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One rein stop (or more to the point, not)

Endurance and Trail Riding
#1

I have seen many trainer swear by the one rein stop as a good technique to stop a bolting horse.

My freind is a trainer who specializes in training for trail, and in problem horses. She is a very competent and confident rider/trainer who I’ve seen work wonders with some very difficult animals.

Several months ago she had a green Arabian in for training. One day I was out on my PF and she was on the Arabian, he spooked at something and bolted, so Jan employed the one rein stop.

Right in front of us, the horse slid out from under her and dropped to his side.

She started to re-think the technique, but not seriously…she figured it was perhaps a fluke.

Last Thursday she was out on the trail alone with a QH in training, he spooked and bolted, so Jan employed the stop again.

The horse went down just as the first did except this time she remembers little past him starting to go down until…

She woke up almost an HOUR later, with the horse grazing casually beside her (she WAS wearing a helmet).

She remembers riding him home, but she doesn’t remember re-mounting.

After a trip to the ER, a head cat scan and and rads on her severely bruised knee, she is thankfully fine.

Needless to say, she is no longer using or planning to teach the one rein stop and does not consider it safe.

Thoughts? Anyone use the one rein stop?..or refuse to?

#2

Doesn’t sound like she was employing the ORS correctly then. If done right, a horse should NOT get thrown down. :eek:

You can’t just haul the horse’s head sideways, that’s when folks get in trouble. You have to do it a little slower, and move the butt over. Otherwise, yep, you risk knocking the horse over.

Dunno if that was the trainer’s issue or not, but that’s what I’ve had experience with. :slight_smile:

#3

First off, hope your friend is OK.

The ORS is not a technique that the “human” learns and uses on any/every horse. It is something that has to be taught to the horse and practiced. I think a lot of people go wrong with this technique on this point.

As the other poster noted, your friend may not be using the ORS correctly. However, even if she is, if the horse has not been properly trained in the technique, that could have been part of the problem. The “in training” part seems to point to that.

#4

Yes, I think you (both) make a good point about the horse itself needing to be trained to it.

Jan has been training ‘difficult’ horses for many, many years to great success.

I’m sure she has had to employ the stop on way more than these two occasions with success, but it makes one wonder that if it can so go badly wrong on even two occasions out of possibly many, many successful ones over the years by a very competent rider, if it is something that should be taught to any other than a very experienced rider?

Jan is now very seriously rethinking teaching it.

#5

[QUOTE=Tiempo;3259981]

Needless to say, she is no longer using or planning to teach the one rein stop and does not consider it safe.

Thoughts? Anyone use the one rein stop?..or refuse to?[/QUOTE]

I have had - and have seen - horses go down when a ORS stop was used (and used correctly). Iffy footing was to blame in most cases, but some horses are just clumsy and get tangled in their own feet, especially when their focus is somewhere else. IIRC there was an article in Western Horseman some months back by one of the big NH guys that talked about the ORS not being safe and talked about a calvalry stop? rein? (seemed to be a pulley rein by the description given) that he felt was safer. Maybe someone else can dig that up?

ETA: Found it, or at least part.
http://westernhorseman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=77

Now I’m outta here before everyone starts arguing that they ride better than Curt Pate and he’s been doing it wrong. :cool:

#6

I’ve seen a horse continue to run at a dead gallop with the head fully cranked around to the rider’s boot by a so-called one rein stop. Very scary to see, since the horse couldn’t see where he was going and was obviously seriously unbalanced.

#7

I’ve had great success w the ORS, BUT I spent lots of time teaching it to the horse.
I could see if you just pulled a horses head around and tossed the off balance, yeah I could see one falling down.

I teach mine from a walk, gait, canter. Just so they know what to expect from their bodies when I use it. Course accidents can happen, though.

I hope she’s OK, that is some scary stuff!

#8

I concur that the technique should only be used on a horse that understands it and has practiced it many times.

Also, I don’t use the SRS on a horse that is already running; rather, I use it to short-circuit a bolt that is about to happen.

#9

I have to agree with the above posters, “The ORS is not a technique that the “human” learns and uses on any/every horse. It is something that has to be taught to the horse and practiced. I think a lot of people go wrong with this technique on this point.”

From what I understand, when you are implementing the ORS, you are not trying to spin the horse around, but disengage the hindquarters. So that they remain balanced, but lose the impulsion.

As mentioned above, it is a technique that needs to be practiced on a regular basis so that both horse and rider know how to respond to it in an emergency situation.

I am glad that your friend is alright.

#10

The ORS has nothing to do with ripping the horse’s head around to your knee and throwing him to the ground. It is MORE about the hindquarters and your influence of them and the shoulders. This has been discussed ad nauseum on this forum and on dressage. You can do a search and dredge up the endless pages of info.

Teaching my horse to disengage the HQs:
http://www.hphoofcare.com/TrainingORS.jpg

Nothing to do with pulling the head around. It has everything to do with influencing the HQs and shoulders. If you wait until the horse is in full flight mode and then pull the head around to your knee, I can imagine it would be an accident waiting to happen. People shouldn’t use a ORS unless they know how and the horse knows how.

