How to Stop a Horse

All riders need to know how to safely stop a horse. This skill is essential for safety and proper riding. With a well-trained horse, this is simply a matter of giving the correct combination of signals. Follow these guidelines to learn the right cues.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Give the cue via the reins. Pull the reins back gently toward your belly-button. This brings the bit backward in the horse's mouth, and also brings the chin strap upward. These two signals cue the horse to stop.

2. Give the cue via a shift in your weight. Many trainers teach horses that leaning forward is a cue to speed up, while shifting your weight backward is a signal to stop. It's very important that this shift is undetectable if you are showing a horse.

3. Use your voice. Many horses respond to a voice cue, if trained to do so. This cue is usually a deeper sound such as "whoa."

Tips & Warnings

• Once the horse stops, positively reward it by releasing the pressure on the bit in its mouth.
• Don't pull the reins upward or downward. The signal to stop should be a straight backwards movement.