01/08/2026
Yes at our facility!
Should Ground Work be a Foundation in Lesson Programs?
Is ground work foundational in your program? Let's be honest... most riding students just want to RIDE. They don't sign up for lessons thinking "I can't wait to lead a horse around!" They sign up because they want to canter, jump, trail ride, show.
Sometimes us riding instructors can feel pressure to give them what they want! More riding time = happier students = better retention, right?
Students who never learn proper ground work hit plateaus they can't break through. They struggle with timing, feel, communication, body awareness, and understanding how horses think. Ground work isn't just something to do when you can't ride. It's the FOUNDATION that makes everything else possible.
WHAT GROUND WORK ACTUALLY TEACHES
Ground work isn't filler. Ground work creates better HORSEMEN, not just better riders. It builds skills that DIRECTLY translate to better riding...
1. Timing and feel: Students learn to read the horse's body language and respond at the right moment - essential for effective riding aids.
2. Communication without reins: Understanding pressure/release, body language, and energy without overuse of reins creates true partnership.
3. Confidence and control: Students who can confidently move a 1,200-lb horse from the ground feel more capable in the saddle.
4. Understanding how horses think: Ground work shows students cause and effect, consistency, and how horses learn.
5. Body awareness: Students discover how THEIR body position, energy, and movement affect the horse.
6. Problem-solving skills: When something doesn't work, they have to figure out WHY and adjust - critical thinking for riding.
7. Respect and partnership: Horses who respect their handler on the ground respect their rider in the saddle.
GROUNDWORK TO TEACH IN LESSONS
LEVEL 1: FOUNDATION GROUND WORK (Beginners)
> Proper Leading
Not just walking next to the horse - CORRECT leading:
- Position: at the horse's shoulder, not in front or behind
- Leading from both sides (left AND right)
- Maintaining safe space (not crowding, not trailing)
- Stopping and starting with clear cues
- Turning safely (pushing away vs. pulling into your space)
- Walking over obstacles (poles, through cones, over tarps)
Why it matters: If they can't control the horse on the ground, they won't control them in the saddle.
> Halting and Standing Still
Teaching the horse to:
- Halt square and balanced on cue
- Stand quietly without fidgeting
- Stand while being groomed, tacked, mounted
- Ground tying (standing without being tied)
Why it matters: Teaches patience, respect, and impulse control for both horse and student.
> Backing Up
From the ground, teaching the horse to:
- Back straight
- Back with light pressure
- Back through obstacles (poles, L-shapes)
- Stop backing on cue
Why it matters: Introduces pressure/release concepts and spatial awareness.
> Personal Space and Boundaries
Teaching students to:
- Maintain their space (horse doesn't crowd or push)
- Move the horse out of their space with body language
- Recognize when a horse is being disrespectful vs. confused
- Set clear, consistent boundaries
Why it matters: Safety and establishing leadership without aggression.
LEVEL 2: INTERMEDIATE GROUND WORK
> Moving the Hindquarters
Teaching the horse to:
- Step the hind end over (turn on forehand from ground)
- Move away from pressure
- Cross hind legs
Why it matters: Teaches independent body part control - critical for lateral work under saddle.
> Moving the Shoulders
Teaching the horse to:
- Step the front end over (turn on haunches from ground)
- Yield shoulders away from pressure
- Move in a small circle around the handler
Why it matters: Develops precision and understanding of body part isolation.
> Sending Forward and Yielding
Teaching the horse to:
- Move forward away from handler on cue
- Circle around the handler at walk/trot
- Yield and come back on cue
- Change direction smoothly
Why it matters: Introduction to lunging concepts, energy control, and yielding to pressure.
LEVEL 3: ADVANCED GROUND WORK
> Desensitization Work
Introducing "scary" objects and teaching the horse to:
- Approach calmly
- Stand near the object without panic
- Trust the handler's guidance
- Work through fear rather than avoid
Why it matters: Builds trust, confidence, and problem-solving skills.
> Lunging
Proper lunging technique:
- Correct equipment setup
- Safe positioning (never directly behind or in front)
- Controlling pace, size of circle, transitions
- Reading correct vs. incorrect movement
- Using voice, whip, and body position effectively
- Free lunging (no line)
Why it matters: Teaches observation skills, timing, and horse training principles.
> Ground Driving
Using long lines to "drive" the horse from behind:
- Steering with lines
- Transitions on the lines
- Lateral work from the ground
- Backing and stopping
- On the trail or out in a field
Why it matters: Develops independent hand skills and understanding of rein aids without sitting on the horse.
