How important is ground work?

The more ground work you do with your young horse the easier it is to put them under the saddle! Leading, round pen exercise, backing them up , picking up their feet ,sacking them out ,all adds up to a gentler horse , John Lyons states do the same exercise over and over again until they get so familiar with what you are doing it wont bother them... When I start saddle training ,I must hop up and down in the stirrup 50 times , when I finely swing abord my horses usually turns and looks at me as if to say well finely you got up there! It takes time and more time! If you have the determination and patience the rewards are great... Happy training!