The importance of groundwork!
If your horse respects you when you’re on the ground, then he’ll know to obey you when you’re mounted.
He should travel by your side willingly and with no resistance on the lead.
When you stop, he stops immediately.
He should be able to back up in a straight line or in a curve with a light pull.
Add sidepassing and pivoting (fore and hind) skills to your groundwork routine. You’ll be glad to have this “power steering” to aid your control for everything you do with your horse.