Instructions
Act purposefully. Understand what exactly it is you wish to accomplish. If you do not understand what you want to accomplish, there is no way to expect the horse to understand what he is doing wrong. Be clear about what behavior you find unacceptable before correcting the horse. Have a clear grasp of what behavior is natural and what is pure willfulness. This will save you a great deal of time and aggravation. Examples of misbehavior are biting, kicking and attempting to throw off a rider.
Be concise with punishment for misbehavior such as biting. Do not linger over the punishment or overdo it. Quickly correct the misbehavior by giving the horse a sharp flick on the backside with a riding crop coupled with a firm "No!" command, then move on. It is important that you administer the correction to the horse quickly and efficiently. Do not give the impression you are enjoying dispensing punishment and do not linger over the matter. Heavy-handed punishment may aggravate the horse, thereby giving him motivation to continue behavior you consider undesirable.
Reward the horse for good behavior. A good time to reward your horse is when he exhibits positive behavior, particularly in situations where he previously exhibited negative behavior. This teaches the horse that when he does not misbehave, he will be rewarded for his efforts. Proper rewards include verbal praise, an apple, a carrot or some type of cut up fruit.
Use firm commands in appropriate circumstances, yet be gentle with the horse. Make sure the horse understands what he is being punished for. A sharp, quick flick of the riding crop followed by a loud, sharp "No!" will suffice. Horses have excellent memories. Over time, your horse should remember that if he attempts to bite someone or misbehave in other ways, he will get a swat with the crop and a loud shout from you or his trainer. This will work to your advantage, as it will not take long to teach your horse that bad habits, such as biting and kicking, are inappropriate.
How to Correct a Horse's Misbehavior
Training a horse can be a difficult task if you allow it to overwhelm you. The trick is to not let the horse control you; relax and control the horse through knowledge of horse psychology, the use of firm commands and rewards for good behavior. It does take some practice, but eventually you will master the techniques. Many horse trainers believe a horse's misbehavior can be corrected without using physical punishment.