Groundwork- An energetic viewpoint.

Ground work in its commonest form is lunging and the whole sphere of ground work encompasses in-hand work and long reining, free work or liberty, can also be brought under this umbrella. In one training session multiple aspects can be brought together and that’s my preferred way of working.

I always take an interest in observing other people’s ground work, and when I’m working a big show there is always something to watch. A multitude of styles and techniques, good, bad and ugly. 

I never just walk past a horse being worked, each one is a study case, no matter the length of observation. Quickly I observe the horses form and way of going, their balance, rhythm, shape, energy, gait, transitions, movements and of course, too frequently their explosions and resistances and contortions and not just of the horses! I observe the handler, the trainer, the human aspect and the array of equipment employed. 

The chance to observe others lets me reaffirm in my mind aspects that I find pleasing and those that I don’t. 

In to the negative! 

Given the positive potential of ground work to anyone’s training program is immense, why are so few people effective and skilled at it? Most of what I observe is disappointing to the point of being detrimental, on occasion what I see is wholly unacceptable and abusive, while positive ground work is in the minority, in fact when I do see someone working well I try to take the time to stop and complement them. 

A contributing factor to poor work is the proliferation of training aids or lunging systems which claim to do the job for you. These let you hang your brain on the gate on your way into the arena and proceed with mindless lunging in endless circles, interestingly, but perhaps no surprise is that the effects are mirrored in the horse, the horse becomes less engaged with you, quite the opposite of what I try to achieve.

Now these lunging rigs have been around for decades most people take them for granted, unfortunately their use does seem to replace the need for skill. 

I do use basic auxiliary equipment, mostly I use side reins and I differentiate these basic items, from ‘lunging systems’ or ‘aids’ like the Pessoa.

Lunging aids are obviously sold by telling you of their many benefits to you and your horse, most often they claim to build top line, the subject of why topline is not being developed sufficiently with the rest of peoples training program is most important and the subject for a future post, but given this is a fact I witness throughout my work, it should be no surprise that people counter it in this way instead of understanding the cause.

For showjumping we need our horses to move freely and be adjustable, so why on the lunge, work them in one consistent (constrained) form? Our horses will not become gymnastic in this way. 

Interestingly the Pessoa system comes with a warning that it is an Advanced training aid to be used by experienced handlers and on horses that are experienced in ground driving (long reining)

My point is, conversely that if you are an experienced handler, capable of long reining why would you then choose to soil your work ?

Being on the ground whilst training your horse means that you are in a far less dominant position, maybe this is part of why training gadgets are so widely utilised - to increase the dominance and control factor, whilst turning down the dials of energetic connection, subtleness and concuss thought. 

But surely part of the pleasure and joy we experience comes from the challenge and satisfaction in learning and honing our skills in all aspects of horsemanship. 

I think people may just be unaware of the depths of this work, and I think they are missing out. I’ll admit that if you scratch the surface you may well discover why sometimes I describe it as a dark art. 

In to the positive! 

Do we want to continue to interact on a basic and superficial level with our horses or are we going to realise that reexamining the most basic work can pay huge dividends on multiple levels? All riders want better results in competition, but I suggest that there is potential for better understanding between humans and horses, understanding that could ground you as a trainer and rider on a level that nourishes you and gives you peace.

If your goal is a true partnership with your horse then necessarily they must be emotionally engaged with you, connected, not switched off, relaxed in their work and pain free.

Imagine being more than a horse pilot, being emotionally connected, imagine riding into a ring knowing your horse will try all he can willingly, to get around the course - this feeling starts with the basics of being connected on the ground and then at every stage.

To be more effective at groundwork and really benefit from it doesn’t have to involve signing up to any ‘ Natural Horsemanship cult’ You definitely don’t need a stick with a flag or plastic bag on the end or God forbid a carrot stick - that’s not a whip, no it’s definitely not a whip! You do not need a tarpaulin. If ‘natural horsemanship’ makes your blood run cold, you are safe to read on - 

Observation and energy 

I read my horses energy and I’m in control of my own and I’m aware of how I carry myself and the signals I emit. It’s the horses nature to synchronise their energy with those around them. This can take some time, but I have time and I’m quiet and patient, I work through my routine constantly reading my horse and adapting as needed. I have a multitude of options or potential actions I can draw from. I stand with my horse, we breathe together, I stay grounded. We walk together, I’m half a step ahead, relaxed, I have half an eye on her. This horse is 3, she’s 16.2, bright bay and powerful looking, just the kind I might buy for myself, just sharp enough to be interesting and not so sharp that I need to be 10 years younger.

I put my horse at ease and that gives her confidence, we stand together, I let her smell my hand, I stoop a little, we share a breath, she smells my hair, she takes me in. We walk again, we circle and we stand, now I move to her side, every movement slow and with meaning. My hand moves over her, from half way down her neck over her shoulder, I come back to her head, stop, breathe and then to her off side and repeat.

I’m at her near side, just behind her eye, I ask her to walk again, this is progression, the next stage, I ask again with a little more attention to her hind leg, we move off, she’s sensitive and attentive, a joy to work with. We turn a little to the left and walk out again, I step a fraction ahead and gesture for her to turn away to the right, she accepts, I step ahead again and turn to face her, we stop and breathe. I step away, zero pressure.

We work together, building up layers of trust, this is foundation work.

I step to her side, close to her shoulder and then a little towards her flanks and we walk again, left rein, I encourage a little more energy in her walk and I step away a little, creating some distance between us, as I do so I increase my focus and she maintains her rhythm. I’m in a sweet spot in her centre and I try to maintain my position. This is the beginnings of lunge work. I’m subtle and always quiet, I stay focused, the more my attention stays on her the more she trusts me. I end there, we stand together for a minute, nice session I tell her and myself,I haven’t looked at my watch, it’s not relevant.

Tomorrow I’ll move quickly through today’s work, and add on more work to the right rein. I might prepare her to be girthed but I probably won’t put the roller on, I might introduce the feeling of a line around her quarters. I have many lessons to teach. Each lesson builds confidence and trust needed to accept me on her back and each session builds the strength needed to carry me.

Good work is building a solid foundation, and the layers can be laid rapidly it doesn’t have to take a long time. I don’t let anything stagnate, I like to keep moving forward. Often a horse trusts me to get up on their back after the first session but it serves no purpose other than to show it’s possible.

In my early years of discovering this work I didn’t instinctively know what was happening to my training, I remember a conversation with one of my mentors and I put it to him- Ray,  I don’t understand, I do my thing and then these young horses are just letting me get up on them, no drama no objections.

Ray replied- you’re working with energy now Richard.