horse is an active participant in the exercise
  • Improves communication without pressure

Tips

  • Use a simple, highly visible target.
  • Progress step by step
  • Always finish on a success

Cible schéma clicker

5. Obstacle Course (Mountain Trail)

Exercise sheet: https://appaloo-equestrian.fr/fr/mountain-trail/passage-a-embuches

Goal: composure, balance, confidence over varied terrain.

Level: intermediate.

Discipline: Mountain Trail

Inspired by mountain trail, this exercise puts the horse in front of a variety of situations depending on the equipment available: bridges, different footings, natural obstacles...

Why this exercise is so effective

  • It develops the horse’s confidence
  • It improves emotional control
  • It is excellent preparation for hacking out and riding in open country

Tips

  • Start with simple set-ups, and make them progressively more challenging as the horse becomes confident
  • Make sure the set-up is safe
  • Maintain a calm, relaxed attitude

Passage embuche cheval type mountain trail

Go further with Appaloo Equestrian

Groundwork is an outstanding tool for improving the horse–rider partnership. With simple, progressive exercises, you can quickly achieve visible results: more relaxation, more confidence, and a better connection between you and your horse.

👉 All the exercises presented in this article are available for free in the Appaloo Equestrian app, with clear explanations and diagrams. They were contributed by our community, whom we warmly thank!

👉 The Premium version gives you access to specific groundwork programmes, designed to help you progress step by step, according to your horse’s level and the rider’s goals, and written by professionals specialised in groundwork.

Download Appaloo Equestrian and start working your horse today with expert guidance.

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