Richard Boatwright Thanks very much for the reply. I tried the stick approach the other day and it worked ok. But, after the session I discovered he had a sore back up around the withers. Eddie is another client's horse, and a check of the saddle fit showed pretty clearly there's a pressure point that could be causing significant soreness. It could explain some recent behavior...hesitancy while leading, pawing at the cross ties, and the mounting block shyness. He's been trying to tell me something...I just need to learn to be a better listener. We're going to stay off him for a bit, then try different saddles and pads to see if that makes a change for the better. 

Richard Boatwright - Hello! Wonder if you could help resolve some feedback I'm getting from my trainer/coach when I try this approach with a horse that won't stand still at a mounting block. This horse, Eddie, moves his rear away whenever you take a step onto the block. I got him to yield his hindquarters like you show...but my trainer thought this approach would only reinforce Eddie's behavior to move the away direction.

Have any thoughts on that concern...or an explanation of why it wouldn't effectively be teaching the horse to move away? 

Note: I'm an intermiedate-ish rider and definitely a novice trainer...trying to soak up as much information and experience from others that I can.  Appreciate all your videos. Thanks very much!

Richard - Thanks very much...exactly what I was looking for. 

Excellent. Thanks for the explanations...very helpful...

Thanks Lucas...definitely helps.