Apply, Sustain, or Release?
If you’ve ever heard someone say, “Just add more pressure,” and felt unsure what that actually meant — you’re not alone.
Pressure is one of the most talked-about concepts in horse training… and one of the most misunderstood.
Some riders avoid it altogether because they don’t want to be “too harsh.” Others lean on it constantly, hoping their horse will eventually submit. And many well-meaning horse owners fall somewhere in the middle — applying pressure without really understanding how, when, or why it works.
The truth is, pressure itself isn’t the issue.
Clarity is.
When pressure is used thoughtfully — and released at the right time — it becomes one of the most powerful communication tools you have. It can create calm, confidence, willingness, and trust. When it’s misunderstood or mistimed, it creates confusion, resistance, and anxiety.
That’s why there are three questions every rider should be asking themselves when working with their horse:
Am I applying pressure?
Am I sustaining pressure?
Or is it time to release pressure?
Those three questions sound simple — but learning to answer them correctly can completely change your relationship with your horse.
Why “Pressure” Feels Like Such a Loaded Word
When people hear the word pressure, they often picture force.
Pushing. Pulling. Making the horse do something.
But pressure isn’t about overpowering your horse — it’s about giving them information.
Horses live in a world of pressure already.
The footing under their feet
A sound they didn’t hear yesterday
A shadow that moved
A change in the environment
They are constantly evaluating their surroundings, looking for safety, peace, and clarity. When we apply pressure intentionally, we’re not overwhelming them — we’re actually helping them focus.
Instead of worrying about everything, pressure brings their attention to one thing:
What’s right in front of them.
External Pressure vs. Internal Pressure
To understand how pressure really works, it helps to separate it into two types.
External Pressure
This is pressure that comes from you.
A steady stick tapping the shoulder
Light pressure on the lead rope
Leg pressure while riding
Your energy and body position
External pressure is physical. It’s something the horse can feel immediately.
Internal Pressure
This is the pressure that happens inside the horse’s mind.
Internal pressure shows up when a horse continues responding after you’ve already released the physical cue. They’re thinking. Processing. Trying to figure out how to make the pressure go away — and stay away.
This is where real learning happens.
The most meaningful training isn’t when a horse moves because you’re making them move.
It’s when they move because they’ve chosen the answer that leads to peace.
Why Internal Pressure Is the Goal
You can physically move a horse all day long with external pressure.
You can:
Push
Pull
Tap
Escalate
And yes — the horse will usually comply. Horses are incredibly willing animals.
But forced responses don’t last.
The moment a fear shows up that’s bigger than you — a plastic bag, a sudden noise, an unfamiliar situation — force stops working. The horse reacts instinctively, not thoughtfully.
Internal pressure is different.
When a horse learns to think through pressure, they begin to:
Stay connected
Seek clarity instead of fleeing
Make better decisions under stress
That’s what separates a steady horse from an unpredictable one.
The Three States of Pressure Every Rider Must Understand
This is where training becomes clear instead of confusing.
There are only three things you can do with pressure:
Apply pressure
Sustain pressure
Release pressure
Problems arise when we’re doing one… but should be doing another.
Let’s break each one down.
1. Applying Pressure: Making the Ask Clear
Applying pressure is how you ask a question.
It says, “Hey — I need your attention right now.”
This could look like:
Asking your horse to back up
Asking them to step over
Asking them to move forward
Asking them to soften
Applying pressure should always be intentional. Not random. Not emotional. Not reactive.
If you’re unsure what you’re asking for, your horse will be unsure too.
A Common Mistake Here
Many riders think they’re applying pressure — but they’re actually just nagging.
They tap. Then tap again. Then tap harder. Then keep tapping even when the horse has already started trying.
Which brings us to the next phase…
2. Sustaining Pressure: Giving the Horse Time to Think
Sustaining pressure means holding the same level of pressure without escalating, while the horse processes the question.
This is one of the hardest skills for riders to learn.
Why?
Because silence feels uncomfortable.
