Someone suggests you try groundwork to help your horse with their behaviour. Maybe things have been getting tricky, or you’re trying to build a better connection – so you give it a go. You follow the steps. You try the techniques. But something just feels… off.
You can’t quite put your finger on it, but it doesn’t sit right.
They’re telling you to send your horse backwards to “move his feet,” or to chase him in circles until he gives in, or to tie him up for hours so he “learns his lesson.”
And meanwhile, you’re left standing there with a sick feeling in your stomach.
If that’s you – I see you. I’ve been you.
And I want you to know this: there is a kinder way.
Why Traditional Groundwork doesn’t work for every horse (or every person)
The reason why so many old-school groundwork methods don’t lead to real change is simple – they focus only on the patterns of movement.
You’ll hear things like:
- “Get those hind legs crossing.”
- “Make him move his feet.”
- “He’s not respecting your space.”
- Is he calm and confident?
- Does he feel safe in your presence?
- Is he connected to you – mentally, emotionally, physically?
- Are you encouraging thoughtful responses – or shutting down his thinking brain?
Without those answers, groundwork becomes just another mechanical routine. And worse, when it’s based on dominance, pressure, or fear, it can actually create more long-term behavioural issues:
- Anxiety
- Reactivity
- Shutdown
- Learned helplessness
- A breakdown in communication
Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve tried these methods and they haven’t worked. Most of us (including me!) were taught that groundwork was about getting respect through obedience. What we weren’t told is that many of those techniques are built on a baseline of aggression, even if it’s masked and marketed as “firm but fair.”
Here’s the truth:
When your foundation is fear, your only option – when things go wrong – is to double down.
More pressure. More punishment. More disconnection.
And that’s why you might feel stuck, even though you’re trying your best and doing all the “right things.”
So… What’s the Alternative?
You can still use groundwork. But you need to reframe why you’re doing it.
Instead of controlling the body, learn how to influence the body and communicate with the mind through the body.
Use movement to support calmness. Use connection as your goal. Learn to read the smallest shifts – in breath, in posture, in thought – and respond with empathy, not domination.
This is what I teach inside the Video Library – a full training platform to solve behavioural difficulties, create a bond, learn through real-training sessions (never a “here’s a horse I prepared earlier”), and behavioural case studies that focus on creating genuine, calm connection with your horse. It’s a space where groundwork looks like:
- Supporting emotional regulation
- Rebuilding trust
- Encouraging thoughtful movement
- Restoring communication between horse and human
If you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or just fed up with methods that feel wrong in your gut – the kind way is waiting for you.
You can make progress.
You can enjoy groundwork again.
You can support your horse without fear, pressure, or punishment.
Start with kindness. Stay curious. Rebuild connection.
Join the Video Library now and start learning a different way.
