Hippotherapy

How to stop a horse without pulling the reins?

I work at a therapeutic riding facility and the lady who owns the place is teaching me how to ride horses so that I can get even more involved in the program. She says that when I stop a horse (when I'm riding), I should stick my tummy out and dig my rear end into the horses back and it should stop. Usually, I do that, then pull back on the reins, but the horse just keeps walking. I'm really new to horseback riding and I was wondering if there is anything else I can do to make her stop. She is a very nice horse and is used to people riding her, but she can tell that I'm new to the thing and kinda takes advantage of that... So, how can I make her stop? Does anyone know how to correctly do the "pushed out tummy and pushed down rear end" thing? Please help me! I really want to know more about this stuff! Thanks!!!

Public Comments

1. Hey. I have been riding for about 6 years and I am 12 now. When you want to stopa horse from moving, you simply pull back on the reins and tell your horse "Whoa" in a really long and low-like tone.
2. Yes, sorta lean back when you want him/her to stop. Also take away all leg pressure and say, "Woah." If that doesn't work pull lightly on the reins.
3. When you are properly balanced with your horse you should be able to stop it by sitting deeply in the saddle and taking a stronger feel on the reins. I would not consider sticking your tummy out a good thing to do as it will throw your balance off and be likely to upset the horse not stop it. But I guess your instructor is trying to get you to force your seat deeper in the saddle by telling you to do this. It could take a few more years experience before you really become able to ride on this instinctual a level and very often riding school horses do not have the fine tuning to allow this stylr of riding. Having put up with being hauled and kicked around the place they are often too used to that to understand the lighter aids. Good luck with your lessons and above all enjoy yourself.
4. The horse is probley a school horse. Meaning that they're set in one way and thats it. You have to show them that you mean business. The woman is correct about getting them to stop but she's wrong in the same way. You need to have good communication with that horse. One of my horses i don't really have to ride with a bridle but for safety i do. if i want her to turn a certain direction i just lean a little bit and she moves. Have you ever seen freestyle reining? you know the one with out a bridle. When they make the horse stop they shift they're weight back and the horse stops. Over time you'll understand how to make a horse do a nice stop. Then you can shift your weight back and have to pull LESS on the reins. What the woman means is getting in your seat more. and like what I said about shifting your weight back
5. I think the lady is just trying to make you sit hard. You can think of it like that if it helps. Your horse shouldn't keep walking whne you ask her to halt. It sounds like you need to sit straight (don't lean forward, if you have to lean a tiny bit backwards its ok), push your seat down as your teacher says, shorten your reins, and pull once, not hard, but don't make it a long, drawn out haul on the reins. Your horse should stop. If she doesn't, pull a bit harder. The "pushed out tummy, pushed down rear end" thing needs to be simultaneous to rein aid, not before or after.
6. this sounds like the ponies at the barn where i work. we tell our students to first think about stopping. then sit deep in the saddle and put your back jean pockets in the saddle. then if it doesn't work at all pull back on the reins lightly and say woah.
7. Think of tighten your back muscles, and growing tall in the saddle. What you are trying to do is stop the movement with your seat. While walking you will feel your hips moving as he walks. When you want to stop, you block that movement by no longer following with your seat. It takes practice and cordination. You will figure it out as you ride more. It is hard to describe the feeling, but you will know (by the horse responding) when you get it right.
8. You should stop the horse with your "seat" Try lifting your thighs off the saddle and sitting back. Also stop the movement in your hands. But do NOT pull. You need contact for this to work. It could also be that the horses you ride and deft to your seat from all the children squirming. If you were a rider I would suggest re training him/her to stop with your seat but for now try with your thighs.
9. yes, sit deep, and then say "whoa". then when the horse doesn't stop, should you resort to pulling the reins. at a walk and trot, teh horse should should stop instantly. at a lope/ canter the should take no more than 3 strides. at a gallop no more than like 6. you should instantly feel their hind end disengage, though.
10. Don't keep pulling back. After you pull back, release, then pull back again. Do this until she stops. I believe she is testing you, kinda cute actually. Do keep your posture, listen to the trainer. When you pull back it hurts their mouth, so stay out of it (mouth), as much as possible. The best thing for the inside of a human is the outside of a horse - That's a Fact!!!
11. When I was learning how they told me (Sorry if this is kind of nasty, but it works), pretend like there is a penny in your butt and you want it to stay there. Squeeze your cheeks together and you will lean back automatically. Whatever you do stay confident up there, horses know when you are nervious.
12. Close your thigh, sit back, and say "woah!" in a commandive, loud voice. I have a hard to stop horse and it works every time. If they walk, then do it again.
13. push your tummy out and push down your rear means stop riding. stop moving with the motion of the horse. if it helps also imagine your legs get real heavy and stop moving as well. dont go limp, but just cease to move with the horse. also, dont PULL back. maybe tiny small tugs and say whoa, but dont continue to pull. just hold the reins steady. also, be patient. she is testing you and knows your new and someday, you will get it. just keep consistent with what you do.
14. Lean way back and say woah in a deep long voice like you mean it, if that doesn't work pull back harder and harder until he/she stops. Keep working with the horse, let him/her know who's boss but don't hurt him/her or anything.
15. Hey my trainer has tought me to sit deep in the saddle say whoa but make sure your horse can hear that. Your horse will enyoy in more that you dont pull on the reins! I hope this helped! :)
16. NEVER NEVER NEVER teach a horse to stop on voice-commands!! what your instructor is trying to say i will put into words everyone could understand, and i use it to teach my 8 year olds at lessons...so it may get a little silly.... she is telling you to do a "butt-squeeze - relax"...you are basically clenching and tightening your butt muscles for a few seconds, and then relaxing them...this tells the horse that you are ready to give her next command, where you GENTLY pull back on her reins a little...but eventually, once you ride more, you won't have to pull back. the reason you never want to train a horse to voice commands is because if you are out on a trail, or EVEN in the arena, your horse could take off with you when your not ready because of something somebody ELSE said.
17. digging your seat into the back will only make it go. my horse would take off galloping if you did that. Stretch up, close your thigh and lift your seat up slightly. suld comlicated. but it really does work!!
18. Leaning back a little. Use your seat. Sit tall.
19. Yes, generally you can get the horse to stop by just sitting deeper in the saddle and stopping all movement. But you need to be moving fluently with the horse to do this, and if you are a beginner you probably haven't achieved this yet which is why the horse keeps on walking. When the horse is walking you should be balanced and moving with her, not just sitting there. You should be able to tell exactly when each of her hooves hit the ground at all times. But this is something that comes with time. As for stopping, make sure you aren't gripping with your legs at all. They should be totally loose and no pressure should be on your horse's sides. Exhale and sit deep in your saddle as you say "Whoa". Leaning back helps you get the hang of it. I'm not really sure what she means by "pushing your tummy out". What you should try and do is as your walking, puff your chest out and keep your shoulders back. When you ask the mare to stop, pretend your sitting down in a chair. Just exhale and let everything out of your body and lean back in the saddle. This will naturally bring the horse to a stop if you do it right. If she doesn't stop, then stop her with the reins and back her up. Always ask her to stop with your body BEFORE you pull back on the reins, so eventually she'll just stop without reins at all. I hope this helps!