How to Going on a Trail Ride? Stop a Runaway Horse

Most people go on trail rides and are not instructed how to stop quickly or easily. Horses are not robots. Believe it or not you CAN stop with one piece of rope.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Horse
• Rope/Reins
• A little knowledge
• Don't Panic!!!!!!!!

1. Mounting a horse properly. Make sure you get on HIS/HER left side. Gently slide your left BALL of your foot into the stirrup

2. Hold the reins in your left hand with the Mane. (no you won't hurt them if you pull their mane)
   Keep the reins a little more taught and have the horses head bent towards you.

3. While lifting yourself up. It is safer to use a mounting block. DON'T JAB the horse in the side with your shoe.

4. Pull your upper body up and over the horse and swing your right leg over the rump. Sit Gently

5. Ask someone to adjust you girth. (they will know what it is) It is like a belt for us. For the horse it is the belt that keeps the saddle on the back of the horse.

6. Okay now you are walking along nicely and something spooks your horse. You start to go a bit faster than you wanted to and pulling back isn't working. ***Don't Panic*****

7. For a moment let's close our eyes and imagine we are driving our cars.
   Where ever we point our car is the direction you are going in. Right?

8. Okay, now this is the same thing. You take both hands (if need be)and gently pull that horses head towards your knee. The horses back end will follow the front end. Just like our car. and Stop.
   One you are not hurting the horse by yanking on its mouth and two you both are safe and sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't Kick the horse in the side
• Don't pull on the saddle
• Make sure someone tightens the saddle when mounted.
• Most accidents happen mounting and dismounting

[GreenGables]

on 9/5/2009 Good tips. This usually works great.