| There is nothing more uncomfortable than having | | | | back...each time increasing the speed slightly in |
| your horse stop on his front end! If your horse is | | | | reverse. |
| stopping on his front end (or not stopping at all), he's | | | | When you ask your horse to back, it is more natural |
| not engaging the rear-end. Teaching your horse to | | | | for him to collect and engage the rear, therefore, by |
| collect and engage his rear will provide a better, more | | | | backing up after a stop, your horse will learn quickly |
| comfortable stop. | | | | to get ready to back and engage is rear-end. |
| A simple way to teach your horse to stop better | | | | Desired Result: You should feel your horse start to |
| Start Show: | | | | engage his rear and even take a step backward |
| From a walk, ask your horse to stop using your reins | | | | without being asked. Additionally, before moving on |
| and the voice command "whoa". Immediately upon | | | | to the next step, your horse should stop with the |
| stopping, ask your horse to back up several steps. | | | | voice command, "whoa"! |
| Ask for a moderately aggressive back and use your | | | | Next: |
| legs (remember, your legs are the gas pedal going | | | | Repeat the above steps from a trot. Even though |
| forward or backward - don't maintain constant | | | | your horse is stopping on the voice command "whoa" |
| pressure just "bump and release"). | | | | at a walk, reinforce the techniques above for the |
| Additionally, don't use steady rein pressure to ask for | | | | stop and back. After you have your horse stopping |
| a more aggressive back, use two hands to alternate | | | | on voice command and engaging his rear-end at a |
| between the left and right. Repeat this several times, | | | | trot, move on to a lope! |
| each time your horse stops, immediately ask them to | | | | |