Ask, Tell and Command

Horses and their riders must be in communication and work together. There is a three-stage method that helps you to get your horse to obey you.

1. Ask
This is the first stage. You ASK your horse to do something for you by giving the lightest possible signal and time to respond willingly. Examples of ASKING your horse to do something can be a touch of your leg, a shift in your weight, a gentle pressure on the reins, or a voice command spoken in a soft quiet voice.

If your horse does not mind you, you need to think about the reason why this may be. Is the horse confused? Is the horse frightened? Perhaps the horse is simply not paying attention.