Why I use ground rails in riding lessons.

I include some obstacle/ground rail work in most lessons I teach. Why obstacles?
3 reasons beyond the variety and fun…

1.  Riders reap the benefits of guiding their horses’ steps sideways, backward and forward for use in their other horse activities – positioning for lead departures or opening a gate from horseback.
2. Horses learn to wait. As prey animals, horses are inclined to rush when feeling tense. The patience and listening skills your horse will develop is bound to spill over into other dimensions of his training
3. Riders learn to school systematically.  The value of teaching your horse to work obstacles by means of logical steps is like the benefit of phonics in learning to read!