The Narrow Trail

Stories of Grace, Growth, and Horsemanship

  • The Narrow Trail
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Meet My Herd
  • Resources
  • Blog
    • Educational
    • Inspirational
  • Shop
    • Cart
  • Log In

Categories

Search

Home » Backing Your Horse From the Ground

Backing Your Horse From the Ground

Share

2 shares
  • Facebook

Do you ever ask your horse to back up from you and they respond, but are slow about it? Or maybe they only take a step or two before they ignore you. There are several ways I practice backing my horse from the ground and I want to share them with you.

This post contains affiliate links. I may make a very small commission when you purchase through one of these links.

Why work on backing your horse?

Horses rarely back up in their natural habitat. You won’t see them backing up very far in the pasture except possibly to move away from another horse. But often we ask our horses to back several steps on the ground or under saddle. Since it’s not a natural movement for the horse, it’s a good thing to practice often and builds up muscles in the horse they aren’t used to using.

More important to me than how far I’m able to back my horse is how light my horse can back up. The lighter the pressure, the more your horse is listening and in tune with you. In these exercises, the goal is to get to a point where you only have to use the smallest amount of pressure to achieve the results you want. Starting with only asking for a couple of steps in the beginning.

7 Backing Exercises

As always, be safe when working with your horse. Make sure your horse is comfortable with you touching different parts of their body. For these exercises, you will need:

  • a halter
  • lead rope
  • dressage whip

Keep in mind your horse only learns by the release of pressure, so as soon as you get even the smallest try, relax and reward. They will learn much quicker this way.

Bump back

This exercise is probably the most common way, and it’s simply using the lead rope to ask them to move backwards. Facing your horse, you should be able to lightly bump the halter as you walk forward and your horse back up. Start with only lightly bumping on the halter and you can add a cue word such as “back.” Only increasing the pressure (in this case the bumping of the lead rope) if you don’t get any response.

backing horse by halter

Back by the face

This exercise is by the face. Facing your horse lightly add pressure to his face with your hand. If you’ve never done this exercise before, your horse may push against you, but as soon as he even leans backwards, release and reward.

This exercise is great if they don’t have a halter or on and your horse gets in your space, you can quietly back them away.

backing horse by face

back by the chest

This way is similar to the second, but it is by applying pressure to the chest. You can do this exercise either facing your horse or away, but to start, I recommended facing them. Once they learn, you can do either. Again, lightly add pressure to their chest until you get a response and add your cue word if you want.

backing horse by chest

send back

This exercise requires a dressage whip. You stand facing your horse and lean forward with your body to engage him and then move your whip back and forth, sending him backwards. If you’ve never done this before, your horse may not know what you are asking. If so, you may tap their chest lightly to add more pressure. With consistency, they will learn when you lean forward with your body that you mean back. You can stand still or walk towards them.

backing horse

lifting the rein

In this exercise, you will use your lead rope tied as a rein or your reins from your bridle. Standing at your horse’s withers, pick up on the rein and lightly add pressure. As soon as you feel them, move back, release and reward.

horse backing by lifting the rein

wiggle the rope

This exercise is one of the quickest ways to get their attention. Your horse may be busy looking off at another horse or trying to graze. Wiggling the rope will tell them, “Hey! Pay attention to me. I need you to back up.” It’s a great place to begin teaching the back up.

backing horse by wiggling rope

back from behind

Last is backing your horse from behind. This way involves tapping above their tail with your dressage whip. This exercise is trickier than the others, but extremely practical and useful, especially for backing off a trailer. For this, your pressure needs to be extremely light! If you add too much pressure on the hind end, it will send your horse forward. You can use your vocal cue to help them understand. To teach this method, start at your horse’s ribs and utilize your rein if needed. Helping them understand what it is you’re asking.

backing horse from behind

tips for success

  • Be patient with your horse when teaching them new things
  • Reward even the slightest try
  • Begin with 1-2 steps back before you ask for more
  • Short sessions work better
  • Success of each exercise will carry over to the others

If you need help, check out the video below to see a demonstration on all 7 exercises.

Happy Training!

If you tried any of these exercises, leave a comment and let me know how they went. I’d love to hear from you!

Poncho showing you an example of all 7 ways of backing.

Thanks for being here. If you enjoyed this article and would like to stick around, please join our email list so you stay up to date on future posts!

Need more training ideas? Check out these posts.

