🐴 Why Groundwork is the Key to a Better Ride
If you're having trouble under saddle—maybe your horse is ignoring your cues, feeling tense, or acting pushy—there’s a good chance the real issue starts on the ground.
Groundwork is the foundation of everything you do with your horse. It’s where your communication, boundaries, and leadership are first established. When your horse respects you on the ground, they’re far more likely to respect you in the saddle.
In this post, we’ll look at why groundwork matters, the specific benefits it offers, and the must-know exercises to include in your training.
🔑 What Groundwork Really Builds
Respect – Your horse learns to acknowledge your space, respond to pressure, and follow your lead.
Focus – Groundwork teaches your horse to tune into you instead of being distracted.
Responsiveness – You lay the foundation for cues they’ll need under saddle—like yielding, stopping, and backing.
Trust – Your horse learns that you’re a calm, consistent leader they can rely on.
🏇 Groundwork Before Riding: What a Difference
Imagine two scenarios:
➡️ Horse A hasn’t done groundwork. They’re jumpy, resistant, and reactive under saddle.
➡️ Horse B has spent time on groundwork. They lead calmly, respect your space, and respond to the lightest cues while riding.
The difference? Horse B sees you as the leader—because that relationship was built on the ground first.
✅ Foundational Groundwork Exercises to Start With
These are simple but powerful exercises that I teach all my students in the Horse & Rider Success Coaching Program:
Yield the Hindquarters – Think of your horse’s hindquarters as the engine behind all their movement. It’s where their strength and drive come from. When a horse acts out—whether it’s bucking, rearing, bolting, or pushing into your space—it often starts with them using that power in an uncontrolled way. That’s why learning to direct and control the hindquarters is so important. When your horse learns to yield their hindquarters calmly and consistently, they become more respectful, responsive, and easier to manage in any situation. In the first stage of training, we focus on teaching your horse how to step their hindquarters away from pressure—laying the groundwork for better control and communication.
Back Up on Cue – A horse that backs up willingly and with energy is showing they understand boundaries and are tuned in to you. A solid back-up isn't just about moving in reverse—it’s a key indicator of respect and responsiveness. It also lays the foundation for a good stop and helps develop balance and softness. When your horse backs up promptly, it shows they’re mentally with you and not trying to take control. On the other hand, a horse that ignores your cues or crowds your space is being pushy and disconnected. Consistently practicing the back-up reinforces your leadership and helps prevent those unwanted, dominant behaviors from creeping in.
Lunging for Respect –“Lunging for respect”— is not just “lunging to blow off steam.” The goal isn’t to wear your horse out, it’s to build communication and set boundaries. When you ask your horse to move forward, stop, change direction, and yield their hindquarters, you’re helping them tune in and think instead of just react. The more you can control their feet with calm, clear cues, the more respectful and focused they become. This exercise is also about body language—teaching your horse to move away when asked, then turn back to face you with both eyes. It’s a great way to start creating that safe, responsive partnership from the ground up. Just make sure they already understand how to yield their hindquarters up close before asking from a distance.
Desensitizing – Builds confidence and reduces spookiness. This is where you start helping your horse feel comfortable with you and the tools you’re using. If your horse is nervous around the stick, lead rope, or even just your presence, they’re not going to be paying attention to the lesson—you’ll be working against fear instead of building trust. The goal is to show them that you're not someone to be afraid of, and your tools aren’t scary either. Once that fear goes away, they can relax, focus, and actually learn.
💬 Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling in the saddle, don’t overlook groundwork. It might be the missing piece that transforms your training and deepens your connection with your horse.
🔗 Ready to Level Up Your Groundwork?
I offer 1-on-1 coaching sessions where we break down your groundwork technique, troubleshoot issues, and build a step-by-step plan just for you and your horse.
📅 Book your coaching session today and let’s get your groundwork working for you, not against you.