First approaches

Ok so you are now driving your horse while getting the direction and speed you want fairly consistent but hey it is still the first day in the pen. I am sure now that you have worked the horse enough he is slightly tired and ready to stop and take a break. Great time for the first approach. After I draw the horses eye an/or chest and neck towards me I am ready to make the approach. When I make my first approach I again take the neutral body position, with my hand slightly raised palm up as if to feed this horse from my hand (don't use feed that is just how I hold my hand...), but I walk slowly but confidently towards the horses neck watching for any change to leave by the horse. If the horse starts to leave I will do either a 90 past the horses head (most will leave away from you) or a 180 and leave the horse. He's thinkin ".... Wait, he's the boss, where's he goin...." Because by driving and drawing your horse you have made him think you are the leader of his herd. I go back to the center of the pen and start over. Trying to always change direction before the horse leaves. DON'T GET IN A HURRY AND TRY TO RUSH! Rushing here can make catching horse nightmares. We can be a lil more demanding and I will cover that a lil later in this section. As I get close enough to the horse for a touch I DO NOT reach out to the horse. I wait for the horse to smell my hand. As soon as he does I retreat and give him a break because 9 out of 10 will probly leave. If he does leave here I will drive him at a hard trot for a minute or so then I will try again. Horses are just like most of us. They would rather stand still and be a tad lazy. So I am going back and forth to the horse and to the center and the horses attention is totaly on me. If I lose it I will drive him back to me with the driving exercises. We can move forward when, I can approach and he is not threatened and smells my hand and I, will give him a short stroke on the jaw or neck as. I retreat back to my center position. I will continue to build on this until I can pet and approach from both sides. Anytime the horse goes to leave at this point, I drive him and let him work himself to the point he is ready to continue, WITH ME. Sometimes I will get a hard case in who just won't let my touch him. Maybe my approach is off or he had a bad experience with another trainer, or whatever .... he just won't accept me the first day.. That is fine, I do have the facilities to keep him there all day only getting something to eat or drink on my terms which means being close enough to me he has smell and eventually brush up against me. However rather than have this go on for an eternity I do have some other options. I don't always have time to do it this way so...... What are those options. 1. If I am confident the horse is not going to try the panels or me I will up the ante by driving the horse at a hard trot or lope, turning him into the fence every half round of the pen until he is readyt to slow down for a reward which will now be only if he will trust me to pet him. 2 I may decide it is in my horses best interest for me to just rope him. If number one is used keep reading. If number 2 is used please read on for the info you will need to back up and get it if you don't Ok so now we are petting the horse on both sides and I am slowly positioning myself closer to the neck and facing forward every time. (Side note: DO NOT PUT YOURSELF BETWEEN THE FENCE AND THE HORSE!!!)I am also starting to reach my hand on top of the mane and closer to the ears as well as pettin the other side of the neck over the top with both hands now petting. (NOT PATTING) anytime I think he wants to leave here I will not stop petting but will move my hands back to where he is more comfortable. constantly pushing my boundaries while respecting his. When I can pretty well lay my arm over the top of the horses neck and pet and reach on the other side I will repeat the process with the halter in my hands while petting. If he leaves I can use the tail of my lead rope to drive him. Next will be First haltering. Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in Love 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and dept, and height: 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Thanks for your time And God's Blessings be upon you all, Range