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Training Tips
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By Larry Trocha
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Dear Friend and
Horseman,
Welcome to another "Horse Training Tips" newsletter. If you have any questions about my
horse training programs or products, feel free to give me a call.
Before we get started
with the training tips, I thought I'd better let you know I have just
released my latest training videos plus I've added some videos by top
trainers that I highly recommend.
Topics include cutting,
reining, working cow horse and foundation training. After you finish
reading the new training tips, you might want to take a look at the new
videos. I think you'll like them.
23 Training Tips For
Improving Your Stops
-
When it comes to
stopping a horse on his hindquarters, timing is everything. When
stopping from the lope, you must say "whoa" when the horse's hind feet
are in the air and just starting forward.
This lets the horse shoot his hind legs under his body. If you say
whoa when the hind feet are already on the ground, you force the horse
to stop on his front end. I explain this in detail and give an example
of how to do it in the "Teach Your Horse to Stop Light and Collected
Volume 1.5"
video.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected
Volume 1.5
-
If you haven't
mastered timing the stop at the lope, perfect your horse's stop at the
trot. Timing isn't a factor when stopping from the trot. Get your
horse stopping well at this gait before practicing stopping from the
lope.
-
Teach your horse to
back well. A good back up always helps the stop. There are good
examples of how to teach #2 and #3 in the "Foundation Training for the
Stop and Back Up" video.
Click here to check it out:
Foundation Training for the Stop & Back
Up
-
Relax and pretend you
don't care if the horse stops hard. When a rider gets to trying too
much, he starts pulling on the reins too hard or scaring the horse.
-
For smooth, balanced
stops on the hindquarters, it's important to get your horse supple.
Don't even think you can get by with a horse that isn't light and
supple, because you can't. Having the horse supple is what allows you
to position his body for a good stop. Without having the horse supple,
you won't be able to teach him the correct "form" for a good stop. You
can see how to do this the right way by watching the video "Teach Your
Horse to be Light and Supple".
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to be Light & Supple
-
If your horse is
heavy on the front end, say whoa and immediately roll him back.
Rolling him back in the middle of the stop takes the horse's front
end away from him. He's forced to stop on his hocks. This works well
at the trot as well as the lope. I show you how to do this in the
"Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected" Volume 2 video.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected" Volume 2
-
Lope your horse until
he's tired, then ask him to stop. After the stop, sit there and let
him rest for 5 minutes or so. This will make him look forward to
stopping and actually enjoy it.
-
Teach your horse to
travel straight. A horse that is loping straight will stop a lot
better than one that zig-zags all over the place.
-
Teach your horse what
it is to be "fenced" in the arena. Fencing will help teach a horse to
run straight and stop hard. If you need to see how to do it, watch
"Teach Your Horse to Stop Light and Collected" volume 2.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected" Volume 2
-
Teach your horse to
stop when you quit riding (passively sitting). If you aren't
"actively" urging him forward, he should stop or at least slow down.
-
In a snaffle bit, if
the horse won't respond to a light rein, double him. When done
correctly, doubling will really lighten a horse up and get him to pay
attention. The correct way to double a horse is shown in the video
"Foundation Training for the Stop and Backup".
Click here to check it out:
Foundation Training for the Stop & Back
Up
-
You can really
lighten a horse up and get him to stop hard just by the way you handle
the reins when stopping. Ask for a stop with a series of pulls and
releases. The first pull should be very light.
The second pull should be heavier. And the third pull should be strong
enough to float his teeth. If you are consistent with this, your horse
will start responding better in just a few rides. You will see
examples and variations of this method in all three of my stopping
videos.
-
Some horses stop
better if asked for the stop while they are collected up and flexed at
the poll. Actually, a lot of horses won't do a good stop until they
understand what it is to be collected. You can learn how to do this by
watching the "Teach Your Horse True Collection" video.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse True Collection
-
In the snaffle, ask
for the stop lightly and if the horse doesn't respond, pull and
see-saw the bit until he stops and backs a step. Say "whoa," set the
bit lightly, release and set the bit again. If he still didn't respond
good enough, repeat.
