From The Ground To The Saddle

This document, “Ground to Saddle,” by IH Trainer Jim Goddard, guides horse owners on transitioning IH principles from groundwork to ridden exercises. Goddard emphasises a thoughtful and intentional approach to horse training, highlighting the importance of pressure and release, and encourages riders to think like educators, breaking down exercises into smaller parts. The guide focuses on building the horse’s understanding, balance, suppleness, and confidence through a series of specific exercises.

The guide is divided into four parts:

• The “Box” Exercises: These foundational exercises teach pressure and release from the saddle. They include Turn on the Forehand, Turn on the Hindquarters, and The Open Box.
• Cruising For Canter: This section uses cones to develop pace control and softness in canter, with exercises like circling cones and canter zones.
• Steering & Suppleness: This part focuses on exercises to improve the horse’s responsiveness to leg and rein aids, such as Bending Poles, Decreasing & Increasing Spirals, Developing the Side Pass, and The Roll Back.
• It’s Time to Trail Ride! This final section encourages bringing together all the practised skills on a trail course.

Across all exercises, Goddard emphasises the importance of:

• Breathing and relaxation for both horse and rider.
• Releasing pressure promptly when the horse responds correctly.
• Breaking exercises down into smaller, manageable steps.
• Listening to the horse.
• Building fitness and confidence gradually.
• Making training enjoyable.

The guide is suitable for horses in ridden work of all ages and levels of training.