by: Dale Dodd
A key element in a good cutting run is the stop. Many people, students and trainers alike, struggle with the mechanics of the stop.
One of the first things I do when a started or even a finished cutting horse comes in for training is evaluate his stop. I do this for my own safety, and to see what part of “Whoa” he doesn’t understand!
I will check the horse down vertically with tarp straps to see if he understands the first of three key elements I need him to understand to properly execute a stop: 1) Will he soften at the poll, while still engaging his hind quarters. And, can I collect his poll and keep impulsion at the same time?
Next, I fit him with a set of drive lines and snaffle bit, in a 50 ft. square pen. I drive him from the side, indicating I’d like to stop by saying “Whoa” and stepping into his line of vision.
Here, I am looking for the next or second element of the stop: 2) His response to pressure on his mouth.
Does he respect the position of submission I have placed his head in? Does he break at the poll, round his back, engage his hind quarters and come to a stop? If so, I will reward him for his response by sending him a quick shot of slack and a short rest.
The third part of the stop will help him execute the stop quicker in the future: 3) his ability to move away from pressure in his mouth by engaging his hind feet and moving quickly off the pressure into reverse.
He needs to keep his poll flexed, and remain light at the same time. Sound simple? It’s not!
I have found it to be less harsh to train for the stop if the horse is given some form of warning prior to the pull. They need “time” to respond before we come softly into the mouth to collect the head.
Next, I like to sit as the horse sinks into the stop, which serves to further drive the hind quarters up under him. When the horse has come to a halt, I immediately shoot slack to reward him for his effort, after which I softly collect his head, reward for the collection and proceed to bump both my legs “English” style to indicate I want to reverse.
The quicker I bump, the faster I’d like to reverse! I do a lot of stopping from the walk, so that he really gets time to understand the three steps:
1) Softening into the bridle;
2) Stopping from increased pressure on the mouth; and
3) Activating his hind legs and reversing in response to bumping of my legs.
When your horse executes these three aspects of the stop softly, smoothly, and separately, he’s ready to speed up the procedure.
Keep in mind your job in the stop is to “wait” for the horses response, and then reward or correct depending on his effort or lack thereof!
A horse should stop softly and willingly because you have placed his body in a position conducive to stopping, not because you have caused pain in his mouth with an arsenal of different bits!
It is the goal of every good horse trainer to be smarter than the animals we train, and to seek new and innovative ways to help horses understand what we are trying to teach them. Treat your horse with respect and have fun!
Dale Dodd is one of two lady cutting horse trainers in Canada. Friend and fellow competitor Cathy Anderson is the other. Dale maintains a cutting horse breeding and training facility on a family owned feedlot at Olds, Alberta.
Husband Bruce is a five-time Canadian Open Water Ski Champion. Son Ryan is a World Jump Champion. Daughter Lindsay is a Canadian Jump Champion. This is a family that thrives on competition! For more information, go to www.dale doddquarterhorses.com.
Dale Dodd’s Training Tip:
“Be very quick to release or reward a horse’s mouth, and slow and soft to contact.”
