not wanting to stop???

HorseCraza · 05-11-2005, 09:00 PM

I was riding Hercules tonight in all of our new tack, and for some reason every time i go to stop he puts his head almost all the way to the ground and then pulls out.. it almost makes me go flying ahead of him He has had the same bit for months now and he is just starting to do this. So everytime i am in a trot or canter and go to stop i almost get flown outta the saddle... does anyone know what he might be doing?? I could possibly get a video tomarrow if this doesn't make sense.

SassyAngel · 05-11-2005, 09:10 PM

If he's takin' the bit in his mouth and pullin' hard on it and stoppin' somewhat, then he's just gettin' heavy on your hands. Bump him off of it, or pull him into the ground and keep it tight until he gets off. Something else that might help (if he's not even stoppin' when you say whoa, just gettin' hard on the bit), is run him into the fence and when he gets to the fence say whoa and make him stop straight. Another thing, he might just be ready for a stronger bit. But, I would recommend tryin' to get him off of it first.

Super_Trooper · 05-11-2005, 10:03 PM

Be ahead of him, dont let him pull you out of the saddle. I would also use your seat to initiate the "whoa".

horsesR4life · 05-13-2005, 10:26 AM

i have that same problem with the horse i ride. Ive been taught to give them a bit of a tug if the head gets heavy (i only do this with a very mild bit). If that doesnt work then pull on the reins, then release, pull again, then release e.c.t because a horse can become dead in the mouth and ignore the constant pressure and proceed to just lean in your hands. The 'squeeze then release' procees doesnt allow the hosre to just hang in your hands and he will start to listen to you. Oh and keep a deep seat at all times unless your doing rising trot. Good luck!!

Dancinglite · 05-13-2005, 11:45 AM

The halt is achieved by the deepening of the riders seat and stimulation of the horses hindquarters to reach forward and underneath his body, thus accepting a greater load of weight. The stimulation is the result of the riders leg pressure on both sides of the horses body causing the "lifting" of the spine to meet the rider's seat.

The rider will keep his upper body straight and push through the small of his back into passive and sustaining hands. They will accept any pull on the reins if necessary and remain unchanged. Once halted the rider allow a slight relaxation of the upper body and at the same time will advance the hands slightly to give the horse a period of relaxation. This relaxation is a vital part of the training process because without them nervousness and restlessness will set in.

Any roughness or excessive action on the part of the rider will cause the failure of a soft and fluid stop.

The biggest problem with horses that won't halt is in part by what they do in the asking of the halt but also in what they do just prior. If the horse s unbalanced or leaning on the bit then the halt will not succeed. I posted this on the other thread so I have just copied it. If the horse is being ridden in this manner then the halt is very easy.

I teach all my students to ride the rein forward. To do this the horse is on the outside rein with a little more pressure than the inside rein. The inside foot will prevent the horse from falling in. The outside foot applies enough pressure to turn the forehand 1/4 the width of the horse towards the inside. This ensures correct contact with the outside rein, prevent the falling out of the horse and act as a counter to the inside foot. After the initial hold release ONE rein very slightly only as far as the next step the horse will take and resume contact afterwards. This might appear as a circular almost massaging motion of the hand. Upon resumption of contact a slight vibration of the rein will ensure the horse does not "sit" on the rein( DO NOT SPONGE). This is repeated on the opposite rein. THIS IS NOT SAWING as proper contact MUST be maintained by one rein before the release of the opposite rein is started. DO NOT RELEASE the outside rein to the horse when in training and in a corner or on a curve.

You should be sitting back with your upper back slightly behind your hips to allow them, to be loose enough to follow the horses muscular movements. These will feel as left right along the spine and by following them and allowing your legs to "breath" in the same left right motion as well as bringing your heel ( or spur) "under" the horse ( to lift him, more to your seat) you should be able to "lift" the forehand somewhat and strengthen the haunches. If you combine this with changes of direction every time you find the horse "sitting" on you he should lighten up. The directional changes causes the horse to change his balance and if you refuse to hold on to him during these changes ( just lightly frame him) you will find that willy-nilly he MUST bring his head in somewhat to counter the shift in the rest of his body.

SammyDoodle · 05-13-2005, 11:49 AM

Are you stopping him with your hands only or are you using your leg too?

You need to push your horse into downward transitions as well as into upward transitions. This should help him stay light on front. If he is falling onto his forehand for the downward transitions he will be heavy and he will be able to pull his head forward. You should try driving him up into your hand and hopefully that will help.

