Installing the Western Stop

["dixie midnight" <dixiemidnight@hotmail.com>]

HEY!!  I KNOW this one!!!

So ya wanna draw 11's, huh?  Drag them hocks and tails, right?  Get that 
butt so low yer gonna fall off, yes?

We train our guys for that (we're cow-horse folks, y'know), and here's the 
basics for y'all -- but first -- this is just OUR way, other people may do 
it some other way, so don't shoot me if'n somebody says I'm all wet on this.

The idea is to get a deep-ground stop without using the reins to get it.

First -- ya gotta have 'em collected and working off the rear end.  
Impulsion, I think it's called.  The collection raises the back and puts the 
majority of the delivery of the forward motion from the hind end.  That's 
where the power is, so we're gonna use it.  Most every horse can do a deep 
stop naturally -- oh, yes they CAN!  Watch 'em when they're fooling around 
in the pasture, you'll see those stops every so often.  So that tells us 
that we're working with a talent that's already IN the horse...we've just 
got to figger out how to bring it out on command.  There's one-third of the 
problem solved -- the horse CAN do it!

Long, slow hill-work (take it easy--no long sessions to start) and 
flat-ground backing (yes, backing-up--no longer than 5 minutes a session, no 
more than four attempts per session, no longer than 30 feet) will go a long 
way to help bring collection.  So does stepping over poles on flat 
ground--space them about 4-5 feet apart, and have pony walk over them, then 
trot, then canter.  Martingales are used by some, but we've never found 
permanent results from using them.

While you're getting horse to collect and provide proper impulsion, YOU need 
to work on your balance.  Yup. The rider's balance in the saddle is of PRIME 
importance to a good stop. No flopping around up there, and absolutely NO 
stiffness.  It's a lot harder than it sounds, and will probably be your 
toughest thing to do.  The best exercise we've found for this one is the 
1/8-mile no-hands.  Yes -- no hands.  Sit your horse; looking right through 
his ears, pick a point and guide your horse to it in a true straight 
line--at the walk.  Don't use the reins.  Can't do it, right?  Didn't think 
so.  Know why?  Little bitty body movements you make in the saddle CUE your 
horse to change direction!!!!   Moving your head, your feet, and anything in 
between shifts your weight and cues your horse.  When you can be relaxed and 
still, you will be able to do 1/8 of a mile dead-straight with NO HANDS!  
And...you'll be balanced.  You'll ALSO give wads of trust to your horse, and 
you'll GET wads of trust from him. Also--pay attention to WHERE his feet 
are, and what it feels like to you--really important! Try it!!  You'll see.

Now, horse is collected, providing proper impulsion, and you're balanced.  
We're 3/4 of the way there.  Harder than ya thought, ain't it?  But...it's 
worth it!!!

Now we're gonna stop.  From the walk.  Here's how...we're gonna use the 
"Pillars of Yer Butt".  That's your butt-bones.  Really!  Walk your horse;  
ask him to stop using VERY light rein pressure, and put ALL of your weight 
on those two bones at the bottom of your butt.  SINK into the saddle, but 
DON'T lean back or shift your feet.  Curve your back a tad to get the sink 
you need.  Pony will stop.  Now...BACK him three steps.  See him break at 
his poll?  THAT'S what yer looking for.  Repeat and repeat over several days 
until he's got it down pat.  Remember--STAY RELAXED!  Stay balanced!!  NO 
flopping or being stiff.  This MUST be done EASY!!!  Then lighten your rein 
cues over time 'till you don't use them at all. Eventually, horse will stop 
WITHOUT the reins at the walk--just from your "butt-cue".  Why?  Because 
those butt-bones are directly connected to your horse's rear-end!  When you 
use them correctly, you get a stop--every time!!

Now let's do the same thing as above, but at the trot.  Doesn't work quite 
the same, does it?  In fact you'll probably only get one good stop out of 
10-12 tries.  Why?  TIMING!!!  Ya gotta TIME it right!  Ask for the stop 
when one front foot is off the ground.  Wait for a millisecond or two until 
the back feet get the message, and he collects himself, and voilą!  A deep 
stop from the trot!!  See why ya gotta be relaxed and balanced?  Ya gotta 
KNOW where your horse's feet are by FEEL!  That's what ya learn from the 
1/8-mile No-Hands exercise!  Don't forget to back him those three steps 
after every stop, as well!  Very important in reinforcing the stop.

Now for the canter and gallop.  SURE you can do it!!!  Same thing as the 
trot, but change your timing.  Ask for the stop when BOTH front feet are off 
the ground.  Wait 'til he collects, and BAM!  His hocks are in the dirt.  
WOO HOO!!!  SLIIIDE that pony!!!  Don't fergit to back him three, to stay 
balanced and relaxed.  And go get some skid boots.  Not Kidding!  You'll 
burn the hair and skin right off his hocks at the higher speeds. If he's 
unshod or keg-shod, don't expect long slides--we use special slider-shoes 
and special arena footings for the showy stops. Use very light rein cues, 
use yer butt for your main cue, and lessen the rein-work as you progress to 
a reinless fire-lighting stop.

Got questions?  Sure!  E-mail me any ol' time!  Y'all have helped ME bunches 
with nutrition and equine physical problems, so I'll help whoever wants it 
right back!

...and one shameless plug:  Got yer Genuine Original Dixie Midnight No-Sweat 
vent pad yet???  CALL ME!  (They make GREAT Christmas presents--even to 
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Karl
Dixie Midnight
No-Sweat vent pads
http://www.dixiemidnight.nv.switchboard.com
Come see us!



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