Disciplining Your Horse, Part 2
to hurt your horses feelings he will like you more after the problem is resolved.
When trying to change behaviour I use three stages. The first stage I call conflict. I need to cause enough conflict that I cause the horse to express the poor behaviour. I will do my best through methodical correction and reward to have the horse look for better options in dealing with me. This can sometimes set the horse up to anticipate that the next lessons are going to be as intense as the conflict stage.
The next stage I call clarify. In this stage I will not be the cause of the conflict. The horse will anticipate enough conflict that I wont need to initiate it. I will just make requests quietly and deliberately as if I know he will be successful. He will often overreact and I will just quietly let him work himself through the conflict stage and clarify to him that he is doing fine. Correctness is unimportant but encouraging him by asking less of him should help him learn not to overreact.
