Marvin working with Shadow

Shadow is Jackson’s 2 year old buckskin.  Marvin has just started working with him on the ground.  This video clip shows Marvin and Shadow doing some ground work in an open field.  The goal of ground work is to teach the horse to listen to Marvin and to be under control in a scary situation.  The more distractions, the better.... and as the video clip shows - Shadow had a lot of distractions!  :)  This post should probably be re-titled “Why *Marvin trained* horses don’t spook easily”!  :) 

Basically, ground work is the first step to getting a horse ready to be trained under saddle. Marvin will spend the next month continuing with ground work before he actually gets on Shadow. I am biased, but truly, Marvin trains horses in such a way that they are gentle, obedient and smart. All the “slow, little” steps he takes along the way have meaning and purpose and the end result is evident - a well trained horse! 

4 Comments
Anonymous
Great video!! Including the acrobat, Jackson!!! Marvin is so patient and his horses truly are safe. Peace, Jack
Thanks Laura.
Friday, October 12, 2007 - 09:40 AM

Anonymous
Great Job Dad.I Know u Love Working With Horses.Keep Up The Good Work.
Love Ya,Kissy T.
Friday, October 12, 2007 - 08:57 PM

Anonymous
Sure is a good looking horse--makes me jealous!!! I'm impressed with the dog running in and out of Shadow's legs!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Keep up the great work and maybe Jackson will let me ride Shadow one day???? See ya,
Charlie
Friday, October 12, 2007 - 10:27 PM

Laura
By the way - the barking that you hear on this video was Lassie, not
Pete. Lassie goes a little crazy when Marvin works a horse and we have to keep her on her run line during those times. (as you can see when I pan around to her at the end of the video.) Pete was actually quiet as he "worked" horses. :)

Saturday, November 24, 2007 - 02:38 PM