| Do you own a reining horse or young reined cow | | | | running speed where they will still try to stop. |
| horse prospect? If so, you know how critical a | | | | If you run him faster than that optimum speed |
| good stop is to your horse's success in the show | | | | he just thinks about running and forgets about |
| arena. In this discussion, I'm going to talk about | | | | stopping. Or maybe he's not strong enough to |
| reining horse sliding stops. And specifically, ways | | | | hold a stop past his optimum speed and refuses |
| you can improve your horse's sliding stop. | | | | to try. You'll have to experiment to find out just |
| We have a lot of ground to cover so let's get | | | | how fast you can run him and still get a stop. |
| started. There are several factors that influence | | | | Another thing. Don't ask your horse to stop from |
| the length of a horse's slide. | | | | top speed very often. You'll sour him if you do. |
| They are: | | | | And remember to put skid boots on him so his |
| #1. The horse's natural ability and aptitude for | | | | fetlocks are protected. |
| stopping. | | | | A lot of riders build speed too quickly, then start |
| #2. The ground the horse is stopping on. | | | | to slow down as they near the end of the |
| #3. The way the horse is shod. | | | | run-down. They ask the horse to stop while he's |
| #4. The horse's rate of speed when going into | | | | decelerating. The result is usually a disappointing |
| the stop. | | | | stop. It's also important for the horse to be |
| #5. The way the rider cues the horse for the | | | | running straight when you ask for the stop. |
| stop (how the reins are worked, rider's posture, | | | | His body should be straight from the tip of his |
| etc.). | | | | nose to the tip of his tail. If he's crooked he'll stop |
| I'd like to talk about each of these factors and | | | | out of balance. Also, his path down the arena |
| explain how they effect your horse's slide. | | | | must be straight. If he is zigzagging or trying to |
| First, let me make it clear that just about any | | | | veer off while making the run-down, his stop will |
| horse can do a nice little two foot slide on good | | | | suffer. |
| ground. It's another thing altogether for a horse to | | | | The way you "cue" your horse to stop is vitally |
| slide 15 or 20 feet. If you want big time stops | | | | important. |
| you need a horse that has the ability and desire | | | | Using the reins correctly, proper riding posture and |
| to stop. | | | | timing is what enables your horse to perform a |
| You're not going to get the job done on just a | | | | long slide. But before I explain the right way, let |
| so-so kind of horse. And if you try to force a | | | | me tell you what not to do. Contrary to popular |
| non-stopper into becoming a big-time stopper you | | | | belief, pulling the reins harder does not make for a |
| may find your training sessions becoming too | | | | longer slide. It actually shortens the slide. |
| harsh. | | | | Why? Because the hard pull makes the horse jam |
| How do you know if your horse has the aptitude | | | | his feet in the ground too deep. It also causes his |
| to be a good stopper? If it was relatively easy to | | | | hind legs to spread out too much to slide far. And |
| get him to stop well at the trot or slow lope, | | | | maybe worst of all, a horse can't keep his balance |
| chances are you won't have much of a problem | | | | for a long slide when he's being pulled on. |
| advancing the stop. (Providing you do it gradually | | | | OK, that takes care of what not to do. Now let's |
| and the horse has the necessary strength to hold | | | | talk about how to do it right. On a reining horse |
| a hard stop). | | | | there are three different techniques I'll use to |
| On the other hand, if you had hell getting him to | | | | handle the reins. The techniques are different but |
| stop at the trot or slow lope, you're going to | | | | the principle of why they work is similar. |
| have more hell trying to get him to stop from a | | | | Why do I use different techniques? Because |
| faster pace. Personally, I don't think it's worth it to | | | | different horses respond differently. I'll use the |
| put yourself or the horse through that kind of | | | | technique that works the best on that particular |
| ordeal. | | | | horse. Let me give you a brief description of the |
| Let's talk about how the ground affects a horse's | | | | three techniques of using the reins. Then I'll go |
| slide. | | | | into more detail on the one that works on the |
| It never ceases to amaze me how normally | | | | majority of horses. |
| intelligent people can't figure out that a long slide | | | | The ultimate way of stopping your horse is to |