When nothing is happening, riders tend to assume the horse “isn’t getting it.” In reality, the horse is often thinking.
You might see:
A weight shift
A lean forward
A lifted foot
A pause
A moment of hesitation
Those are not signs of resistance — they’re signs of processing.
Sustaining pressure gives the horse space to say,
“Okay… what happens if I try this?”
3. Releasing Pressure: The Most Important Moment
This is where everything comes together.
The release of pressure is the reward.
Even though it feels like you’re “taking something away,” you’re actually giving your horse something incredibly valuable:
Peace.
The release tells your horse:
That was the right choice
You’re safe
You found the answer
This is positive reinforcement in its purest form.
Why Release Is Positive Reinforcement (Even Though You’re Removing Something)
Positive reinforcement isn’t about treats or praise — it’s about encouraging a behavior to happen again.
When you remove pressure at the right moment, your horse experiences relief. Their nervous system settles. Their mind relaxes.
That relief is the reward.
Over time, horses begin to seek the release by offering better responses faster.
Timing Matters More Than Perfection
One of the biggest mistakes riders make is waiting for perfection before releasing pressure.
But horses don’t learn in leaps — they learn in steps.
Release when your horse shows:
Effort
Understanding
A try
Movement in the right direction
That might be:
A rocked-back weight shift instead of a full backup
A lifted foot instead of stepping fully onto the trailer
A softening thought instead of perfect form
Releasing at the try builds confidence.
Waiting for perfection creates frustration.
A Simple Example: Leading Your Horse
If you’re leading your horse forward and:
They’re walking calmly
They’re staying with you
The rope is slack
But you’re still pulling on the lead rope…
You’re sustaining pressure when you should be releasing it.
That constant pressure creates dullness, not responsiveness.
The rope going slack tells your horse, “Yes — that’s it.”
Another Example: Riding and the Reins
If your horse is standing quietly, but you’re still holding tension in the reins, your horse never truly finds peace.
They’re waiting. Bracing. Guessing.
Releasing pressure tells them:
“You did what I asked. You can relax now.”
Reading Internal Pressure: The Skill That Changes Everything
The most important part of all of this is learning to read your horse’s internal pressure.
External pressure is easy to control — internal pressure takes awareness.
Watch for:
Leaning
Shifting
Reaching
Softening
Pausing
Hesitation followed by effort
Those moments are golden.
They mean your horse is engaged instead of shut down.
Trailer Loading: A Perfect Example of Pressure Done Right
You can force a horse onto a trailer.
You can:
Rope them
Push them
Escalate pressure until they comply
But that doesn’t teach the horse anything except how to endure discomfort.
When pressure is used correctly:
You apply pressure
The horse thinks
You release at effort
Internal pressure takes over
That’s when a horse steps forward willingly — not because they’re trapped, but because they’ve found peace.
Why Old-School Force Isn’t Sustainable
Forced behavior only lasts until a bigger fear shows up.
A horse trained through pressure alone doesn’t know how to make good decisions — they only know how to survive the moment.
That’s why some horses seem fine… until they aren’t.
Choice-based training builds horses that:
Think under pressure
Stay connected
Remain safer in unpredictable situations
When You’re Unsure If Your Horse “Gets It”
Many riders worry they can’t read their horse.
Often, the issue isn’t ability — it’s expectation.
If your horse seems confused:
Break the task down
Make the ask smaller
Reward effort sooner
When horses don’t understand, they don’t offer tries.
When they’re thinking, they always offer something.
Patience Isn’t Slowing You Down — It’s Speeding You Up
It’s not a question of if your horse will get there.
It’s a question of how they get there.
Rushing through pressure creates fragile results.
Letting horses think creates lasting change.
The Takeaway: Ask Better Questions, Get Better Answers
Every time you work with your horse, ask yourself:
Am I applying pressure?
Am I sustaining pressure?
Or is it time to release?
Those three questions create clarity, trust, and communication.
And clarity is what horses crave most.
Ready to Go Deeper?
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
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