The horse's world revolves around his innate need to belong to a herd and around his understanding of his place in that herd. Where he ranks in that pecking order isn't nearly as important as knowing where he is in that order. So, if you and your horse are attached by a lead rope and he decides you aren't running the show, he will put himself in charge. This is the point where you need to draw the line. You cannot let him drag you around. He's not a puppy on the end of a leash. He's a one-ton animal, and if you aren't in control, you place both your horse and yourself in a potentially unsafe situation.

The person on the end of the lead rope makes all the difference. The same horse in the hands of two different people may act very differently. Whenever you reach a point where nothing seems to be working, consult a professional trainer for help. Just as a dog trainer teaches you how to handle your dog and teach her commands, a horse trainer will work with you to help you establish leadership and understand the disconnects between you and your horse.

Beginners are usually taught to lead their horse by standing to the horse's left and holding the lead rope right at the clip, where it attaches to the horse's halter. This is potentially dangerous. If the horse spooks at something from the right side, he has no where to go but sideways, on top of the handler — he can't jump forward because his forward movement is blocked by the tight hold on the lead rope.

Instead, give the lead rope a foot or two of slack. That way, if the horse spooks from either side, he can jump without jumping on you. If he spooks forward, the freedom you are giving his head allows him to jump ahead to either side of you, which is what he will choose to do — if you've taught him that running you over is unacceptable under any circumstances. If you don't want your horse to run over you, you must first earn his respect.

In the wild herd, the horses on the lower rungs of the pecking order would never dream of pummeling a higher-ranking individual. But some domesticated horses are bolder than others and look to challenge the established pecking order. You need to show these individuals more presence than you might need to show others. If your horse doesn't tend to challenge your position as leader, you can probably just send some energy up the length of the lead rope when he comes closer than you want to make him back off. He will soon learn the rules of appropriate distance.

For the bold horse, you will need to do what it takes for him to understand that you are the boss and you mean what you say. Of course, this doesn't mean you should beat your horse — this is about leadership and safety, not submission — but it may mean a bop on the end of the nose with the lead rope, a slap from your hand on his shoulder, or a tap with the whip on his rump to get his attention. If your horse learns to run you over, that bop or whack will seem pretty mild compared to hoof tracks up your back.

If you get the horse as a youngster, you can teach him enough about respect so this won't happen to begin with. If you are trying to change bad behavior that has been instilled in the horse by other people, the more effective you are in your handling, the quicker the change will happen, and you can both be happier.