Assessing Human Pressure towards the Horse- by the Remote Horse Coach

People tend to hurry in life and often the same applies to their horsemanship.
The “task” often becomes the focal point, rather than the quality of communication. If the horse mostly “goes along” with what is asked, people tend to accept the behavior. But without effective “tools” (I don’t mean gadgets, rather how a person uses pressure to communicate) they often wind up at the “mercy” of the horse or “surviving” the ride. This creates a cycle of worry, fear, and insecurity in both humans and horses.
Consider the following questions:
If you walk into the pasture/stall does your horse automatically move away from you (fleeing from your spatial pressure)? Does he approach nicely but “hover” in your personal space (delegating the pecking order of where you’re at in his herd)? If you raise your hands to halter him does he move his head up, away, or “dive” into the halter (defensive, anticipative, disrespectful)? When leading him is he lethargic and slow in response, does he try to “hide” behind you as you walk, does it feel like he is “leading” you and rushing, or does he constantly walk with his head cranked over his shoulder with his body bumping into you?
If you walk past grass or a buddy horse does he try to drag you over to where he wants to go? If you ask him to stop moving using the lead rope lightly does he respond slowly, is over-reactive, or completely ignores you? If you walk faster or slower does he mimic your energy with his, or does he only offer one speed irrelevant of what you’re asking?
If he is tied does he paw, wiggle, chew on the lead rope, pull back against the rope, or move away from you as you groom/tack him? When you mount, does he stand still, walk-off before you’re ready, or fidget if asked him to stand longer than he wanted?
If you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions, there is Opportunity (even in “accomplished” or “broke” horses) to refine their interpretation of pressure and the Quality of your communication.