Watch and Observe
Whenever you get a response from your horse, watch what else happens. Say you want your spot on the top of your horse's tail to back up. When it does, lots of other things happen as well. The tail goes back, which means the feet are backing up. If the feet are backing up, they're obviously not going forward, which may be an important tool if you want your horse to slow down, stop, or stand still. The horse's neck and back are rounding more, which is building muscle. He's also shifting his weight to his hindquarters, shortening the distance from his head to his tail, and beginning to collect, which will make him more powerful and more maneuverable at the same time.
A New Recipe
Your job as teacher for your horse becomes easier if what you teach is easier. Grandma's method of cooking bacon worked for her, but she probably never intended for later generations to follow what she did without thinking. Just because we have been taught one way of doing things doesn't mean that's the best answer for every horse or every rider. It doesn't mean that we can't learn a better or different way to do something.
Try something simpler and see if it works for you and your horse.
