Tools for Respect

There are a few essential tools you can use to help your horse learn to respect you. They are backing up, moving your horse’s feet and changing direction. Here is why they are so important. These three things are what a dominant horse would do to let a submissive horse or a rough upstart know that hey you don’t mess with me I am the boss! Here is a brief description on how to use these tools:
Backing Up: I use this as the first direction I make a horse go in backing away while facing me is something a horse only does to a dominant horse that they respect. And as a trainer and you as an owner should demand to be respected the same as your horse deserves it. I back a horse up when they pin back their ears, paw, nip, or try to. Often I back them up as well as move their feet and change direction often as well.
Moving their Feet: Moving a horse’s feet without moving yours is a powerful tool as well what you are doing is telling your horse I can take your space it is mine because I am your leader and you need to respect me. I am the dominant partner trust my decisions. It is also a tool to make bad behavior less inviting to do. It is work and work is what your horse has to do if they do not behave. Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult.
Change the Direction of their Feet: This is a tool I use when a horse really tries to get out of hand or I want to nip a bad behavior in the bud. What I do is I lounge a horse but only let them go a half or a quarter of a circle before I ask them to transition. I do this at all gates and it tells them that I mean business. I can move them where ever I want I demand respect as their leader. It tells me several things the biggest one is how I stand as a leader in their eyes a horse who does not see you as a leader will fight you doing tight direction transitions like this they will try to run through your cues, may buck or turn and kick rear or pull back trying to drag you. But a horse who respect you will do their best for you and begin watching you closely to anticipate when you are going to ask for the next transition. If your horse does resist give constant and increasing pressure until they turn and head off. Remember the key to great training is an immediate release of pressure at the same time they answer with the right choice.