Is It Resistance or Defiance?
A world champion trainer tells you how to tell if your horse is being resistant or defiant—and what to do in each case.
cue, rather than refusing it outright.
Your horse might lift his head and be stiff in his neck and slow to respond as he resists your cue to, say, go forward or backward, or to move or bend in a particular way.
His ears might be back, but they won’t be pinned flat to his head. He might swish his tail, but it’s not flailing as if there were bees swarming around it.
You may feel uncomfortable with his resistance, but you’re not scared. It doesn’t seem as if your horse may do something rash, such as run into a fence or rear over backwards.
How it looks/feels:
What causes resistance: There are various causes. Confusion, when he’s not clear on what’s wanted. Fear, when something about what you’re asking is unfamiliar or threatening. Laziness/boredom, often when the training routine has become too predictable. Stiffness, when he hasn’t been adequately suppled and prepared to do the maneuver you’re asking for.
What you should do:
Handle resistance differently from how you handle defiance (which I’ll discuss in a moment). Meet resistance with lots of educated riding to soften and supple your horse. Specifically, figure out the cause of his resistance and address it.
If your horse is confused or fearful, stay calm and supportive as you “explain” what you want in a slightly different way. Think of your horse as a child who doesn’t “get” something, or is hesitant about it. You don’t bonk him on the head or scold him. You get down to his level and softly but firmly explain again and again, as need be.
If your horse is lazy or bored, try mixing up your schooling routine. A stubbornly lazy horse may pin his ears and balk, but his