The FIRST thing you need, if the horse is to be your student, is: HIS ATTENTION (first, last, and always)...
OBSERVE, REFLECT, AND COMPARE, MAKE THE RIGHT THING EASY AND THE WRONG THINGS DIFFICULT...
ALWAYS STOP FIRST BEFORE YOU TURN (do not make rounded turns), STOP STRAIGHT...
Think about your back being connected to the reins while maintaining your upper body erect in the shape of a “D” rather than a “C” with your Ischia bones centered over the 14th/15th thoracic vertebrae...
FOREMOST, YOU MUST GET AND HOLD THE HORSE’S ATTENTION. IF IT WANDERS YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY GET IT BACK, BECAUSE WHERE THE HORSE LOOKS IS WHERE HIS MIND IS AND HE WANTS TO HAVE HIS FEET CATCH UP TO HIS MIND...
HORSES ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE ALERT FOR REAL OR IMAGINED DANGER AND THEIR NATURAL INSTINCT IS TO ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO FLEE THAT DANGER IN AN INSTANT...
RESPECT FOR THE HORSE UNEQUIVOCALLY – NOT FOR WHAT YOU WISH HIM TO BE BUT FOR WHAT HE IS...
LEAD THE HORSE BEHIND YOU AT THE DISTANCE YOU WANT HIM TO BE – THREE FEET OR FIVE FEET OR TEN FEET AND HAVE HIM STAY AT THE DISTANCE YOU CHOOSE...
FORWARD (MAINTAINING AN ENERGETIC THRUST OF THE HINDQUARTERS IN ALL GAITS AND MOVEMENTS - NOT JUST MOVING FORWARD OR RUSHING), STOP, TURN, BEND, BACK UP...
HORSES ARE “HARD WIRED” BY NATURE TO BE AFRAID OF EVERYTHING UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE...