One Rein Stop- Leg or no leg?

Mule Fool · 10-03-2006, 09:29 AM

I was taught to use my leg to disengage the hindquarters when doing a one-rein stop. Remove the leg aid when the hindquarters step over and then hold the face until they soften to the bit then release. That seems to make sense to me. But I know some people do not use the leg when asking for this. How do you folks do it? It doesn't make as much sense to me, but it would sure be alot easier to not have to use my leg when all he**'s breaking loose!

I hadn't had to use it for awhile, but this weekend we packed in lunch for a group of hikers and my mule seemed to think they were a herd of predators.

Guess I've got some more desensitizing to do.

gbarmranch · 10-03-2006, 09:40 AM

You know, you are making me think about this. I know I use mu leg when teaching this, but for the life of me don't know if I would think to use it if I really needed to use this in an emergency...hmmmmm, a new training exercise for me...

**taelesean** · 10-03-2006, 09:43 AM

The one rein stop I know comes off the leg more than than the rein.

gbarmranch · 10-03-2006, 09:46 AM

You are correct - but in an emergency run-away situation I wonder how much leg one would have the presence of mind to use

I wonder if it could gradually be taught with a different cue?

Mule Fool · 10-03-2006, 10:14 AM

Well, gbarm that's EXACTLY why I asked the question. I've used it before with success, but this weekend I was in what was shaping up to be a runaway and I all of a sudden realized I wasn't using my leg. As soon as I put my leg on STRONGLY, I might add, I got her shut down but it got me thinking. Because of course the important thing about the one rein stop is the disengagement of hindquarters, NOT the position of the head. But the reason I ask is I've seen several articles by people who don't use any leg at all. They teach it to start by getting the horses head around to the knee and not releasing until the hindquarters step over. But I wonder if I don't understand their method fully. But it seems to me there are times when I want to ask for the head WITHOUT getting the hindquarters, which makes me think I just don't understand that technique fully.

gbarmranch · 10-03-2006, 12:21 PM

That makes two of us....

cameo05 · 10-03-2006, 12:40 PM

Ok this helps with my posts for a training problem. Question that I have is evidentally I used more head than pressure with my leg when my new horse nutted up. So.... Please help me with this I am learning. If you use the one rein stop (say right side of head) pulled to you, which leg should be your pressure leg, or both? In that instance I was more worried about going through the fence, but maybe this will bring it home to me a little more.

Sorry for te dumb question...

Mule Fool · 10-03-2006, 12:59 PM

If you have the head tipped to the right you would use your right leg behind the cinch. You really want to feel them take a step to the left with the hind feet. They should actually cross the right hind in front of the left hind. It also helps to look to your horses right hip as you do this. It helps to have this down as ground work first and you can actually see that they are properly stepping over behind. Which brings up another question. I originally learned to step to the mules hindquarter while bumping the lead to tip the head as she stepped over in back. I wanted it a little snappier and even though she did it that way she felt sticky to me. I started watching Clinton Anderson and started doing like he does. That gave me a snappier disconnect, but the head doesn't turn at all so it doesn't relate as much to what you want from the saddle.

Lady_MCSE · 10-03-2006, 01:03 PM

In the lessons I was taking recently, the instructor was saying that my only concern with my legs should be for balance, and that I wanted to be putting all my weight and balance onto the outside stirrup. She said that if I balance to the inside, I could risk pulling the horse over.

That made absolutley no sense to me, if it were a motorcycle, I'd want to lean in, but she was saying lean out. Well, not lean, but balance to the outside of where you're turning his nose.

I guess I'm not helping, just asking more questions . . .

Luv2Ride · 10-03-2006, 01:28 PM

I don't know if I'm correct on this or not, but I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. I just started working on the one rein stop with my horses this summer, and I don't use leg at all for one basic reason: in a runaway situation with my horse, I might remember to use my legs, but I know my daughters wouldn't remember to use a leg on their horse. So we've pretty much nailed the one rein stop with just the head pull at both a walk and trot on both my horses. It's almost time to progress to the lope, but I want to really hone it, especially on the girls' horse.

I guess the bottom line is that I think of the one rein stop as something that will help anyone who rides, not just the more experienced, so I want it as engraved in the horses mind as much as possible while at the same time being the easiest thing for the rider.

EquineAlberta · 10-03-2006, 01:37 PM

I think the one rein stop is not the same as the pully rein stop in an emergency. If a horse is bolting on me, I would put one hand on the neck or horn as a brace and pull on the other one up and back. My legs would be acting to keep me on and as a brace! For me this is called the emergency stop/pully rein and is what I teach students on day one in case something goes wrong. I would not expect a beginner to be able to "disengage" the hindquarters with their leg first.

Karen2

Touche · 10-03-2006, 01:48 PM

I love the one-rein stop.
Practice it quite a bit and it gets to be habit. Something to do with muscle memory.

I flex my horse to my hip
As I then lift my hand up to my opposite shoulder, I look back at the butt and slide my leg back.
I release when the horse moves its hindquarters over.

I teach them the one-rein stop on both sides.

I used it on my friends horse one day when he was acting up. It was just out of habit from riding mine, but he did move his hindquarters over and stop.

carlagsd · 10-03-2006, 02:14 PM

I use the one rein stop a little differently, I guess. To me a one rein stop is a safety measure intended to stop all movement from the horse. I follow CA methods the best I can. When I ask for a stop this way I cease any leg, seat or body cues and pull the horses head around to my knee. At first they don't understand and usually continue to walk around and around following their heads. I don't stop pulling on the rein until they come to a complete stop and soften to the bit, then I release immediately as a reward. Some horses figure this out fast but others turn and turn until I'm dizzy. (Why don't horses get dizzy doing this?

) After they stop moving their feet, soften to the bit and I release, I have them stand for a few seconds and walk off again and repeat. I do this in the arena until they understand it. Then I take them out and practice it more. It saved me one time when my gelding decided he was terrified of the big, scary, black and white cows he saw when we crested the hill. He tried to bolt for home but I stopped him using the one rein stop. Good thing I made sure he knew what to do in the arena before this happened. It really saved me that day. He was still afraid of the cows, but each time he'd snort and spook, he got a dose of one rein stop. I never did get him past the cows, but we walked closer to them and I waited until he settled down before I let him walk on. I think of it as an emergency brake to be used in emergency situations.

Luv2Ride · 10-03-2006, 03:41 PM

Yep, carlagsd, that's my take on it, too.

BrandNewCowgirl · 10-03-2006, 04:02 PM

I've just learned the one-rein stop (not something most TWH people do) and so I've just started teaching it to the horse. I didn't know to use leg pressure, so I completely take my legs off the horse and, for lack of better term, put them in the whoa stance. Weight down in seat, heels down, toes toward head, kinda. Hee hee, it's hard to describe.

Then I pull the rein to my thigh and say 'whoa'. I want the horse to know that I am wanting him to stop with this move, not turn to the right. I use leg pressure when I want them to go and the bracing when I want them to stop. The bracing also helps me keep my balance. He picked it up pretty quick (after about 15 minutes of circles...lol). Most of the time they will disengage the hindquarters with this move, but I don't really want them to as we are trail riders, and I can't always afford for my horse to disengage (off the side of a ridge, for example

).

Thanks for posting this, I was wondering if we were doing it right.

rali · 10-03-2006, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandNewCowgirl

I've just learned the one-rein stop (not something most TWH people do) and so I've just started teaching it to the horse. I didn't know to use leg pressure, so I completely take my legs off the horse and, for lack of better term, put them in the whoa stance.

Hey BNCG , it's time you started calling your horse "MY horse", instead of "THE horse". You're not use to being an owner yet, eh??

recklesshoundog · 10-03-2006, 05:43 PM

I have a horse that has some tendancy to freak out!!! She is trained for the one rein stop no leg just the rein goes back to my back pocket and and she stops and says....oh good this means we're all right!

