Ground Work & Foundation Training
Building confidence, communication and practical skills from the ground up.
Good groundwork is about much more than teaching a horse to complete a series of exercises. It gives horses the opportunity to develop confidence, understand pressure and release, become more aware of their body and learn how to stay connected to their handler when their environment changes.
Whether we’re preparing a young horse for their future ridden education, filling gaps in an older horse’s training or simply developing better everyday handling, Guy adapts the programme to the individual horse.
With over 20 years’ experience starting and training horses in the UK and internationally, Guy has developed and continues to refine the GRH Training Programme around three key areas:
Confidence
Confidence and relaxation are an integral part of the GRH programme.
We want horses to feel comfortable with what they’re being asked to do and increasingly confident in different environments and situations.
Through groundwork, horses can learn how to process movement, pressure, unfamiliar objects and changes around them without immediately becoming worried or reactive.
Time is taken to help each horse understand what is being asked, find relaxation and become more confident before progressing.
Body Control
Groundwork gives us an opportunity to help the horse understand how to move and respond to direction before those same principles are transferred into ridden work.
We develop the horse’s understanding of forward and backward movement, changes of direction, yielding, lateral flexion and regulation of their energy.
The aim isn’t simply to move the horse’s feet, but to develop clearer communication and a horse that can respond softly and willingly to their handler.
Purpose
We believe horses learn best when their training has a purpose.
Alongside exercises in the arena, we use poles, cones, obstacles and the wider environment around the yard to give horses practical situations in which to use what they’ve learned.
This helps horses become more adaptable, confident and able to stay connected to their handler when their surroundings change.
The Groundwork & Foundation Programme
Our Groundwork & Foundation Training packages can run from 2–6 weeks, depending on your horse, their previous experience and what you’d like to achieve.
Every programme is adapted to the individual horse, but training may include:
Foundation Skills
Confidence & Practical Skills
These aren’t simply exercises to complete or boxes to tick. They are used to help the horse develop confidence, understanding and practical skills that can transfer into everyday life.
Who Is This Programme For?
Groundwork & Foundation Training can be particularly useful for:
If your horse is displaying more established or potentially unsafe behavioural difficulties, we may recommend our Problem Solving Programme instead.
We’re happy to discuss your horse with you before deciding which programme is most appropriate.
Training Packages 2–6 week programmes available
£385 per week, including training, hay and bedding.
Every horse progresses at a different rate, so we’ll discuss the most appropriate length of stay based on your horse’s previous experience and what you’d like Guy to work towards.
Transport Into Training
We are insured to transport horses coming to Guy Robertson Horsemanship for training.
Robertson Horse Transport can provide collection directly from your yard. Please ask for a transport quote when making your training enquiry.
Whether we’re preparing a young horse for their future ridden education, filling gaps in an older horse’s training or simply developing better everyday handling, Guy adapts the programme to the individual horse.
With over 20 years’ experience starting and training horses in the UK and internationally, Guy has developed and continues to refine the GRH Training Programme around three key areas:
Confidence
Confidence and relaxation are an integral part of the GRH programme.
We want horses to feel comfortable with what they’re being asked to do and increasingly confident in different environments and situations.
Through groundwork, horses can learn how to process movement, pressure, unfamiliar objects and changes around them without immediately becoming worried or reactive.
Time is taken to help each horse understand what is being asked, find relaxation and become more confident before progressing.
Body Control
Groundwork gives us an opportunity to help the horse understand how to move and respond to direction before those same principles are transferred into ridden work.
We develop the horse’s understanding of forward and backward movement, changes of direction, yielding, lateral flexion and regulation of their energy.
The aim isn’t simply to move the horse’s feet, but to develop clearer communication and a horse that can respond softly and willingly to their handler.
Purpose
We believe horses learn best when their training has a purpose.
Alongside exercises in the arena, we use poles, cones, obstacles and the wider environment around the yard to give horses practical situations in which to use what they’ve learned.
This helps horses become more adaptable, confident and able to stay connected to their handler when their surroundings change.
The Groundwork & Foundation Programme
Our Groundwork & Foundation Training packages can run from 2–6 weeks, depending on your horse, their previous experience and what you’d like to achieve.