| ain't gonna happen on bad ground. So, for the | | | | just say whoa, slack the reins, then sit there and |
| sake of clarity let me describe what good sliding | | | | let him slide. This technique will often times |
| ground is. Good sliding ground consists of a hard, | | | | produce the longest slides. Why? Because you're |
| packed base that is smooth with two or three | | | | not interfering with him. |
| inches of loose, fluffy dirt on top. | | | | With no pressure in his mouth, he feels free to |
| The advantages of this kind of ground are | | | | slide as far as he can. The only problem with this |
| obvious. The hard packed base gives the horse | | | | technique is that your horse has to be the kind |
| something solid to slide on. Without it the horse's | | | | that really wants to stop. It's pretty hard to get |
| feet would dig in the ground too deep thus | | | | the average horse to consistently stop this way. |
| shortening the slide. The base must also be | | | | Another technique I'll use is to say whoa, tighten |
| smooth. If there are any ruts in it a horse's feet | | | | the reins to apply light pressure, then sit there |
| will catch in the rut. | | | | and let him slide. It's important to note that the |
| Again this will shorten the slide or worse, injure | | | | pressure is light, only a pound or two. It's also |
| the horse. It's important the ground on top of the | | | | important not to pull the reins. Once the pressure |
| base be fluffy and loose. Here's why. This top | | | | is applied, your hand is set solid with no pulling or |
| ground needs to soften the concussion of the | | | | slacking. |
| feet entering the ground and hitting the hard base. | | | | This method works fairly well on horses that don't |
| Without a soft cushion to absorb the shock the | | | | want to stay in the slide. The down side is horses |
| horse will get sore. | | | | usually won't slide very far with this technique |
| Another reason you want the ground loose and | | | | unless you can get away with using very light |
| fluffy is so the horse can easily plow through it | | | | pressure. Also, if you pull on him instead of setting |
| while sliding. If this top ground is too deep or too | | | | your hand, he's going to pull on you and dump on |
| heavy it makes it too difficult for the horse to | | | | his front end. |
| slide very far. He'll need to be awfully strong to | | | | Here's the method I use on the majority of |
| hold a slide in deep, heavy ground. | | | | horses I ride. As I'm galloping the horse down the |
| Here's a tip for improving your sliding ground. Add | | | | arena I'll say whoa, wait a split second, then apply |
| rice hulls or shavings to the dirt. This will really fluff | | | | rein pressure and set my hand. The horse will go |
| it up and make it light. | | | | into the stop. My hand is set for only a fraction of |
| The way your horse's hind feet are shod will have | | | | a second, then I slack the reins. The horse will |
| a lot to do with how well he slides. | | | | continue to hold the slide. |
| Sliding shoes are advised. They are made of | | | | As he's sliding, if I feel him start to come out of |
| tempered, flat bar iron, one to one and a half | | | | the stop, I'll set my hand again. Then immediately |
| inches wide. The wider the shoe the less friction | | | | slack the reins again. This process of setting and |
| (or grab) on the ground and the longer the slide. | | | | slacking the reins goes on throughout the whole |
| There are limits though. I prefer not to go wider | | | | slide until the horse is completely stopped. It |
| than one inch wide shoes. | | | | should be noted that when I slack the reins I don't |
| Again, for less grab, the toe of the shoe is | | | | give a lot of slack. Only an inch or two. |
| rocked up a quarter inch like the front of a ski. | | | | Let me explain step by step why this sequence |
| This prevents the toe from jamming in the | | | | of cues works so well. |
| ground while stopping. The quarters of the shoe | | | | After I say whoa, giving the horse a split second |
| should come almost straight back from the toe to | | | | before the reins are set gives him a chance to go |
| allow dirt to easily flow out the back of the shoe. | | | | into the stop on his own. This lets him enter the |
| The trailers should extend all the way back to the | | | | ground more softly and smoothly. (If the reins |
| bulbs of the foot, but no farther. You also should | | | | were used at the same time I said whoa, this |
| have the horse's hind feet trimmed with a little | | | | would startle the horse causing him to abruptly |
| longer toe and a little lower heel than normal. | | | | jam his hind feet in the ground too deep for a |
