I like this post a lot. I'd like to add that I find groundwork has been a VERY valuable tool for my horse that suffers from ADHD. :-) I look at it as an exercise that can engage a horse's mind to a very high degree before I get on its back.
Judy's post also implies that a person's mood is extremely important when doing this kind of work. If you are cranky when you are ground-working a receptive horse, there could very easily be tension in the round-pen type setting. The last thing you want is your horse to be afraid of you or to have anxiety. What you really want is your horse to be happily playing along and paying attention to you. At the end of the session, the horse should be completely focused on you and eagerly awaiting your next cue. This can help a curious or strong-willed horse perform much more predictably once you climb into that saddle in terms of going only where you ask it and at exactly the speed you ask for. Having those things in the back pocket open the door for more complicated training. The other thing I really like about that post is how to handle a horse that is making mistakes - and how to handle yourself when you make mistakes. If a horse if having a difficult time with something, taking baby steps is important. Frustration and getting angry with the horse will always create a negative experience. Being patient is essential and simply asking them again in a different way was a great point. Thankfully, even when we do get frustrated, horses live in the moment much more than we do...next time we visit them, the first thing they think of probably won't be "(s)he got frustrated with me last time" but "when do I get my grain?" :-) ~Nick
