training to ride

I am getting ready to ride my horse! I was actually on him for the first time last night and he did a great job. Even started to relax a bit, didn't try to bolt or anything. I feel like all the ground work we did really helped a lot! This makes me wonder. Is there any specific ground work excercies that prepare a horse to know what to listen to under saddle? Things that help them know what I mean when I use my legs?

I was just reading in a book I bought about groundwork and training. It said that using your fist and pushing where about your calf would be when riding will help them learn what the pressure there means. It says to try to get them to turn on their left foot with only their hindquarters going in circles. As soon as they move a few steps, cease the pressure and they'll eventually figure it out. It'll help for when you want to start using leg cues. :) Hope that helped some.