It's like a security blanket for her....oh and me too!

BrandNewCowgirl · 10-03-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rali

Hey BNCG , it's time you started calling your horse "MY horse", instead of "THE horse". You're not use to being an owner yet, eh??

Oh gosh!! So true!!

Range · 10-03-2006, 07:19 PM

The only reason I would use my leg in cameo's situation is because the hindquarters are NOT disengaging and the horse is rubbernecking through the emergency stop. I use the one-rein emergency stop with no leg...flexing basically, until the horse comes to a halt. However, disengaging the hindquarters requires leg. It's muscle memory dependent on the situation, I think. When the horse is out of control, no leg! I think, in cameo's situation, more work needs to be done at flexing for the bit for the emergency stop to be helpful. Also, I do agree with the leaning portion of the emergency stop. If you've had to do one at full speed - that horse is leaning to the inside while you're turning at full speed. Your weight COULD overbalance the horse into a fall.

Now, with a horse that can rubberneck through a flex, I think you would HAVE to use leg pressure to push the body into the turn.

Mrs. Hazel pethig · 10-03-2006, 09:01 PM

It's interesting to see the variety of different ways this can be taught. I was taught to lean back slightly and try to keep my center of gravity as low and centered as possible. If you lean to the inside or outside, I think it would be very easy to unbalance the horse. Grab the horn or mane with one hand, and bring the other rein back to my hip and slightly up as to not cause them to lean into it. I use leg to get them to yield their hindquarters, but I think during an emergency situation, using leg on some horses may make them speed up faster.

10-03-2006, 09:29 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	One Rein Stop- Leg or no leg? I was taught to use my leg to disengage the hindquarters when doing a one-rein stop. Remove the leg aid when the hindquarters step over and then hold the face until they soften to the bit then release. That seems to make sense to me. But I know some people do not use the leg when asking for this. How do you folks do it? It doesn't make as much sense to me, but it would sure be alot easier to not have to use my leg when all he**'s breaking loose! I hadn't had to use it for awhile, but this weekend we packed in lunch for a group of hikers and my mule seemed to think they were a herd of predators. Guess I've got some more desensitizing to do.

10-03-2006, 09:40 AM
gbarmranch Pasture Pet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 32,635	You know, you are making me think about this. I know I use mu leg when teaching this, but for the life of me don't know if I would think to use it if I really needed to use this in an emergency...hmmmmm, a new training exercise for me... __________________ http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Quality Foundation Quarter Horses If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." Augustine of Hippo

10-03-2006, 09:43 AM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,319	The one rein stop I know comes off the leg more than than the rein. __________________

10-03-2006, 09:46 AM
gbarmranch Pasture Pet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 32,635	You are correct - but in an emergency run-away situation I wonder how much leg one would have the presence of mind to use I wonder if it could gradually be taught with a different cue? __________________ http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Quality Foundation Quarter Horses If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." Augustine of Hippo

10-03-2006, 10:14 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Well, gbarm that's EXACTLY why I asked the question. I've used it before with success, but this weekend I was in what was shaping up to be a runaway and I all of a sudden realized I wasn't using my leg. As soon as I put my leg on STRONGLY, I might add, I got her shut down but it got me thinking. Because of course the important thing about the one rein stop is the disengagement of hindquarters, NOT the position of the head. But the reason I ask is I've seen several articles by people who don't use any leg at all. They teach it to start by getting the horses head around to the knee and not releasing until the hindquarters step over. But I wonder if I don't understand their method fully. But it seems to me there are times when I want to ask for the head WITHOUT getting the hindquarters, which makes me think I just don't understand that technique fully.

10-03-2006, 12:21 PM
gbarmranch Pasture Pet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 32,635	That makes two of us.... __________________ http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Quality Foundation Quarter Horses If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." Augustine of Hippo

10-03-2006, 12:40 PM
cameo05 Pasture Pet Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In my own world Posts: 12,321	Ok this helps with my posts for a training problem. Question that I have is evidentally I used more head than pressure with my leg when my new horse nutted up. So.... Please help me with this I am learning. If you use the one rein stop (say right side of head) pulled to you, which leg should be your pressure leg, or both? In that instance I was more worried about going through the fence, but maybe this will bring it home to me a little more. Sorry for te dumb question...