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today
Rachel
Rachel

Related

»

Educational, Training 0

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Blog Categories

Featured Articles

Trick Tuesday – MOnth of June

Taking the Confusion Out of Bits

horse eating grass

Ground Manners for Horses

Winter Activities with Your Horse

Books I’ve Written

  • Lessons in Faith - A Bible Study of Rahab (EBOOK) Lessons in Faith - A Bible Study of Rahab (EBOOK) $5.00
  • The Gift of Horses (ebook) The Gift of Horses (ebook) $10.00
  • 112 Minutes of Miracle 112 Minutes of Miracle $17.99

Footer

Follow on Instagram

thenarrowtrail

I feel so lucky to have this little mustang. 🤎 I feel so lucky to have this little mustang. 🤎

#libertyhorse #trickhorsetraining #funwithhorses #horsetraining #trickhorse #blmmustang
Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior for each da Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior for each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19

So thankful God carries me and holds me. It's not just in hard moments it's not just when we repent. It's each and every day. Draw close to him today. He's closer than you think.
There is about a million blessings a day we can pr There is about a million blessings a day we can praise God for. Can I get a hallelujah 🙌 
God's goodness is everywhere!!! If you don't see it. Then be a blessing to someone today!! Can I get an amen? 🙏

#thankyoujesus #praisehim #godsgoodness #horsetraining #libertyhorse #funwithhorses #trickhorse #trickhorsetraining
Just have fun! ❤️ Just have fun! ❤️
We all need love ❤️ We all need love ❤️
Cold weather keeping you out of the saddle? I got Cold weather keeping you out of the saddle? I got you covered! Check out the latest blog for some ideas for you and your horse to spend some much needed time together this winter! 

Follow the link in my bio and click most recent articles. 

#winterhorse #winterequestrian #equestrianwinter #winterideas #funwithhorses
I recently had the opportunity to listen to a prof I recently had the opportunity to listen to a professional horse trainer speak. At the end he opened it up for a Q&A. A few of the riders wondered how to ‘fix’ the problem of their horse taking off before they are fully mounted and ready. It’s a bad habit for a horse to have. Not to mention unsafe for the rider. But he had a great point, he said, “I’ve seen it happen with colts even after a few rides. No habit was formed they just want to take off.” The practical advice he gave was spot on. Suggesting they start over each time their horse takes a step before they are ready. And to also pause at the mounting block taking a few moments to just pet your horse. 
When reflecting later on about what he said my mind went to the Lord and how He asks us to wait. The Lord is ready to go with us, but we are trying to take off before He is ready. Therefore, He’s gives a, “whoa.” Putting a pause on our plans or making things a bit more difficult for us. 
For reasons only He can know does He ask us to wait. Maybe things haven’t fully aligned yet to accomplish His plan. Maybe He is growing our character. 
Just like the trainer said it’s in our nature to be in a hurry and ready to go. No one had to teach us to be this way. But rather, we must learn to wait. God always has something to teach us in the waiting period. 
I know He has great and wonderful things up ahead on the trail for us to see and do, but we must go when He is ready. Let us sit still for a minute while He pets on us and reassures us that everything is okay. 
He will let us know when the time is right. He will give the signal. But learn to wait. Take pleasure in it. By waiting we are doing God a great honor. We all want that horse that doesn’t take a step without the rider’s prompting. Let’s stand firm for the Lord. 
Scriptures in the comments...
#waitonthelord #renewyourstrength
I love how there is a monster truck in the shot 😄 
I have so much fun with Poncho. 

#thebesthorse #hearthorse #libertyhorse
Meet Chico, the newest addition to our herd and fa Meet Chico, the newest addition to our herd and family. He is a 3 year old miniature horse. He is so well behaved for his age but still has lots to learn. Needless to say, we love him and so grateful God brought him into our life.  Excited for this new chapter.

