During times of stress, like the blustery March days that likely lay ahead, I often wonder about the trigger stacking that can occur when horses are afraid of the rider's aids and then the natural environment exacerbates their fear response. So many times responsiveness to aids is created through FEAR of the rider's aids. I want to ride a horse that is RESPONSIVE and UNAFRAID of me. This can become a matter of life and death when it comes to horses facing fearful environments and elements beyond our control. You see if horses are already triggered stacked because they are afraid of the leg, hand, whip etc. they are so much more likely to lack the impulse control that often keeps a positively reinforcement trained horse calm and safe in the face of things that would normally spook other horses and send them whirling and running in fear with rider's hanging on for dear life. So many times responsiveness to aids is created through fear of the rider's aids, both natural (legs...