A solid ground game is essential to the training of a versatile horse. I think when I say that I teach and train "Groundwork", many people assume I'm one of "those Parelli trainers" who never actually gets on and rides. I want to be clear that I respect the Parelli program and the good it has done for the horse world, however, I don't ritualistically play seven games with my horse every time before I mount up. What I do believe and put into practice regularly is that a strong foundation on the ground will transfer into the saddle.
In my program, almost everything we do under saddle can be first taught on the ground, where the horse does not have to carry the weight of the rider as they are learning how to balance and maneuver themself. I believe in spending focused time on practical Groundwork that directly benefits the horse, not in mindless exercises that must be checked off before mounting up. For example, all of our lateral work from shoulder-in and haunches-in, to leg yield and half-pass is explained to the horse on the ground which saves me from arguing with them under saddle later on. Everything we work on is a building block to help progress our training forward.
A traditional Groundwork exercise most people are familiar with is lungeing. I've seen lungeing accomplished poorly in a variety of instances so when I choose to use it in my program we have a specific purpose in mind and it is only done for a limited amount of time. I figure if I am bored of watching the horse travel in endless circles, you can bet the horse is equally bored with the exercise! We lunge horses as a controlled way of watching their movement or to warm them up before a ride. We may lunge them over obstacles such as cavaletti to build strength and flexibility or up and down slopes to build muscle, but I do not just run them about in hopes of tiring them out. Endless mindless circles will not only bore your horse, but can break down their bodies over time as it places a certain degree of unnatural strain on their bones and joints.
We also practice exercises such as turn on the haunches, turn on the forehand, backing a straight line, backing a circle, serpentines, bending and flexing, as well as stopping. Sometimes we use a round pen, other times an arena, and we even take our horses on trail walks at times! There's always something new to try, and we keep it fun for the horse and handler. Those who find Groundwork boring likely haven't explored all of the wonderful options out there!
Think you've mastered your Groundwork skills? Then it just might be time to take the halter off and test your connection with your horse at Liberty! Want to help bridge the gap between your maneuvers on the ground and the same maneuvers under saddle? Practice your Groundwork in a bridle or hackamore! We can even take it to the next level by competing in Cowboy Dressage's Partnership on the Ground and Liberty Divisions. Groundwork is not just a crucial part of my program, but a vital training device in horsemanship that will build your connection with your horse and develop your skills on a deeper level.
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