There is no reason to make it happen, set it up and LET it happen, why try and force and create 1000 lbs of conflict. Introduce a situation to a horse and let him find the way to resolve it, with your help. If he has a lot of trouble, adapt and introduce a new way.

 

 

.... to a smooth transition to the saddle.

 

 

 

 

A horse can find it very difficult to do what you are asking of him if he does not know where to put his feet. In the first picture I am finishing the work on this horse that would not load. I taught him that I was simply asking him to move his feet in the direction I wanted wherever that may be. I am doing so here on my lariat. The horse understands and I ask him to load into the trailer from 15 feet away on the end of my lariat. Confident in my direction, he loads.

The groundwork made this possible and one should keep in mind that what a horse does on the ground is indicative of what he will do with you in the saddle.