Groundwork exercises are effective tools for managing anxious or spooky horses by building their confidence and trust. Kelly Marks, a horse behaviour specialist and founder of Intelligent Horsemanship, emphasizes “acceptance training” over desensitisation, encouraging horses to stay alert without stress. Key groundwork techniques include backing up to help horses focus and calm down, head lowering to reduce heart rate and promote relaxation, and acceptance training to gradually introduce horses to spooky objects in a safe, controlled manner. Marks stresses the importance of ruling out health issues or environmental factors that may cause spooking and strongly advises against punishing fearful horses, as this can worsen their anxiety.

Using appropriate equipment like a Dually halter and a long lead rope ensures safety during training. Exercises should be done calmly and patiently, with positive reinforcement such as treats or companionship from another horse. For example, backing up involves asking the horse to step back gradually with light pressure and release, while head lowering uses gentle pressure on the lead rope to encourage relaxation. Acceptance training involves slowly introducing the horse to scary objects by circling them and allowing accidental contact, always prioritizing the horse’s comfort and handler safety. These methods foster a trusting relationship and help horses become more confident in challenging situations.