A heel horse that gets in the ground with his hips down and his front end up and peddling is a game changer. Here’s how and why.
Why It Matters
The stop helps you put the bottom strand of the loop on the ground, and that’s what keeps you from slipping legs.
The timing of the stop is a big key. If the horse stops too early or too late, it messes with your loop. It’ll hit weird when it gets to the legs or as you deliver. A good stop keeps the momentum smooth and fluid instead of stopping everything all at once.
A smooth stop doesn’t just improve performance—it’s also better for the horse in the long run. If a horse stops on the front end, it’s impossible to be consistent. The stop will be rough, and it’s way harder to dally because everything stops too abruptly.
Horses that stop like that are more likely to wear out over time. In my opinion, the most important part of a horse is the back end. That’s the motor of the horse and it’s what keeps them sound.
READ MORE: Don’t Lose a Leg
Building a Better Stop
The horse’s natural ability plays a big role in his stop, but how I ask for the stop is just as important. When I cue a stop, I stay balanced and keep my weight in the stirrups. I pick up on my reins to control the slack, but I don’t jerk or surprise him. It’s all one motion—my hands, body and balance working together.
It’s also important not to over-practice the stop. Vegas loves to stop, so I don’t make him do it over and over. Sometimes I ease into and out of the stop, just to keep it fluid and fresh. If you wear it out, the horse starts dreading it. That’s when you lose that smooth, clean stop.
READ MORE: Finding Frame with Your Heel Horse
What NOT to Do
One of the biggest mistakes I see is riders trying to force the stop by yanking on the horse’s head or slamming into them. That approach will make the horse dread the stop and cause them to hit on the front end or quit stopping altogether.
Instead, I focus on keeping the horse soft and free. I’ll do a lot of side-to-side work, moving their head right to left and keeping them light in the bridle. When I sit down, I let the horse feel my body and respond naturally. When they’re soft in the face and moving forward, they’ll start using their hindquarters more, and that’s where the good stop comes from.
READ MORE: The Ideal Heel Horse Stop
—TRJ—