If you are already doing that then you might just need to sit back, leg on and take a pull when he trys putting his head down

05-11-2005, 09:00 PM	#1
HorseCraza Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Indiana <I hate Indiana Posts: 412 Images: 9	not wanting to stop??? I was riding Hercules tonight in all of our new tack, and for some reason every time i go to stop he puts his head almost all the way to the ground and then pulls out.. it almost makes me go flying ahead of him He has had the same bit for months now and he is just starting to do this. So everytime i am in a trot or canter and go to stop i almost get flown outta the saddle... does anyone know what he might be doing?? I could possibly get a video tomarrow if this doesn't make sense.

05-11-2005, 10:03 PM	#3
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	Be ahead of him, dont let him pull you out of the saddle. I would also use your seat to initiate the "whoa". __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

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05-11-2005, 09:10 PM	#2
SassyAngel Full Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chase, KS Posts: 264 Images: 3	If he's takin' the bit in his mouth and pullin' hard on it and stoppin' somewhat, then he's just gettin' heavy on your hands. Bump him off of it, or pull him into the ground and keep it tight until he gets off. Something else that might help (if he's not even stoppin' when you say whoa, just gettin' hard on the bit), is run him into the fence and when he gets to the fence say whoa and make him stop straight. Another thing, he might just be ready for a stronger bit. But, I would recommend tryin' to get him off of it first.

05-13-2005, 10:26 AM	#4
horsesR4life Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 1,173 Images: 125	i have that same problem with the horse i ride. Ive been taught to give them a bit of a tug if the head gets heavy (i only do this with a very mild bit). If that doesnt work then pull on the reins, then release, pull again, then release e.c.t because a horse can become dead in the mouth and ignore the constant pressure and proceed to just lean in your hands. The 'squeeze then release' procees doesnt allow the hosre to just hang in your hands and he will start to listen to you. Oh and keep a deep seat at all times unless your doing rising trot. Good luck!!

05-13-2005, 11:45 AM	#5
Dancinglite Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,972 Blog Entries: 13	The halt is achieved by the deepening of the riders seat and stimulation of the horses hindquarters to reach forward and underneath his body, thus accepting a greater load of weight. The stimulation is the result of the riders leg pressure on both sides of the horses body causing the "lifting" of the spine to meet the rider's seat. The rider will keep his upper body straight and push through the small of his back into passive and sustaining hands. They will accept any pull on the reins if necessary and remain unchanged. Once halted the rider allow a slight relaxation of the upper body and at the same time will advance the hands slightly to give the horse a period of relaxation. This relaxation is a vital part of the training process because without them nervousness and restlessness will set in. Any roughness or excessive action on the part of the rider will cause the failure of a soft and fluid stop. The biggest problem with horses that won't halt is in part by what they do in the asking of the halt but also in what they do just prior. If the horse s unbalanced or leaning on the bit then the halt will not succeed. I posted this on the other thread so I have just copied it. If the horse is being ridden in this manner then the halt is very easy. I teach all my students to ride the rein forward. To do this the horse is on the outside rein with a little more pressure than the inside rein. The inside foot will prevent the horse from falling in. The outside foot applies enough pressure to turn the forehand 1/4 the width of the horse towards the inside. This ensures correct contact with the outside rein, prevent the falling out of the horse and act as a counter to the inside foot. After the initial hold release ONE rein very slightly only as far as the next step the horse will take and resume contact afterwards. This might appear as a circular almost massaging motion of the hand. Upon resumption of contact a slight vibration of the rein will ensure the horse does not "sit" on the rein( DO NOT SPONGE). This is repeated on the opposite rein. THIS IS NOT SAWING as proper contact MUST be maintained by one rein before the release of the opposite rein is started. DO NOT RELEASE the outside rein to the horse when in training and in a corner or on a curve. You should be sitting back with your upper back slightly behind your hips to allow them, to be loose enough to follow the horses muscular movements. These will feel as left right along the spine and by following them and allowing your legs to "breath" in the same left right motion as well as bringing your heel ( or spur) "under" the horse ( to lift him, more to your seat) you should be able to "lift" the forehand somewhat and strengthen the haunches. If you combine this with changes of direction every time you find the horse "sitting" on you he should lighten up. The directional changes causes the horse to change his balance and if you refuse to hold on to him during these changes ( just lightly frame him) you will find that willy-nilly he MUST bring his head in somewhat to counter the shift in the rest of his body.

05-13-2005, 11:49 AM	#6
SammyDoodle Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,282 Images: 67 Blog Entries: 1	Are you stopping him with your hands only or are you using your leg too? You need to push your horse into downward transitions as well as into upward transitions. This should help him stay light on front. If he is falling onto his forehand for the downward transitions he will be heavy and he will be able to pull his head forward. You should try driving him up into your hand and hopefully that will help. If you are already doing that then you might just need to sit back, leg on and take a pull when he trys putting his head down