How to Train a Horse to Stop Lightly

Many inexperienced horse owners and riders are often confused when the animal refuses to stop lightly, or come to an immediate, soft, sliding stop when the reins are lifted. Like any other maneuver, a horse has to be trained to stop lightly, which requires the right training, body language and positive reinforcement techniques.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Horse
• Fence
• Clicker

1. Train a horse to stop lightly by riding it toward a fence or other boundary. As you near the fence, wait for the horse to hesitate, since it will know better than to try to walk through the fence. You will feel the horse begin to relax its body and slow down as it approaches the fence.

2. Give the command to stop as you feel the horse slow up to a light stop in front of the fence. You can either pull on the reins, call out a command (such as the ubiquitous "Whoa!") or simply use body language, such a marked shift in the saddle, to convey your meaning to the horse.

3. Repeat the maneuver until you have trained your horse to stop light at the fence. You can slowly increase the distance between the horse and the fence until the animal stops well before the obstacle, or you can approach the fence at greater and greater angles until you are able to train your horse to stop light while parallel to the fence.

4. Reinforce the horse's success with the stop light command by giving the horse verbal praise or by scratching the horse in its favorite spot for a moment or two. Avoid using food to train your horse to stop light, which will simply teach the animal to wait for a treat before submitting to your commands. A clicker is a fairly effective way to train a horse to learn various commands, since the sound produced is pleasing to the animal.

5. Practice using a pre-signal to train your horse to stop light. A pre-signal is a verbal command that lets the horse know that an obstacle is approaching and that it should get ready to stop light. A pre-signal is useful for times when you are riding quickly or when the horse's visibility is somewhat limited.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid leaving the halter and lead on a horse when you are not training it. Many horses have been injured when a halter or lead became tangled with a gate or fence post while the owner was away.
• The guidance of an experienced trainer can make training your horse a much more pleasant, productive experience. Seek out a trainer with extensive knowledge of your chosen discipline, and take a few lessons.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!