The Difference Between A Horses's Stop and Halt

[@WarwickSchiller]

What you say between 1.30, and about 1.55, is why I have been asking you to do videos for years. Thanks Ross.

[@RossJacobs]

Thank you Warwick.

[@leealexander3507]

Yes, he's very good.

[@leealexander3507]

He's quite good and so are you. I was very interested in your description of ten year old girl training because it's what I use with my stallion who couldn't be successfully haltered or handled at all when I got him. It just happens to be what he responds well to. He's a nice little guy if you're friends with him. What a way to describe a magnificent arabian stallion. A nice little guy or a cute little horse. Laughing at myself.

[@lucasa1849]

Are you changing the thought to no longer going foreward because you get him anticipating a backup?

[@RossJacobs]

I'm not sure what your question is, however, I interrupt Cozzie's thought to go forward by asking for a halt. If he stops his feet, but leans on the reins, it's a stop not a halt. Leaning on the reins is caused by Cozzie thinking somewhere in front of him and not thinking to be with me and follow the feel of the reins. The backup is designed to bring his thought back under me. It re-focuses his attention from being of us ahead to being under me. Is that what you are asking? If not, please ask again and I will try harder to answer your question.

[@lucasa1849]

Ross Jacobs . You answered my question. Thankyou

[@lucasa1849]

Will a good backup (rocking weight back when you pick up the reins) help a horse who’s too much on the forehand? Mine has very tight shoulders and can’t do a yield on the forehand at all. And when I softly pick up the reins, he doesn’t respond at all. Do I Wait for him to give me the slightest try or should I increase the pressure?

[@RossJacobs]

When a horse yields his thought to backing, he will shift his weight a bit from being on his forehand to being in his hindquarters. But if he just moves his feet back, while still pushing forward with his thought, he won't lighten his forehand and instead will push back using his shoulder. You'll notice in the video I backed Cozzie until his hindquarters took a lurching step back and not just shuffled back. When the hind feet take a bigger step backwards it indicates his thought stopped pushing forward and thought backwards. Go back to the video at 1:30 where I explain this.

[@leealexander3507]

How are you looking to the side to speak to someone without causing your horse to also turn in that direction? If I look and think in a direction my horse will move and think in that direction also in response.

[@RossJacobs]

I'm not sure I really understand your question, but if your horse is turning without you asking, use your reins to block the turn. He can learn to distinguish between when you body is turning and he should follow the feel by turning too Or when you are just turn ing to look at something or talk to somebody. Just use your reins to offer clarity so he can learn to the difference.

[@comesahorseman]

Ride the hindquarters, not the face. Well done, thanks!