> Liberty Work Basics
Working with the horse loose (in a safe, enclosed space):
- Following the handler
- Changing directions
- Moving off body language alone
- Coming when called
Why it matters: Ultimate test of communication, partnership, and understanding.
> Obstacle Courses
Complex ground work courses:
- Leading through tight patterns
- Backing through obstacles
- Side-passing over poles
- Combinations of all skills learned
Why it matters: Tests precision, problem-solving, and communication under pressure.
HOW TO INCORPORATE GROUND WORK INTO RIDING LESSONS
Option 1: Warm-Up Ground Work (5-10 minutes)
Before students mount, have them do 5-10 minutes of ground work:
- Leading exercises while horse warms up
- Moving hindquarters/shoulders
- Backing
- Standing practice
Benefit: Horse is mentally engaged before mounting, student is focused, connection is established.
Option 2: Cool-Down Ground Work (5-10 minutes)
After riding, before untacking:
- Review a ground work skill
- Practice something they struggled with under saddle (steering = leading practice)
- End on a positive ground work accomplishment
Benefit: Reinforces the riding lesson, ends on success, builds well-rounded skills.
Option 3: Dedicated Ground Work Days
Once a month or every few weeks, designate a full lesson to ground work:
- No riding, just ground skills
- Go deep into lunging, desensitization, precision work
- Make it engaging and challenging
Benefit: Students see ground work as REAL training, not filler.
Option 4: Integrate Into Mounted Lessons
During riding lessons, DISMOUNT periodically and practice from the ground:
- Struggling with lateral work? Practice moving hindquarters from the ground.
- Horse spooking at corner? Desensitize on the ground before riding past it.
Benefit: Shows students ground work directly improves riding.
HOW TO MAKE GROUND WORK ENGAGING
For Kids:
- Make it a game: "Who can get their horse to stand still longest?"
- Obstacle courses: Make it colorful and fun!
- Buddy challenges: Work in pairs, help each other
For Adults:
- Connect it to their riding goals: "This hindquarter work is exactly what you need for better leg yields."
- Make it precise and challenging: "Can you turn on the forehand in exactly 4 steps?"
- Show them videos of professional trainers doing advanced ground work
- Explain the SCIENCE: How does this exercise develop the horse's body/mind?
For All Students:
- Celebrate success loudly
- Set specific goals: "By the end of this month, you'll be able to lunge independently."
- Video their progress so they can SEE improvement
- Give them ownership: "You're in charge of your horse's ground work warm-up from now on."
ADDRESSING POSSIBLE PARENT PUSHBACK
Parent: "I'm paying for RIDING lessons. Why is my kid just walking around with a horse?"
Your response: "Great question! Ground work is actually foundation training that directly improves riding. Here's what your child is learning:
1. Timing and communication (essential for effective aids)
2. Confidence and control (handling a 1,200-lb animal builds serious capability)
3. Problem-solving and horsemanship (understanding WHY horses do what they do)
4. Safety skills (every rider needs to handle horses on the ground)
Professional riders and trainers spend hours on ground work because it creates better riders. I promise, the time spent on ground work will show up as faster progress in the saddle. You'll see the difference!"
GROUND WORK FOR DIFFERENT LESSON TYPES
Private Lessons: Easy! You have full control. Integrate 10-15 minutes of ground work into every lesson seamlessly.
Group Lessons: Rotate stations... half the group rides, half does ground work. Switch halfway through. Keeps everyone engaged and active.
Semi-Private Lessons: One student rides while the other does ground work with their horse. They learn from watching each other.
For Horses on Stall Rest/Limited Work: Ground work is PERFECT for keeping students engaged with horses who can't be ridden.
SAFETY REMINDERS FOR GROUND WORK
Ground work is NOT risk-free. Teach students:
- Always wear closed-toe boots, even for ground work
- Never wrap lead ropes around hands or body. Use proper grip
- Maintain safe positioning (directly in front or behind)
- Read the horse's body language (tension, pinned ears, kicked-out hip)
- Use proper equipment like safe halters, appropriate lead ropes
Students who master ground work become exponentially better riders. Students who skip it? They hit plateaus they can't break through because they never learned the fundamentals of timing, feel, and communication.
So stop thinking of ground work as "less than" riding. Start thinking of it as the foundation that makes EVERYTHING ELSE possible.
Your students might not thank you now but when they're confidently handling difficult horses, problem-solving under saddle, and progressing faster than their peers, they'll understand. Ground work isn't optional. It's essential.
Instructors: What ground work do you incorporate into your program? What have you found most effective? Drop your best ground work exercises and tips below!
*Instructors: Speaking of lesson planning, if you need fresh ideas to keep your horses and riders engaged, we've built a massive online library of mounted and unmounted lessons. Link in comments!
