Groundwork Part A Basic Behaviors

Groundwork Part A Training Chart Red text is linked to a training description
	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5	Continuing ed
Homework	List of 3 food treats and 3 non-food reinforcers your horse enjoys	List 5 behaviors you might observe if your horse is fearful or stressed	List 5 behaviors your horse might do to indicate he is excited about training	Describe 5 behaviors that your horse does when interacting with other horses	Define training threshold. List 3 behaviors your horse does when he is at his threshold.	none
a) Backing	Backs out of your personal space 2 cues	Backs 3 steps on 2 cues with trainer standing in front	Backs 10 steps with you stationary in front verbal cue only	Backs 6 steps one cue you standing on left side	Backs 6 steps one cue you standing on right side	none
b) Food zen (no mugging)	Stay off treat in open hand 10 seconds	Horse stays off treat pouch no matter where it is on your body for one minute, the presence of the pouch is the cue.	Horse stays off a strangers hand for 30 seconds one cue	Keep head up off fresh-picked grass on raised surface for 2 minutes no cue	none	see description for details
c) Haltering	Nose Targets halter, 2 cues	Horse stands with head down while you encircle your arms around his head, 2 cues	Horse stands for 30 seconds and puts head down while you place bitless halter on head, 2 cues (halter is one of them)	Horse eagerly nose targets halter 15 feet away, with 2 cues	Horse walks to you from 30 feet away targeting the halter, drops his head and stands still while you put it on with 1 cue	Add more distance and distractions  as space permits
d) Handling	Allows hands on neck and shoulders, no cues	hands rubbed all over body, incl head and ears, no cues	Horse nose targets 5 tools regularly used on him (brush, foot pick, hose etc)	Allows wet cloth rubbed all over body and legs hosed off with cold water	Horse accepts 5 regularly used tools to be used on him in appropriate pressures and locations, tool and environment only cues	none
e) Target	Target nose to object one cue	Nose target end of stick from 5 feet away, 1 cue	Stand with both front feet on wood or rubber mat approx. 18 inches square 2 cues for 10 seconds	Nose Target 5 objects common to horse's environment, 2 cues each	Nose targets 3 objects and foot targets 2 objects that horse showed some fear of one cue	Roll balls, send out to objects for distance, teach object retrieval,overcome fear of animals etc