Training Tip of the Week: Use Squeeze, Cluck and Spank to stop a grass-snatcher.

If your horse stops at a patch of clover and refuses to move, even if you’re bumping him on the sides, he’s telling you you’re being ineffective and you need to get more aggressive. Remember to use Squeeze, Cluck and Spank. Squeeze the horse with the calves of your legs to get him to move. If he ignores your squeezing, cluck to him with your tongue, “cluck, cluck.” If he still isn’t moving, spank him with the end of your reins or a dressage whip. Squeeze is politely asking the horse to go. Cluck is warning him that the spank is going to come if he continues to ignore you. Spank is doing whatever it takes to get the horse’s feet to move. You may have to really get after him if he’s being disrespectful. With horses you have to be as easy as possible, but as firm as necessary.