101 Ground Training Exercises for Every Horse & Handler (Read & Ride)

A good basic primer for groundwork. It assumes an absolute beginner's level on the part of both horse and handler. Basic concepts like voice commands and basic equipment for in-hand work are thoroughly discussed. As someone with years of experience riding and driving horses, there were plenty of things I already knew. I am currently working in a round pen for the first time, with a rescue mare who has some issues and am finding that going back to basics is what I need to do with her. This has been a helpful book to give me ideas of how to approach some of her negative behaviors, by starting over as if she knew nothing. Much of the book is devoted to very basic things- haltering, being touched all over, leading. If your horse already knows how to lead and lounge, this book may be a bit basic for you but it is helpful for those looking to ground break a horse for the first time or dealing with a horse who may have some vices on the ground.The biggest drawback to this book is the layout. It is spiral bound, which is a nice idea so it will lay flat in the barn, which is what I expected. However, it is printed like a calendar- the pages are oriented vertically, one on top of the other. The binding is at the top of the unopened book, not the left side. It has holes so it can be hung for easy referral in the barn or arena, but it makes this book more difficult to read if you're sitting in a chair or on the couch.

Love this book - builds really well on Parelli work I've already done. The real advantage of it is that it gives simple exercises, that are easy to follow. My horse will get on the float but will not stand for me to put the bar across the back - she backs out before I can do this. I realised that I need to work more on my forward, halt and stand messages. Cherry Hall also encourages voice commands, which I love because a quiet, calm but confident voice calms the horse too in stressful situations (a calm voice works so well with cattle too). If you have trouble at any point with an exercise, it gives you ideas on what might have gone wrong and refers you back to earlier, basic exercises. The layout and explanations on where things might be going wrong are fantastic and has helped my confidence immensely. I read up on several exercises each night and then try them the next day with my horse. Increasingly, I can see her looking at me as if she is saying "That was interesting, what are we going to do next?" or "Is that what you wanted me to do?". I'm sure horses have a sense of humour now and that they can smile! I'm finally appreciating that even if the exercise isn't perfect, we are both playing but training & learning at the same time.

I bought this book to train one of my Rocky Mountain mares who had no ground manners and often spooked at anything. This mare is young and with no prior training she had learned over time that because of her size, she could often get her way. I followed the steps in the lessons and over time with patience and love for the horse she became better. The book breaks each exercise into mini steps with useful tips and illustrations.All Cherry Hill books I own are excellent and she clearly details her material. This book is no exception.

I've always enjoyed Ground Work and now I'm training a 10 yo girl in riding and THIS is the book that broke through to her about how a horse sees the world and to move in a logical order step by step. She of course is eager to ride but now she spends 90 minutes working on ground manners and training and then 40 minutes riding by her own choice.

I bought this edition of ground training exercises because my family bought me a lovely 18th month old quarter horse for Christmas, and I wanted to review ground training basics. Even though I will be using a professional trainer, I wanted to understand the training exercises and this book covers all the basics to include body language, and basic horse behavior responses. This is a great book. The only flaw with the book is that it says it is designed to take outside and use as a reference to hang off the fence! The paper is not designed to withstand damp environments so I would recommend doing your reading inside, or if you use it as a barn reference store it in a dry place when it is not in use.

I used to waste more time thinking about what to work on and got less done because of that. This book helps formulate a structure to your in-hand work and the tips and comments keep you confident they are working...and they do. Cherry's style is very similar to Clinton Anderson, (Or maybe his is similar to hers!?) and I use them both in equal measures. No violence, just good horsemanship techniques to create a trusting, respectful partnership with your horse. My favourite comment in the book, and one I now live by, was:" your horse doesn't need a friend, he needs a leader". I have two stallions and this training method has given me the tools to go out and show them in the knowlege that I have their respect and trust and that I can handle any issues that might arise. That foundation will now assist in their starting under saddle and, hopefully their continued success. To use another saying from an old friend. "The foundation isn't inportant.......it's everything!"This book helps get that foundation in place.

Product was good. But I felt we already know most of the skills in the book. We feel we are novice with horses so was a little disappointed with the content but is a good reference for very beginner.

This book really helped me to get started with my QH mare that I got handed to me from someone who didn't know how to handle her. She had no ground manners and I knew that we would have to build from the ground up. These exercises were some of the most used material when I didn't know where else to turn. This really helped to build a relationship with my mare.

This is an easy to follow set of ground work exercises for working with young, mismanaged or puzzled horses including long-reining and lunging, and with a slight Western influence. Plenty of clear illustrations, and lots of ideas for when you know you need to do more ground work but you and your horse are bored with the usual stuff. Mine will end up with a Masters in ground work!!!

A really great book with awesome tips.

VERY BASIC - disappointing

Good value

Excellent content but would be greatly improved by being in colour and laminated

Never arrived!!!!!!!😡

Fantastic book. Great help and full of ideas that my horse and I are working through.

We haven't had chance to use this book yet but looking through it it is really well laid out and easy to use or find the exercises you want. It looks like we will have a lot of fun using the exercises in this book and hopefully getting some great results with the horses.

Nice !

This book is majority basic and beginner ground training. It would be most useful to someone who has little experience/just learning ground work. The binding at the top of the book is too weak for the weight of the book and if you drop the book the whole thing comes apart; considering it is set up like a manual that you can hang up near where you're working or in your tack locker, it will fall or get dropped from time to time. It would be much handier of it were actually spiral bound as opposed to comb bound.

This book was a real disappointment. Its title says "training" exercises. I don't think telling someone how to catch a horse, put on a halter, take off a halter and put on a saddle should be part of "training". Anyone who doesn't know those basic things belongs in a training class themselves and shouldn't be trying to train a horse. This book is full of those sorts of things. I also don't like the format. The cover flips up and the exercises are spread over two pages, top and bottom, which means the book takes up a lot of space just to read the instructions. You can't just fold the top part back. Very awkward. There are a few interesting things but nothing I would have bought the book for. I was hoping for things I could do with my horse on the ground that would improve his flexibility and concentration, not simplistic basic things that anyone who is knowledgeable enough to train a horse would already know. I'm sorry I bought this book;.

I have bought 6 others books to teach me about horses and this by far one of the best. This book is clear and easy to follow and explains things hat I was really wanting to learn. I now have my library completed and this will be my most used book.

Perhaps a good book for beginner trainers but too elementary for experienced horsemen. The size is cumbersome...it's on coil binder and is very large which the picture did not suggest.

Binding is at the top, seems more like a pin up then a book, not bad. Quite a few basic things like how to halter and bridle. Decent informationVery very fast delivery

Wonderful book. Great user friendly ideas. Got a lot of great ideas for my Confidence Building Clinics from this book. Highly recommend for coaches and instructors at all levels and the horse person who wants to try something new. Also good value ….