-
In the curb bit, ask
for the stop lightly and if he doesn't respond, bump, bump the bit.
Say whoa, set the bit lightly, release and set the bit again. If he
didn't respond good enough, on the third set, bump the bit. I would
bump the bit several times and bump hard enough to get your point
across.
On some horses I'd keep bumping until he backed up a couple of steps.
I explain this in detail and give an example of how to do it in the
"Teach Your Horse to Stop Light and Collected" volume 1.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected
Volume 1.5
-
Ask the horse to stop
while he's building speed, not when he is slowing down. If you ask for
the stop while accelerating, his front end is elevating and his hind
legs are driving way up under his body to push off. This is perfect to
get a big stop on the hindquarters.
If you ask for the stop while the horse is decelerating, he will dump
on his front end. This rule applies when stopping at the trot as well
as the lope. If you need to see how to do it, watch "Stop Light and
Collected" volume 2.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected" Volume 2
-
When stopping, sit on
the cheeks of your butt, round your lower back, relax your shoulders,
keep your thighs loose and your knees open. A lot of folks tighten up
when they ask for a stop.
They will arch their back or clamp with their thighs. This almost
always ruins the stop. As a matter of fact, a lot of folks are in the
habit of riding on their thighs. This body position makes it almost
impossible to get a good stop.
-
Use your rein hand at
about the same height as your belt loops. When using two hands on the
reins, make sure you are bending your arms and bringing your elbows
back toward your hips with a "set and release" motion.
Here again, if you don't use your hands correctly, you won't get your
horse to stop correctly. I explain this in detail and give an example
of how to do it in the "Teach Your Horse to Stop Light and Collected"
volume 1.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected
Volume 1.5
-
Experiment with
different bits. If your horse is in the snaffle, try a smooth wire or
twisted wire snaffle. You might want to go with a gag bit on him.
Maybe it is time to step him up to an Argentine snaffle or a curb bit.
Coming soon on my web site, you will find training equipment that is
specifically designed to help your horse's stop.
-
If your horse is in
the curb bit, try adjusting the bit so it sits lower or higher in the
horse's mouth. Try different mouthpieces. Using a variety of bits
keeps a horse's mouth fresh. Also try tightening or loosening the curb
chain and alternate between using a flat curb chain and a dog-chain
curb.
-
Some horses require a
little different stopping technique. Try asking for a stop with your
spurs. Teach your horse to back up by setting the bit solid and asking
for backward steps with your spurs.
Once the horse learns to back up quickly and lightly from spur
pressure, ask for the backup (say whoa, set the bit and apply the
spurs) while the horse is still moving forward. If you have done this
right, the result will be a very good stop. Make sure the horse
understands this at the walk before asking for it from the trot.
And he should have it mastered at the trot before attempting it from
the lope. Once the horse understands this concept, you will hardly
need to use any spur pressure at all. I explain this in detail and
give an example of how to do it in the "Teach Your Horse to Stop Light
and Collected" volume 1.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected
Volume 1.5
-
To get sure-fire
results, try using an "Easy Stop". Actually, using an "Easy Stop" is a
great way to teach a horse to stop hard without getting into his
mouth. When used correctly, the "easy stop" gets fast results. It's
not uncommon for a horse to really start stopping well in just 4 or 5
rides. I show you how to use an "easy stop" in the "Teach Your Horse
to Stop Light and Collected" volume 1.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected
Volume 1.5
-
Try using a shoulder
cue to get a better stop. This one works like a charm but is hard to
accurately describe on paper. In a nutshell, you train the horse to
back immediately in response to moving your feet forward toward the
horse's shoulders. Very little bit pressure is used.
The result is a great stop with a "finger-tip" light rein. If you want
to see how to teach it to your horse, watch "Teach Your Horse to Stop
Light and Collected" volume 2.
Click here to check it out:
Teach Your Horse to Stop Light & Collected" Volume 2
Well, that wraps up our
23 training tips for getting good stops. Try them and see which ones
work on your horse the best.
Until next time, have
fun training your horse.
Larry Trocha
www.HorseTrainingVideos.com
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