How to Optimize Your Horse Schooling Sessions

opts to shift his weight back to collect himself hes likely to try that option again and then again. 
As another example turn on the haunches may begin with one wider step with your horses inside front leg. Reward that try and he may try another. When your horse is no longer trialling wrong answers and regularly getting the right one its time to push to the next level.
Know when to push and when to wait. On the training staircase pushing to the next level involves risk. I think of measured risks as those 80 percent likely to succeed risks employing enough pressure to motivate a change yet not enough to stir up fear and failure. Horses in anxious states dont learn. Rather theyll try to escape instead of trying something new. Success can make us greedy to ask for more such as pushing through to the scary water box instead of step wait and chill step again. Another example of a measured risk is being content with fewer trotting strides into a canter departure before expecting liftoff from a walk.
Know when to quit. As a coach I walk the balance between what benefits the rider and what benefits the horse. Rehearsing over and over is the recipe to becoming automatic. You build muscle memory and proficiency until you can execute techniques without consciously thinking about them. Yet logging miles on the odometer is a sure road to a sour horse. What the human athlete gains by polishing her position and building stamina is apt to take a toll on her horse. Unlike bikes and snow boards the tools for equestrian sport live breathe and think!
Expect training setbacks. From time to time in stepping up to the next level things get worse before they get better. If you encounter a roadblock or behaviour issue try another approach or break down the skill into simpler steps.
Take a deep breath. Cmon you know this perfectly well!
When I assume my horse is being stubborn or stupid the truth is in my frustration Ive frankly run out of creativity and patience. Emotions make our aids unclear. When hitting a snag in a training session opting for logic over emotion is a more effective way to bridge the communication gap with the horse. A deep breath clears headspace for sober assessment.
Does my horse understand the aids?
Have I delivered them accurately?
Is tension distraction or pain interfering