#11

Why spend alot of time teaching the horse to do a one rein stop?? Why not just teach him to stop??? Seems like alot of wasted time. If the horse is so spooked he will not stop normally why would he suddenly respond to some other trained method???
I have ridden lots of very green horses and runaways and barn sour horses, and buckers and etc etc and never had one fail to respond if the bit is right.
Never could see pulling a horse in flight off balance.

#12

I’ve always heard that the ORS shoul NOT be used on a horse that is already bolting, just for that reason.
It is more something to use to PREVENT the bolt, if you sense the horse tense or if he has a spook.

#13

Because sometimes when you haul straight back on a horse, they go up instead of just stopping. If you disengage the hindquarters, the horse physically cannot rear or buck.

It might work for you to put a big ass bit in your horse’s mouth and haul back on it with brute force, but I guarantee if you did that with my mare you’d flip her over backwards and break her back or yours in the process. Brute force just isn’t the answer for many horses. I have used the ORS a couple of ocassions when the mare was far too “forward” for my liking and she wasn’t responding to half halts. It’s sort of a brain disconnect to break her focus on going forward and get her brain back on me.

When I’ve used it there has been very little rein pressure but instead it’s all about seat and legs. I prefer to not rip my horse’s face off if I can prevent it.

#14

[QUOTE=Auventera Two;3261109]
Because sometimes when you haul straight back on a horse, they go up instead of just stopping. If you disengage the hindquarters, the horse physically cannot rear or buck.

It might work for you to put a big ass bit in your horse’s mouth and haul back on it with brute force, but I guarantee if you did that with my mare you’d flip her over backwards and break her back or yours in the process. Brute force just isn’t the answer for many horses. I have used the ORS a couple of ocassions when the mare was far too “forward” for my liking and she wasn’t responding to half halts. It’s sort of a brain disconnect to break her focus on going forward and get her brain back on me.

When I’ve used it there has been very little rein pressure but instead it’s all about seat and legs. I prefer to not rip my horse’s face off if I can prevent it.[/QUOTE]

Vickey you make it sound like I ride heavy handed. Nothing could be further from the truth. I quarantee my horse is lighter on the mouth and I am lighter on the reins then you could imagine.
You posted some really nice pictures of your mare a few days ago but in every picture you have a hold of the reins. Mine would be drouping.
As for spooks I also remember you having a bad spook not too long ago around a gate and clearing 2 lanes of road before getting her back under control.
None of this would happen with a horse I have trained.
So don’t give me that big bit attutude, ripping the face off and I couldn’t ride your mare because I would pull her over backwards. All bull
I would love to see anyone join the reins to the bit with light breakable string and if you pulled too hard the reins would snap free. Try riding like that and see what happens.
My horses know what will happen if they break and run and so they don’t and pulling is also not allowed.
Horses will do what you are willing to let them away with and once they learn the boundaries they stay within them.
Spooking and bolting are not within their boundaries so they don’t do either.
Again would you like to me to post a picture of what I call a big bit??? You know what I am talking about.
Also this seat and legs thing can you honestly bring your horse down from a good lope with a simple gesture without touching the reins in any way???

Flying changes come from your butt , from the hind end, not the front so yes I am familiar with using the aids.

It would be fun to get the addreniline rush from a run away but that is never going to happen.
This disengage the hind end is just big words. Teach a stop and then be ready to back it up if the horse does not respond will get you alot further and even in a panic situation have enough bit to stop the animial… Your nose band is a cute gimicks but that is all they are, gimicks

Heavy handedness at the right time keeps the horse light all the other times. If the horse knows you are the boss, you can back it up he will behave and not push the limits testing.

#15

I was riding the breaks on the horse because she was under saddle 5 minutes before he took the pictures. The first couple of miles she is always very forward until she settles into a nice pace. Also I had 2 dogs running around with 3 people yelling at them to get out of the way. Also 2 other horses running around in the pasture like nuts. She hadn’t been ridden in a week either. Lets just say she was full of it. :lol: And one of the pics was after a big spook due to a dog.

I didn’t say I crossed 2 lanes of traffic. There was NO traffic, but it was a 2 lane road. It had nothing to do with “not being able to stop her.” It had to do with the fact I’d just whacked my knee on a gate and was hanging off the horse trying to stay on and was in agonizing pain. For all I know the reins were totally draped. All I could think about was getting centered back on the horse and not passing out from pain. Don’t twist the words.

That doesn’t have a thing to do with the horse not being trained. It has to do with me trying to squeeze between a solid gate and dropoff (stupid) isntead of going the long way. Then the horse spooking at the water at the bottom of the drop off then whacking my knee on the gate and me losing balance and nearly coming off. It could happen to any horse, any time. We were 1 stride from the road and she was just following the other horse who was already across the road. She bolted forward because she was scared and just wanted to get to the other horse.

You make it sound like she bolted across 2 lanes of traffic and was out of control. Couldn’t be farther from the truth. If I’d been of mental and physical state to stop the horse, she would have stopped.