| (Normal means the angle of the hoof is the same | | | | long slide). |
| as the angle of the pastern). | | | | Once the horse enters the ground, I give him a |
| This creates more surface area and makes for a | | | | short, little set with the reins just to remind him |
| more effective ski. Do not go to extremes with | | | | to stay in the stop. I immediately slack. Slacking |
| this. The idea is to have the angle of the foot so | | | | the reins lets him know he's allowed to slide as far |
| there is no danger of the horse stubbing his toe in | | | | as he wants. (Without the slack he'd get too deep |
| the dirt, knuckling over and hurting himself. | | | | and stop much more abruptly. He also might pull |
| If he's trimmed at too steep of an angle (heels | | | | on me or get rigid). |
| too high) he'll knuckle over while stopping and pull | | | | If he tries to come out of the slide I'll set and |
| a tendon. Trim the heel too low and he'll strain his | | | | slack the reins again. As long as the horse is |
| ham strings while stopping. | | | | sliding, I won't set the reins again unless he starts |
| Horses who's hind legs are straight with feet | | | | to come out of the stop. Considering a 20 foot |
| pointing straight ahead, have an easier time of | | | | slide takes only a couple seconds to complete, |
| sliding far. Their hind feet will stay together while | | | | this set and slack sequence is happening pretty |
| sliding and make a nice set of long, straight "11"s. | | | | rapid. It takes concentration and feel to get it just |
| A horse who's hind feet toe out will have a | | | | right. |
| difficult time sliding far. | | | | There is one more element in this stopping |
| Because he toes out, his hind feet will start to | | | | sequence I want to talk about... your body |
| spread as he slides. The farther the slide the | | | | posture. |
| more he spreads until he's forced to come out of | | | | As you're loping down the arena, you're using |
| the slide to bring his feet back together in a more | | | | your body to generate energy to keep the horse |
| comfortable position. | | | | moving forward. When it's time to stop the horse, |
| This horse's slide tracks will look like a "V". You | | | | your body also has to stop it's energy. In other |
| can help this by turning the shoe on the foot so | | | | words, you have to completely stop riding and sit |
| it's pointing more straight ahead. And it sometimes | | | | down in the saddle relaxed. |
| helps to rock the toe a little to the inside of the | | | | Let your back, shoulders and thighs go limp. This |
| foot. | | | | is a major stopping cue all horses instinctively |
| The speed your horse is running when going into | | | | respond to. But make darn sure you keep riding |
| the stop is one of the major factors dictating the | | | | until you say the word whoa, otherwise the horse |
| length of the slide. | | | | will start the stop prematurely and ruin the slide. |
| In other words, if he's not going fast, he's not | | | | This "body posture" stuff is extremely important |
| going to slide far. | | | | and your horse will never stop as good as he |
| Let's say you are going to run down the length of | | | | could until you get it. |
| the arena and ask for a sliding stop about | | | | I know I've probably made this sound too |
| ¾ of the way down. It's important to start | | | | complicated and difficult. But, you can do it. It just |
| the run-down real slow. Then, very gradually build | | | | takes some concentration and practice. If you |
| speed as you go down the arena and reach the | | | | don't get it immediately don't get discouraged and |
| point where you ask for the stop. Do not lope | | | | give up. Relax, be patient and you'll get it. |
| slow almost to the end then bust him into a run. | | | | Resources: |
| Gradually means to increase speed a little with | | | | There are two training videos I recommend that |
| each stride. It's critical to ask for the stop while | | | | are detailed enough to show you how to get your |
| the horse is accelerating. Why? Because his | | | | horse stopping well. They are: |
| shoulders are more elevated and his hind legs | | | | Teach Your Horse to Stop Light and Collected, |
| reach farther under him when he's building speed | | | | volume 1.5 |
| (necessary elements for a sliding stop). | | | | Teach Your Horse to Stop Light and Collected, |
| Just make sure you time the rate of acceleration | | | | volume 2 |
| so he's not going too fast when you reach the | | | | Alright, that's all for now. |
| ¾ mark. Otherwise he may run right | | | | Have fun training your horse. |
| through the stop. All horses have an optimum | | | | |