United States Eventing Association

The Young and Future Event Horse article series is being provided through a partnership between Mythic Landing Enterprises, LLC., and the USEA.

Glenda Player of Playland Equestrian Center is a successful rider, competitor and trainer across the dressage, Eventing and show jumping disciplines. Her diverse background in Pony Club, Centered Riding and TTEAM has allowed her produce top quality sport horses that have gone on to successful careers with not only Player, but also those that purchase them. Player prides herself on her ability to train her young horses from the ground up. With a large emphasis on ground work, her program has proven success at Future Event Horse (FEH) competitions because not only are her horses well educated, but they are also confident in their skills from a young age.

When Player’s horses are ready to begin their training she first and foremost establishes boundaries and makes sure that they understand how to walk forward, back up and halt. “This is extremely important and essential to their training,” Player explains. As you can see, she often uses a rope-training halter along with pressure cues that the horse will begin to recognize. She continues, “Be sure that the training halter is fit more snug than loose. The knot should be touching the end of the cheekbone on the horse so that they can clearly feel that pressure point.”

A good example of a properly fitted rope halter.

An important tip to be aware of when doing groundwork is to make sure that your body is staying in a triangle that’s relative to the horse. “To form this triangle start with your body right next to the horse with an extended arm. Their head is in front of you and you’re standing by the side of their neck with their shoulder directly behind you creating that triangle. With repetition your horse will remember this stance and know that when you just slightly lean forward, they walk forward as well to stay in that perfect triangle.”

When Player begins to think about showing her homebreds in the Future Event Horse series there are a few skills that she knows they need to have before she’ll enter a competition to ensure that her horse is confident and ready for the next challenge that will be presented in a show environment. “I want to make sure that my horse becomes tuned in with my body, even when I make the slightest change in either my posture or pressure on the halter,” Player describes.

The pressure that is put on the bottom knot of the training halter becomes extremely influential when used properly. Player continues, “As a visual, think about turning a key ‘on’ or ‘off’. Turning the key on while pulling slightly forward on the knot puts pressure on the throat latch and poll area, which cues the horse to move forward. Turning the key off in combination with pulling back slightly on the knot puts pressure on the nose of the horse which cues the horse to stop, and with a bit more pressure, to back up.” Player also encourages using a whip as a training aid during this process. “Using the whip in conjunction with the pressure cues is very beneficial. When I turn the key on to ask the horse to move forward, I’ll flick my whip where the rider’s leg would be and when I ask my horse to stop, I’ll apply the pressure by turning the key off and will place the whip directly in front of the horse to a set a boundary.”

Player demonstrates "Key On" by pulling slightly forward.

Player demonstrates "Key Off" by pulling back slightly.

During this process, Player is very much in tune with how her horses use their weight. Are they throwing themselves on the forehand or keeping themselves on their hind end? To re-engage your horse’s hind end from the ground, Player explains, “I will immediately stop them using that pressure on the bottom knot, make them halt, back up and then will continue at the trot. In order to properly show your horse off at the FEH competitions, this is a skill they need to learn, and more importantly, build proper muscle in their hind end.”

Once your horse understands the pressure points, is in tune with your body and is consistently trotting properly on a straight line, Player will begin to introduce trotting on the triangle formation, which is asked of you at FEH competitions. “I make sure that my horse yields their head, neck and shoulders away from me around the turns on the triangle. Again, that is why establishing they’re understanding the different pressure cues are essential. I’ll even carry my whip in between me and the horse instead of on the outside for reinforcement that they need to yield away from me around the turns,” Player states.

Player’s entire groundwork training process is not temporary or seasonal, she continues to instill the basics into her horses even after they graduate from the FEH program. It’s very comprehensive so that the horses are learning to slow down and listen to cues. “The horses begin to gain awareness of themselves and their body and ultimately, what I expect from them. I believe in building positive experiences and building trust with my horses, which is done most effectively from the ground up.”

To learn more about Glenda and her training program, please visit her website at www.playlandequestriancenter.com

All Photos courtesy of Glenda Player.