I have never ever had a problem stopping this horse without a bit or with a bit. I’ve ridden her in a rope halter on a trail with other horses and had no problems. Sure, she loves to go fast and I have to give her half halts and close up my seat to block forward momentum if I’m trying to stay back with another horse, but running away is NOT something this horse has ever tried. Being forward, competitive, energetic, and loving to go down the trail at a good clip is NOT the same thing as being a runaway in need of a big bit!

#16

One rein stop and what lead was the horse on?

I’ve seen kids pull horses down trying to make them turn, when the horse was on the opposite lead from the direction the kid was turning the horse.

The horse needs to know what the ORS means. It has to know it at the walk, trot/jog/gait, canter, and gallop. And you can’t JERK the horse around.

Watch some of the Westerns from the 1950s and early 60s and you’ll see lots of “One Rein ‘pull-the-horse-down-to-make-this-scene-exciting’ Stops”

Maybe it should be renamed to “push the butt over, stop”
or, circle the horse stop.

#17

It saved me just tonight.

My horse bolted on me tonight. Not something I’m up for, btw. I’m a very careful rider, and will generally get off if I suspect something’s coming down.

Anyway, he took off. This is a very strong horse, not a steady eddie type. And I ride in a rope hackamore. No bit.

Due to much practice, I went for the one-rein, even in my panic. Once I had a firm grip on the one rein, it took maybe ten more strides before he stopped. I was astonished to have ridden it out without falling (and dying). My saddle (treeless) didn’t slip. I didn’t loose my stirrups.

Once I realized I wasn’t going to die, I was able to continue my ride without further incident.

I ride on a loose rein, and normally I can stop this horse, even from a canter, without lifting my rein. So it’s not just a matter of teaching the horse to stop. He’s trained to stop. It’s about an emergency brake in a panic. And I am very grateful for that emergency brake tonight.

#18

Exactly. It’s just one more tool in the tool box. If you never use it, great. But if you should ever ask the horse to stop and he doesn’t stop, then it’s just one more tool to go to. I’ve never had to use it because my horse was running away, but I have used it when she was just so excited and distracted that she forgot about the rider on her back. It’s a good way to totally break the concentration of what they’re focused on.

Come to think of it, I did it twice at the start line of an endurance race last week and I guess I didn’t even think about it - just did it. There were around 16 horses, it was early in the morning and cold, horses were fresh and the adrenaline was strong. One person was warming up their horse (I guess??) and made two long passes at the gallop down the dirt road by the starting line. Full gallop. Everybody was looking around like -what the heck?! We thought it was the first 50 miler coming back into camp but that wasn’t it because it was way too early.

One of the horses next to her was crazy and running sideways.

There was a loose horse who had broken out an hour earlier and nobody could catch him. He was running loose in the woods - and just so turns out this was my horse’s “buddy” as he was coralled right next to her in camp. She watched him break out and trot off through the woods with 5 people running behind him.

This was my first ride without a babysitter horse along that she was comfy with. I was a bundle of nerves.

So just say that tension was really high that morning.

She was so intense it felt like a band ready to snap. We were at the front of the line with about 1 minute to go. I turned her twice (or maybe 3 times??), disengaging the hindquarters and forcing her to pay attention to me. It was sort of a preventive measure just in case she were to bolt when that other horse bolted out of the starting line.

And isn’t that the whole point, to stop the bolt before it happens?? Just pulling back on her face wouldn’t have done anything because they can still bolt and gallop with only 10" of rein between hand and bit. Besides, I think the more you “bunch them up” the more danger there is of them rearing. Somebody here posted a picture of her stallion straight on his hindlegs at an endurance race. Geeze, that is NOT something I want to ride out because it would terrify the hell out of me. But when the back legs are crossed over each other, you totally shut down any forward movement.

#19

[QUOTE=Shadow14;3260940]
Why spend alot of time teaching the horse to do a one rein stop?? Why not just teach him to stop??? /QUOTE]

The “S” in ORS stands for “stop.” Teaching a ORS IS teaching the horse to stop.

There is more than one style saddle. There is more than type of headstall. There is more than one type of bit. There is more than one way to cue for an action.

There is also more than one way to stop a horse. Different methods have different uses, depending on the situation.

#20

When a horse bolts with me, I’ve never had time to think about what kind of stop I was going to perform, I think I act as more of a reflex. The last time my gelding did it a few years ago, he ran off the trail and took me under trees. I dont really remember what exactly I did, it all went by in a blur :slight_smile:

My gelding is very spooky and I prefer to ride him with a mechanical hackamore- my hands are very quiet and my half halts are extremely gentle, but that hackmore is some serious brakes if I need them and I can usually stop a bolt very quickly. My mare is not very spooky or strong so I ride her in a S-hackamore but I know that I would have a little more trouble stopping her in immediately in a real emergency situation. I think that having the right bit is really important to stop a bolt. I dont understand this riding in halters stuff at all and it seems to create heavy handedness on the rider and pulling and bracing from the horse. I know several people who have been run off with and hurt when they were using halters or side pulls on horses that are never really in control in the first place, always pulling and bracing on the rider, wanting to go faster.

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