I just can’t the word ‘whoa’ through my horse’s head. As good as he is with so many other things I’ve struggled with his stops since I first got him 2 1/2 years ago. He CAN do a really nice stop. But it’s pretty much 50/50 whether he’s going to do it or not. I say whoa every time I want him to stop, and sit deeper and pick my hands up. Sometimes I’ll feel him rock back on his hindquarters and plant it. But sometimes he trots a few steps first (if I’m coming from a canter) then comes to a rocky halt. I’m getting so frustrated because its just not getting much better. Any advice?
Got a video? Make sure your are riding forward into the bridle, not just raising your hands. About half the time you are doing it right, and the other half you are forgetting something important. Hard to diag without seeing it.
Sorry, I don’t. I have videos of him moving but no stops.
I don’t know if this will help at all, but count his rhythm off in your head three times before the whoa, reducing the movement of your seat bones at the same time. The last count should be abs, heavy seat bones, and still hands.
Example: From the lope, count off 1-2-3, 1-2-3, and slow your seat on each beat. The last should be 1-2-whoa – engage your abs and deepen your seat and form a wall with your hands.
The jog is 1-2, 1-2, 1-whoa with the same abs/seat/hands.
You might be dropping the stop on him without any sort of preparation so he’ll get strung out and dribble into it unless you say “heads up; something’s coming! 3-2-whoa!”
What do you do after you stop?
Each time, when you stop, use seat, voice, set your hands, let your horse set into his stop but hold your hands once he stops until he backs a few steps (bump your legs on him). Then do NOT go straight forward out of it. Turn and go another direction, or do a little side pass before you go forward, etc. Some of the reiners are big sticklers about this and it helps a lot of horses. “Whoa” means DONOTGOFORWARDANYMORE. 
After dating a reiner for 3 years, I don’t walk out of my stops… And my horses stop great.
[QUOTE=BayMaresOnly;7416958]
What do you do after you stop?
Each time, when you stop, use seat, voice, set your hands, let your horse set into his stop but hold your hands once he stops until he backs a few steps (bump your legs on him). Then do NOT go straight forward out of it. Turn and go another direction, or do a little side pass before you go forward, etc. Some of the reiners are big sticklers about this and it helps a lot of horses. “Whoa” means DONOTGOFORWARDANYMORE. After dating a reiner for 3 years, I don’t walk out of my stops… And my horses stop great. ;)[/QUOTE]
My trainer has taught me to back up after stops. If my horse stops well, I back him a step or two, then let him rest a second. If it’s a bad stop, I haul his butt backwards and make him do it again.
But I’ve never heard of what you suggested. I usually walk him forward again. I will try that. Thanks.
[QUOTE=VaqueroToro;7416700]
I don’t know if this will help at all, but count his rhythm off in your head three times before the whoa, reducing the movement of your seat bones at the same time. The last count should be abs, heavy seat bones, and still hands.
Example: From the lope, count off 1-2-3, 1-2-3, and slow your seat on each beat. The last should be 1-2-whoa – engage your abs and deepen your seat and form a wall with your hands.
The jog is 1-2, 1-2, 1-whoa with the same abs/seat/hands.
You might be dropping the stop on him without any sort of preparation so he’ll get strung out and dribble into it unless you say “heads up; something’s coming! 3-2-whoa!”[/QUOTE]
I will try this also. I try to set him up for stops but sometimes it’s hard for me to get in the rhythm and feel his stride and when he’s ready to stop.
He stops better when the gait he was in was collected and balanced. When he’s flatter, his stops aren’t as good. So this, along with my timing and prep for the stop, are what I need to work on.
With that first part being said, what if his gait (let’s say canter) is a bit strung out, how can I still get a good stop from him?
[QUOTE=huntseat3;7417069]
He stops better when the gait he was in was collected and balanced. When he’s flatter, his stops aren’t as good. So this, along with my timing and prep for the stop, are what I need to work on.
With that first part being said, what if his gait (let’s say canter) is a bit strung out, how can I still get a good stop from him?[/QUOTE]
You may have answered your own question here, but the short answer is, you can’t. Even at a gallop or very fast canter, your horses needs at least an instant of collection to be able and prepared to stop. He has to be able to position himself in preparation for the stop. The pro reiners make it look instantaneous, but it’s not. There are always a series of steps involved to bring the hind end under his body and set himself up for the stop. At this stage, you need to slow down and perfect the stop at slower speeds.
It’s difficult to relay the exact steps involved. You may need to try different things to see what works. I’d start by sitting deep with light leg pressure. It’s possible that lifting your hands is causing his head to come up causing his back to hollow. This causes him to become strung out and unable to stop.
If he does a poor stop, I certainly wouldn’t be “hauling his butt backward.” At this point you don’t need to cause him anxiety about the stop and bracing himself in anticipation of punishment. You both need to work on relaxation.
What DesignerLabel said.
Also half-halts. Is the problem just when halting from canter? Is it a problem with EVERY halt from canter or just sometimes?
Can you go a half-halt to let him know you’re about to ask for the transition to halt?
Do you ride him into the halt or just expect him to halt himself and stay collected?
[QUOTE=MidnightWriter;7420725]
What DesignerLabel said.
Also half-halts. Is the problem just when halting from canter? Is it a problem with EVERY halt from canter or just sometimes?
Can you go a half-halt to let him know you’re about to ask for the transition to halt?
Do you ride him into the halt or just expect him to halt himself and stay collected?[/QUOTE]
Mainly a problem from the canter, trot sometimes too, but it’s not every stop, some stops are good.
Pay really close attention to what you are doing during the poor stops as well as the good ones, i.e., pay attention every time! LOL
Every halt is a different halt, just remember neither of you is a machine.
Really, really reward him for the good halts so he’ll know he got his part right. Just a pat and a “good boy!” and of course an immediate cessation of “asking for halt” on your part so he’ll know he did what you wanted. Just stay soft and quiet in his mouth and on his back. And sorta thnk “halt” and stillness, stopping following his forward motion.
