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Teach your horse to rein-back from the ground to engage their core and release tension

Martha Terry Martha Terry

    • Rein-back from the ground involves working with your horse, unridden, to train him to step backwards calmly and without resistance in response to simple cues.

    We use groundwork to teach our horses cues from the ground, so that they clearly understand what is being asked, while also improving balance, suppleness, coordination and core strength.

    Aims

    • establish good manners, relaxation and softness from the ground
    • engage your horse’s core and achieve response to your cues or aids
    • release tension and relax your horse

    The setup

    You will need:

    • Usual bridle, without reins (or twisted and secured inside the throat-lash), or a training halter or lunging cavesson
    • Lunge line or long rope
    • Schooling whip

    No setup required: you can do this in an arena, outside the stable, in a field or on the yard if you have sufficient space.

    Diagram showing horse doing rein-back with handler on the ground

    Your horse’s legs should move in diagonal pairs as they step back

    How to rein-back from the ground

    If your horse is wearing a bridle, attach the lunge line or long rope to the opposite bit ring to whichever side you are standing, and thread the line through the inside bit ring. For a headcollar, have the rope attached behind the chin. For a lunging cavesson, have the line attached to the central ring at the front.

    1. Position yourself facing the horse’s tail while standing slightly to one side of the horse’s head, with the horse standing fairly square.
    2. Applying gentle downward pressure to the rope, to ask the horse to step back, while using your voice to say “back”.
    3. You can also point the whip towards the horse’s front hooves or chest to encourage the horse to step backwards.
    4. As soon as the horse takes one step backwards, release the pressure and praise the horse.
    5. Wait for a moment to allow the horse to process what they’ve learnt, then repeat the cue or ask.
    6. Halt and stand still for a few moments.
    7. Lift the rope and step backwards yourself to encourage the horse forwards one or two steps, then stop to stand again.
    8. If the horse doesn’t understand the cue to walk forwards, point the whip behind the girth, following up with a light touch if needed.

    You can repeat this exercise several times until the horse understands what you are asking and will move forward and back confidently without resistance. To start with he may only manage one or two strides, but you can build up to six or more.

    Tips and troubleshooting

    1. Diagonal pairs

    You want to see the horse stepping cleanly backwards moving his legs in diagonal pairs, rather than shuffling or dragging their feet.

    2. Good foundations

    Reaching rein-back from the ground early in a horse’s training can help prevent the horse from learning to lean on you when you are handling them from the ground. Once it is established on the ground, the horse should understand the movement much more easily when ridden.

    3. No rushing

    The aim is for the horse to step back deliberately and confidently, in a relaxed frame with his poll at a similar height to his withers. You want to avoid the horse becoming tight in the neck or back and raising the head during this movement. If this happens stop, give the horse a moment to relax, and then ask again.

    4. Pre-ride softness

    This is a great warm-up exercise to do before riding, especially if your horse is sharp, as it encourages him to slow down and work with you without too much pressure. You can also do it tacked up, just secure the stirrups so they don’t bang on your horse’s sides.

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    Martha Terry
    Martha Terry

    H&H features editor
    Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
    Martha Terry

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