GROUNDWORK EXERCISES
For The Older Rider
by Felicity Wischer Communicating with your horse through a series of aids/cues that are taught on the ground, and can then be used when handling or in the saddle, will help avoid conflict and mixed messages as you progress with your riding. If you are an older rider and have been out of the saddle for a while or are taking up riding for the first time, groundwork is an essential tool to learn for both you and your horse. For the rider it gives you the understanding of how to communicate with your horse, thus avoiding any conflict and mixed messages. For the horses, it gives them the opportunity to get used to using parts of their body and building fitness and suppleness in preparation for the work that will be required of them under saddle.
A quick search on the internet will reveal a lot of training systems and clinicians who demonstrate and teach groundwork practises. Even though there may appear to be many variations in the type of groundwork exercises used, the principles are much the same. It makes no difference what the discipline you are pursuing (dressage, reining, show jumping, pleasure riding etc) or what level you and your horse are at (complete beginner, experienced, competitor), the age of your horse or its experience.
There are only six directions your horse can go under saddle and on the ground. These are left, right, forwards, backwards, up or down. Continued
Groundwork...creates a horse that responds to your cues, when handled or ridden. February/March 2019 - Page 41