Turn on the forehand and leg yield can be used to teach the horse that the rider's leg can mean something other than, "Go forward." The horse must understand this concept in these very basic movements before you will find much success with any of the more complicated lateral movements.
A rider's hands can only be as good as the arms they belong to.
Every time your horse spooks, remind yourself that horses in the wild that didn't spook at that rustling bush often got eaten by lions.
If you have short arms, you will have to be especially careful to make sure that you keep at least a little bend in your elbows at all times when riding. If your elbows become completely straight, you will lose your ability to follow your horse's movement with
The quieter you become with your aids, the more detail you can hear and feel in your riding.