Groundwork is an extremely useful tool to improve the connection you have with your horse. It’s especially useful to ensure you’re communicating effectively with one another, which will carry over to your work under saddle. Five-star eventer Chelsea Canedy explains that groundwork is also a valuable tool to introduce horses to new cross-country obstacles like ditches, water and banks, as it will allow you to support and encourage your horse from the ground before tackling these elements from the saddle.

“I start every rider I work with on the ground and teach them how to establish proper boundaries with their horses,” Canedy said. “It improves communication so that when you go to ask your horse to address a new cross-country question, she’s appropriately attentive and is ready to be responsive in a respectful way.”

In her video series on EQUESTRIAN+, Canedy demonstrates how to introduce your horse to these obstacles from the ground and explains how you can use these strategies to help your eventing mount get comfortable with these more challenging questions.

Before Tackling Cross-Country Obstacles From the Ground

Keep the following in mind before working with your horse on cross-country obstacles from the ground to ensure your safety and that she understands the basics in a new and open space:

• Make sure your horse respects safe boundaries around your space on the longe line when working at the walk, trot and canter.
• When asked, your horse should understand to immediately redirect her attention on you.
• I suggest using a rope halter because it provides a little more emphasis if you need to get your horse’s focus back.
• Use a longe line that’s long enough to allow your horse to have freedom of movement around you (about 18 to 22 feet), but not so long that it’s hard to maintain control.
• Attach a small flag to your stick or longe whip to serve as an extension of your body so you can direct her movement.

Introducing the Ditch

“When you first introduce your horse to a ditch, I recommend a small ditch like the one we’re using here. The ground is only about six inches below the logs on top of it, so it almost makes it look like simple rails on the ground.

“Ditches can be tricky—and a question that horses can take a pretty hard look at—because they have to cross an open span of land in the ground that they’re not used to seeing every day. So when you first approach it, allow your horse to investigate as much as she wants to. I’m not interested in making her jump it right away. Just let her check it out at the walk or stand still before you encourage her to go over it.

“Eventually progress to a ditch with more depth—about 12 to 18 inches deep—to present your horse with a more challenging and thought-provoking question. Your goal is not to just make your horse blindly go over it; instead, encourage her to really look at it and understand so she she’s not afraid. That way, she’ll learn to go over it by understanding to move in that direction instead of just going over it out of fear or being chased.

“If your horse continues to be hesitant or worried about the ditch, use your longe line to guide her toward it and remove the pressure anytime she puts her mind in the right direction. It doesn’t matter how long this process takes, as long as it’s a positive experience for her. It’s all about allowing your horse to think about and solve the problem. And nine times out of 10, it will get worse before it gets better.

“Be mindful if your horse starts to get overly anxious. It she’s at that heightened frenzied state, it’s far less likely that she’ll likely learn through this process, which what this is all about. So, take lots of breaks and let her really think through everything.

“What I love about taking my time is that the next time my horse is presented with a ditch, it’s not going to be a big production because she’s already thought about it and understands instead of just feeling like she had to do it.”

Worry-Free Water Approaches

“There are three primary ways to introduce you horse to any obstacle when working from the ground. You can lead your horse to it and go over the obstacle with her; you can draw her to you over an obstacle but this can be tricky and unsafe if not set up well; or, you can drive your horse to it by sending her on a circle to it. Here, I advise using the leading and driving approach.

“I’ve found one of the biggest things that helps horses understand new questions, obstacles or terrain is to encourage their curiosity. So with water, for example, spend time warming up around it and through it so she gets comfortable with having her feet wet. Plus, working up a little bit of a sweat and burning off some energy so she’s a little bit thirsty will make it even easier because the water will act as positive reinforcement if she wants to grab a little drink.

“Then, I send her on a series of concentric circles down a gentle slope into the water and then down the long side. If at any point, she wants to pause and hang out in the water to have another drink or even play a little bit, I would let her do that within reason. I don’t want her messing up the footing, but this again shows her curiosity and that she’s getting more comfortable with it.”

“Never introduce anything new at speed. You want your horse to go slowly, take her time and check it out. I always ask my horses to approach the water at a walk first. Once she’s walked through it in both directions, I will then ask her to walk in and trot out. Then, we do the same thing in the other direction.”

Take Her to The Bank

“When introducing banks, I advise leading your horse to it versus drawing or driving her on the line because you want her to get really good at doing it at the walk and taking her time going and down the bank.

“You don’t want your horse leaping off the bank. I love my horse is being so brave and energetic about hopping down it because it shows me she’s not intimidated in any way. But I also want her to be thoughtful about it, so she’s not just launching her body off the bank without thinking where her feet are going.

“I like that my horse has a lot of positive energy and is happy to do this work. She’s not being overly wild or rude in anyway, so I’m just going to let her settle down and think about my personal space a bit more.

“I never want to overdo any one exercise with a horse when introducing something new and always strive to end on a positive note. But now that her energy is getting a bit more wild than I’d like to see, we’re going to do it a few more times until she’s more relaxed going off the bank. Sometimes just a little moment of pause will help get your horse’s focus back. I don’t want to end a new exercise with her energy too ramped up. I want her to be relaxed and mellow when we end.”

For More:

• You can watch Chelsea Canedy’s entire video series on introducing your horse to cross-country obstacles from the ground here on EQUESTRIAN+.
• For more EQUESTRIAN+ videos with Canedy, click here.
• Can’t get enough of eventing? We’re counting down to our favorite event of the year—2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. Click here for more of our coverage of this year’s event.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, including lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more!