The Importance of Groundwork in Horse Training

A lot of my training is groundwork focused. It is where I start with every horse in my program, and usually at the beginning of every training session. Because of this, and because one of the focuses of my upcoming clinic is groundwork, I thought I should write a post about groundwork, why I think it is important, and how it can hlep both horse and rider.

Groundwork is the foundation of a successful partnership between horse and rider. Whether you’re training a young horse, refining the skills of a seasoned mount, or rehabilitating a horse with behavioral challenges, groundwork plays a crucial role in building trust, communication, and respect. Many riders focus primarily on riding, but time spent on the ground can make all the difference in developing a willing, responsive, and confident horse.

1. Establishing Leadership and Trust

Horses are herd animals, and in any herd, there is a hierarchy. When working with a horse, you must establish yourself as a fair and consistent leader. Groundwork exercises such as yielding the hindquarters, backing up, and moving the forehand help the horse learn to yield to pressure and respect your space. A horse that understands and respects your leadership and body language on the ground will be much more responsive under saddle. This does not mean you are “breaking their spirit” or beating them into submission. It is about calmly asking them to move from pressure, as another horse in their herd would, as releasing pressure when they do so. Very quickly this will teach your horse that you are the leader, and they will grow to respect you and even look for your guidance.

Additionally, groundwork builds trust. By spending time handling and interacting with your horse in a calm and patient manner, you create a bond that makes the horse more willing to follow your guidance. A horse that trusts its handler is less likely to act out of fear and more likely to respond thoughtfully to cues.

2. Developing Clear Communication

Groundwork allows you to refine your cues and improve communication before you ever get in the saddle. Horses learn through consistency and repetition, and groundwork provides a controlled environment where you can introduce new concepts without the added complexity of riding. Teaching your horse to yield their hindquarters while under saddle is significantly easier once taught from the ground, as the horse already understands the basic movement. During my certification with Ken McNabb, he said “Anything that a horse can do in the saddle he should be able to do from the ground.” I have carried this with me and it has become a major building block of my training program.

For example, teaching a horse to lunge correctly is not just about exercise, it’s about reinforcing verbal and body language cues. When a horse learns to respond to voice commands for walk, trot, and canter, those same cues can transfer to riding. Similarly, asking a horse to move its shoulders or hindquarters from the ground helps improve lateral movement under saddle.

3. Improving Balance, Strength, and Coordination

Groundwork exercises help develop a horse’s physical abilities, making them more balanced and coordinated. Exercises such as backing through obstacles, engaging the hindquarters, and moving in different directions on a lunge line help improve awareness of body and feet position. A horse that is physically balanced on the ground will carry that balance into its ridden work, reducing the risk of injury and improving overall performance. It is especially important when working with young horses, as they are still learning how to use their growing bodies and where their limbs are.  When they are started with groundwork, they have a better perception of how their body moves, and become much more willing under saddle.

Additionally, groundwork can be used for conditioning. Long-lining, in-hand work, and hill exercises help strengthen a horse’s muscles without the weight of a rider, making it an excellent tool for young horses, rehabilitation, or fitness maintenance.

4. Addressing Behavioral Issues

Many behavioral problems, such as spooking, rushing, or refusing to stand still, can be traced back to a lack of groundwork. A horse that does not respect boundaries on the ground will likely exhibit similar issues under saddle. By addressing these problems in a controlled, low-pressure environment, you can correct bad habits before they escalate.

For example, if a horse tends to bolt when ridden, groundwork exercises that focus on control—such as stopping and turning in response to body language—can reinforce the concept of staying attentive to the handler. Similarly, desensitization exercises, like exposing the horse to tarps, flags, or different footings, help build confidence and reduce fear-based reactions. Groundwork encourages your horse to think through his actions, rather than just reacting, and look to you for guidance on how to handle those difficult or scary situations.

5. Strengthening the Rider’s Skills

Groundwork is not just about training the horse—it also improves the rider’s timing, awareness, and ability to read subtle cues from their horse. By working with a horse from the ground, riders develop a better sense of how the horse moves, reacts, and processes information. This heightened awareness translates directly into better riding skills. This is why I always start my sessions with groundwork; I am able to watch the horse and how he moves and reacts, preparing me for what kind of ride we may have or allowing me to catch if he is potentially off in some way.

Additionally, groundwork provides an opportunity to practice patience and consistency, two key traits of an effective horse trainer. Learning to communicate clearly and fairly on the ground will make it easier to communicate effectively in the saddle.

Conclusion

Groundwork is not just a preliminary step—it’s an essential part of a horse’s education. Whether you’re working with a young horse, refining a performance horse, or addressing behavioral issues, groundwork builds the foundation for trust, respect, and communication. Investing time on the ground leads to safer, more confident, and better-trained horses, ultimately making riding more enjoyable and successful.

So, the next time you work with your horse, consider setting aside time for groundwork—it might just be the key to unlocking your horse’s full potential.

If you are interested in discussing more groundwork topics or my groundwork program, send me a message!

Groundwork with Scout before his very first ride