Every programme is adapted to the individual horse, but training may include:
Foundation Skills
- Leading and personal space
- Feet handling
- Standing and parking
- Backing
- Lunging and driving
- Lateral flexion and head lowering
- Yielding and body control
- Developing relaxation and focus
Confidence & Practical Skills
- Confidence with touch, movement and equipment
- Poles and obstacles
- Working in different areas around the yard
- Trailer loading
- Developing confidence away from other horses
- Leading from another horse, where appropriate
- Preparation for the saddle, where appropriate
These aren’t simply exercises to complete or boxes to tick. They are used to help the horse develop confidence, understanding and practical skills that can transfer into everyday life.
Who Is This Programme For?
Groundwork & Foundation Training can be particularly useful for:
- Young horses needing further handling and education before starting
- Horses with gaps in their basic education
- Horses that lack confidence in new environments or situations
- Horses needing better everyday handling skills
- Owners wanting to establish stronger foundations before progressing into ridden work
If your horse is displaying more established or potentially unsafe behavioural difficulties, we may recommend our Problem Solving Programme instead.
We’re happy to discuss your horse with you before deciding which programme is most appropriate.
Training Packages 2–6 week programmes available
£385 per week, including training, hay and bedding.
Every horse progresses at a different rate, so we’ll discuss the most appropriate length of stay based on your horse’s previous experience and what you’d like Guy to work towards.
Transport Into Training
We are insured to transport horses coming to Guy Robertson Horsemanship for training.
Robertson Horse Transport can provide collection directly from your yard. Please ask for a transport quote when making your training enquiry.
AVAILABLE DATES
Please contact us for more details and to book.
Training Dates 2026
Monday 2nd November 2026
Training Dates 2027
Monday 4th January 2027 - 1 Space
Monday 1st March 2027 - 1 Space
Tuesday 5th April 2027 - 1 Space
Monday 7th June 2027 - 1 Space
Monday 5th July 2027 - 1 Space
Monday 6th September 2027 - 2 Space
Monday 1st November 2027 - 1 Space
Your Horse’s Stay at GRH
We believe the owner should be part of the training process.
Visiting & Learning
Where possible, we encourage you to visit your horse during their stay. Pre-arranged private sessions with Guy are included within the training fee, giving you the opportunity to see your horse’s progress, understand the work being done and learn how to continue it yourself.
We understand that regular visits aren’t always possible, particularly for horses travelling to us from further afield. In this case, we’ll keep you updated with your horse’s progress through messages, videos and telephone updates.
Handover
The handover is an important part of every GRH training programme.
Before your horse goes home, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside Guy with your horse. This allows you to become familiar with what has been established during their stay, ask questions and practise the skills you’ll need to continue their training confidently at home.
Ongoing Support
Your horse leaving the yard doesn’t have to be the end of your training with us.
Follow-up lessons are available to previous training clients, allowing Guy to support you as your horse progresses, revisit any areas of the training when needed and help you continue developing your partnership.
Our aim is not simply to send home a better-prepared horse, but to send you both home with greater confidence, understanding and a clear way forward.
We believe the owner should be part of the training process.
Visiting & Learning
Where possible, we encourage you to visit your horse during their stay. Pre-arranged private sessions with Guy are included within the training fee, giving you the opportunity to see your horse’s progress, understand the work being done and learn how to continue it yourself.
We understand that regular visits aren’t always possible, particularly for horses travelling to us from further afield. In this case, we’ll keep you updated with your horse’s progress through messages, videos and telephone updates.
Handover
The handover is an important part of every GRH training programme.
Before your horse goes home, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside Guy with your horse. This allows you to become familiar with what has been established during their stay, ask questions and practise the skills you’ll need to continue their training confidently at home.
Ongoing Support
Your horse leaving the yard doesn’t have to be the end of your training with us.
Follow-up lessons are available to previous training clients, allowing Guy to support you as your horse progresses, revisit any areas of the training when needed and help you continue developing your partnership.
Our aim is not simply to send home a better-prepared horse, but to send you both home with greater confidence, understanding and a clear way forward.