#minihorse #firstpony #kidshorse
I was trying to roll the ball under him. Something I was trying to roll the ball under him. Something I do with my other horse, but Mathias being only 14 hands, it didn't quite fit. 
I work him completly at liberty. Therefore, he could've ran off. But instead he ran a short distance and turned and faced the ball and me again. Showing great bravery by standing his ground as the scary object continued to advance towards him.
It reminds me how God gives us free will. He wants us to willingly follow Him. Then when somethings scary happens in our life He asks us to look to Him and trust Him. So many people run away and miss out on God's best for them. 
What is the ball stuck under you? A cancer scare? A wayward child? Finacial debt? Whatever it is face it full on with the Lord. You have no spiritual armor on the backside. Stand therefore! Don't let it make you run too far from the Lord. He is there, full of compassion, ready to comfort you. 🤎
In Christ alone is salvation, freedom, peace, merc In Christ alone is salvation, freedom, peace, mercy, truth, and joy.
I heard this recently, and I thought about the mos I heard this recently, and I thought about the most profound moments I’ve experienced in my life, and they aren’t the ones you typically celebrate, but they’ve been so profound that they will stick with me forever.

The day my daughter was born, she also died in my arms. I will remember and hold this moment forever in my heart. It was beautiful. It was painful. It was life changing.

Fast forward a week to the day of her funeral. I lay in bed crying out to God. How do I do this? I decided to put worship music on. I found myself with arms raised, worshiping God amidst the most painful time in my life. That moment, that feeling will remain with me the rest of my life. I was so grateful for the gift of having a beautiful baby girl. But was devastated at the loss of her. Pain and joy mingle in the strangest ways sometimes.

This moment on my horse I am wearing a skirt that has been worn by countless other women all over the world who have experienced such a loss. It is beautiful, but it represents pain and loss. But so much more than that. Though we have scars, we are fighting the good fight. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!

Thank you to @journeyforjasmine for the opportunity to participate in project finding your rainbow. 

#infantloss #griefjourney #faithinchrist
So grateful for all God has brought me through and So grateful for all God has brought me through and how He he's turned all things into good even my most tragic. Only Jesus can do that! 

#tricktraining #horsetraining #libertyhorse
When you are your horse's biggest cheerleader 😄 When you are your horse's biggest cheerleader 😄

#horsesofinstagram #horsetraining #funwithhorses #sidepass #libertyhorse
Typical day athe barn as a mom. I wouldn't trade t Typical day athe barn as a mom. I wouldn't trade these days for anything. I want to wish all the other moms out there a happy Mother's day. 
#trulyblessed
Sometimes I pray about something and doubt whether Sometimes I pray about something and doubt whether God will really come
through. But what if you changed the narrative? Instead of doubting, get excited about it!

God, I can’t wait to see how you are going to answer this!

Because the truth of the matter is God is in the business of answering prayers. He even delights in it.

I tell you what, pray, and keep praying because if God doesn’t answer right away, He is strengthening your faith muscle.

You can’t get in shape after one workout.

And there are some things in life that are simply worth praying over for years. Think eternally. Don’t pray for material wealth. Think about what
really lasts. This is the kind of currency God accepts at His bank. And those kinds of prayers earn high yield! Compounding for years to come.

No prayer goes unheard. And neither does it go unanswered.
I feel called to share my faith and help others by I feel called to share my faith and help others by encouraging them.
I believe this platform can be used for good. To not just share highlights of our life, but connect and grow in God's word. 
I recently wrote a Bible study about Rahab. Her faith is so inspiring. I'd love to send it to you. 

Comment Rahab and I will send you the link.
If you're wanting to buy a younger horse maybe che If you're wanting to buy a younger horse maybe check out these reasons why you should consider am older horse. Comment horse and I'll send you the link!
Great news!!! As some of you may know this little Great news!!! 
As some of you may know this little guy came up lame last fall. The diagnosis was an OCD lesion. Which I was told required surgery. Not being familiar with this condition I came across a supplement called OCD Pellets during my research. I decided to start him on that while we saved for the surgery. I began to notice improvement more and more. He wasn't limping at all anymore. I took him in Friday to have him x-rayed again and to my delight he showed 50% improvement in 3 months. 
He has been cleared for light groundwork. We will take him back in 3 or 4 months to see where we are again. 
I wanted to share this for several reasons. One it's awesome news. Second, to share the OCD pellets. I will leave a link for that at the bottom of this post. And lastly, to offer you the book I wrote to raise money for him absolutely free when you subscribe to my email list. Thanks be to God for answered prayers! 

FREE ebook
link in bio

OCD pellets
https://www.docsproductsinc.com/
This is a fun exercise to work on drawing your hor This is a fun exercise to work on drawing your horse and pushing them away. Spacing the cones out far enough helped and so did my speed to the next cone. 

#libertyhorse #horsemanship
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Darling theme by Restored 316

2 shares