Is your horse really obeying the stop command? If not you could be in for a big suprise!

Does your horse stop because it is obeying the stop command or because you have stopped asking it to go forward? You know a car will stop if you simply let up from the gas pedal. But for the most part you stop the car by pushing on the brake pedal.

Most people think they have a stop with their horse, but in reality they are just coasting to a stop. When you are just relaxing and having some fun, or if the horse is in a good mood you can get by with coasting to a stop.

But there will come a day like the time when that small child ran in front of your car, or you had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision, you will desperately need to stop your horse.

Will you have a stop?

How do you know if your horse is obeying a stop command or just coasting to a stop? Here's a little test I perform on all horses that come to the ranch.

Lead your horse like you would normally do and then just stop. Did you horse stop? Most likely they did, this is a coast to a stop and what many call a good stop. This is not a good stop and to rely on the horse stopping using this method when things get exciting can have serious repercussions.

Now let's test for a real stop. Lead your horse by grasping the lead rope just below the halter (see photo). As you are walking and BEFORE you slow down with your body, pull back on the lead rope and see what happens. Pay attention to the horse's initial reaction. If they have a good stop and are obeying the stop command the first reaction will be to lower the head, then immediately stop their feet. Anything else indicates a poor stop. This will be even worse once undersaddle.

The reason for pulling back on the lead rope, before you slow down with your body, is to determine if the horse understands the proper response to a pull on the reins once you are undersaddle. If the horse sped up, threw its head up or rooted out the nose when it felt the pull of the lead rope you can expect those same behaviors when being ridden. All of which are unsafe and can lead to a disastrous ride.

I know that all of you would never get into a car that did not have brakes, so why get on the horse and hope it stops? Train the stop, be safer and have a happier horse!