Gaining your pony’s respect

Well mannered ponies are always much happier than rude ones.
So if your pony sometimes behaves like a rude pony, here is a tip that might help.

Begin with a backward step
You can teach your pony to back up when you ask him to. This will help him respect your space and learn to listen to you and to pay attention when you need him to.
Stand in front and to one side of your pony facing him, take time to check he is paying attention and then lightly push back on your lead line with your hand, wait for your pony to move backwards, this may take a little time so you need to be patient, a small step or just a lean backwards or even just a tightening of his chest shows he is trying to do as you ask so pay attention and reward him by letting the pressure off the lead rope, ( stop pushing). You will need to practise this a few times a day until he understands what you want, two or three minutes two or three times for a few days should be enough.
Once you are both good at this you pony will step backwards just by you stepping in front and looking at him. When you get really good you will hardly have to do anything at all and he will understand and step back because he is listening and understanding.
Now you have his attention and are able to have him step backwards one step, you can work up to a few steps and then you will find he leads forward better and can back out of trailers and awkward spaces with ease. How great is that!!
You can teach him to stand correctly for photographs, when having his feet picked out he will balance better if standing square when you begin plus show judges will be impressed when he presents himself well in class.
IH kids do ground work because they know it helps their pony, an ordinary head collar is fine but if you do wish to use a Dually, make sure it fits and you know how to use it properly first as you don’t want to hurt or frighten you pony.