Let's say your horse decides he want to blow up or have a wreck. Well, the nice thing about a snaffle bit, is that it lets you pick the place you're going to have that wreck; that's all it does. There's nothing magical about the bit; it doesn't stop the wreck from happening. If your horse says "I'm going to blow up here and buck you off," you can say "Uh, no, the ground here doesn't look soft enough. I thought I saw a softer spot over there." And so you ride over a few feet and your horse says "Okay, now I'm going to buck you off." But I say "Nope, I was wrong, you were right. That spot over there was a whole lot softer. Let's go back over there."

So I ride back to the other spot, and I just keep changing directions. I keep asking and he keeps saying "Alright, alright, we'll have our wreck over here." I just keep moving him around and pretty soon, he decides it's too much trouble to blow up. But if I pick up on two reins and try to control that energy, then I guarantee you I'm asking him to blow up. No, I tell him to go – and to keep going.

Nothing else matters at this point. It doesn't matter if other riders are near you or where the horse wants to get to. Your safety is important, and you've got to ride your horse. The more the horse wants to think about something else, the more I'm going to give him something to think about. This is not punishment, don't see it that way. Look at it this way: What we're doing is finding ourselves a nice soft place to land if our horse decides to blow up.

Bottom line: If your horse bucks, if he bolts, whatever he does, as soon as you look at the ground at where you think you're going to hit, that's where you're guaranteed to land. So stay on top of your horse, look at your horse, ride your horse. Don't be a passenger. Work. Ask him to do something.

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About the authors:

Josh Lyons: One of the most sought-after clinicians in the world, Josh Lyons offers you and your horse a second chance or an enhancement of your existing relationship. His gentle and objective methods, pioneered by his father John Lyons, have helped novice rider and pro alike. Josh continues the “Lyons Legacy,” teaching the John Lyons Certification Program in Parachute, CO and touring often.  He is a frequent contributor to national publications like "Perfect Horse" and "Horse & Rider.” Find out more about Josh Lyons.

Keith Hosman: If your horse won't speed up, slow down, stop or turn, you missed the latest training methods from Josh and John Lyons.  Have you lost your confidence?  Want a horse to brag about?  Invest one weekend to make big changes with John Lyons Certified Trainer Keith Hosman.  Keith is based near San Antonio, TX and is available for clinics, private sessions and training.  He frequently partners with fellow Certified Trainer Patrick Benson for clinics and demonstrations — with nearly 30 on his 2006 schedule. For more horse training articles, or to attend a clinic or find a John Lyons trainer living in your area, visit horsemanship101.com now.  

No part of this article may be reproduced without the express written permission of Josh Lyons and Keith Hosman. To contact us regarding reprints or syndication of our articles (in print or online), please contact us via www.horsemanship101.com.