I keep coming across articles and videos that promote the idea that touching (patting, rubbing, stroking, or whatever you want to call it) a horse is an important element in the training process.
Anytime we feel a brace or resistance in our horse we are learning the limit of our relationship. A big part of training is to eliminate any and all ‘no-go’ areas of working together. A lack of softness to an idea is a horse telling you the limits of your relationship have been reached.