12/16/2020
POINTERS FOR PARTNERSHIP: To groundwork, or to ride. Is that really the question?
It often seems in the horse world that there are those who most regularly partake in and aspire for proficiency with their horse on the ground. And those who most regularly partake in and aspire for proficiency with their horse in the saddle. I don’t as often encounter horse owners (or even horse professionals in some cases) who seem to place equal importance and emphasis on both aspects of development of the partnership.
I used to explain to my students that for me it is not a choice of ground OR riding (riding OR groundwork), but that partnership with horses is derived from a blend of groundwork AND riding (riding AND groundwork). A mutually inclusive, not exclusive kind of deal.
But, as I have progressed in my own understanding of the ever pursuit of partnership with horses, I have come to further expand this concept, now believing that there is really -- or should really -- be no distinction to the two. No need to discuss them as if they are in separate columns or categories, a one or the other mindset.
When I have examined and subsequently expanded my perspective to what it is now, such that I see groundwork as simply riding from the ground — and riding as simply groundwork from the saddle — I have come to much better understand how it is ALL the same. And my horses have responded with great improvements, increased understanding, more rapid progression and seeming appreciation! And that is surely whinny worthy!
Though the majority of horses may feel or appear more comfortable or proficient either on the ground or under saddle based on their prior experiences with humans, to the horse the philosophy and principles of PARTNERSHIP are the same regardless of the position atop or aground of the human. For instance, horses instinctively crave and thrive on things like, clarity, consistency, balance, fairness, confidence, connection . . . the list goes on. A true horseman or horsewoman understands that those qualities and abilities can be conversed about, furthered and solidified either when riding from the ground, or when doing groundwork from the saddle.
As a specific example, below is an image from a session today with a training horse of my riding a trot lengthening from the ground. Later in the session I then did more trot lengthening, this time just in the form of groundwork from the saddle. To my horse there was an understanding of how the aids and expectations connected making for a fluid result of partnership.
This may appear at first as quite the riddle of language I am proposing, but I challenge you to try on the concept in your interactions with your horse. You may find in doing so that you are able to better understand and appreciate the way a ground exercise relates to and will carry over to an under saddle exercise (and vice versa). And that your horse may be able to as well.
But there is a caveat here: IF there is no relatability for a horse in their mind or in your own mind between an aid or a presentation of an aid on the ground and one under saddle, one may need to reexaime the aids used, the presentation of the aids and/or the ultimate sought after goal.
But that there is a topic to be expounded on for a different day! This week my hope for you is that you may enjoy great rides from the ground and awesome groundwork sessions from the saddle!