10-03-2006, 12:59 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	If you have the head tipped to the right you would use your right leg behind the cinch. You really want to feel them take a step to the left with the hind feet. They should actually cross the right hind in front of the left hind. It also helps to look to your horses right hip as you do this. It helps to have this down as ground work first and you can actually see that they are properly stepping over behind. Which brings up another question. I originally learned to step to the mules hindquarter while bumping the lead to tip the head as she stepped over in back. I wanted it a little snappier and even though she did it that way she felt sticky to me. I started watching Clinton Anderson and started doing like he does. That gave me a snappier disconnect, but the head doesn't turn at all so it doesn't relate as much to what you want from the saddle.

10-03-2006, 01:03 PM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,519	In the lessons I was taking recently, the instructor was saying that my only concern with my legs should be for balance, and that I wanted to be putting all my weight and balance onto the outside stirrup. She said that if I balance to the inside, I could risk pulling the horse over. That made absolutley no sense to me, if it were a motorcycle, I'd want to lean in, but she was saying lean out. Well, not lean, but balance to the outside of where you're turning his nose. I guess I'm not helping, just asking more questions . . . __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian

10-03-2006, 01:28 PM
Luv2Ride Long Yearling Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,140	I don't know if I'm correct on this or not, but I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. I just started working on the one rein stop with my horses this summer, and I don't use leg at all for one basic reason: in a runaway situation with my horse, I might remember to use my legs, but I know my daughters wouldn't remember to use a leg on their horse. So we've pretty much nailed the one rein stop with just the head pull at both a walk and trot on both my horses. It's almost time to progress to the lope, but I want to really hone it, especially on the girls' horse. I guess the bottom line is that I think of the one rein stop as something that will help anyone who rides, not just the more experienced, so I want it as engraved in the horses mind as much as possible while at the same time being the easiest thing for the rider.

10-03-2006, 01:37 PM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,998	I think the one rein stop is not the same as the pully rein stop in an emergency. If a horse is bolting on me, I would put one hand on the neck or horn as a brace and pull on the other one up and back. My legs would be acting to keep me on and as a brace! For me this is called the emergency stop/pully rein and is what I teach students on day one in case something goes wrong. I would not expect a beginner to be able to "disengage" the hindquarters with their leg first. Karen2 __________________ New Hillside Website The Art of Praise

10-03-2006, 01:48 PM
Touche Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,001	I love the one-rein stop. Practice it quite a bit and it gets to be habit. Something to do with muscle memory. I flex my horse to my hip As I then lift my hand up to my opposite shoulder, I look back at the butt and slide my leg back. I release when the horse moves its hindquarters over. I teach them the one-rein stop on both sides. I used it on my friends horse one day when he was acting up. It was just out of habit from riding mine, but he did move his hindquarters over and stop. __________________ Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. W.C.Fields

10-03-2006, 02:14 PM
carlagsd Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 729	I use the one rein stop a little differently, I guess. To me a one rein stop is a safety measure intended to stop all movement from the horse. I follow CA methods the best I can. When I ask for a stop this way I cease any leg, seat or body cues and pull the horses head around to my knee. At first they don't understand and usually continue to walk around and around following their heads. I don't stop pulling on the rein until they come to a complete stop and soften to the bit, then I release immediately as a reward. Some horses figure this out fast but others turn and turn until I'm dizzy. (Why don't horses get dizzy doing this? ) After they stop moving their feet, soften to the bit and I release, I have them stand for a few seconds and walk off again and repeat. I do this in the arena until they understand it. Then I take them out and practice it more. It saved me one time when my gelding decided he was terrified of the big, scary, black and white cows he saw when we crested the hill. He tried to bolt for home but I stopped him using the one rein stop. Good thing I made sure he knew what to do in the arena before this happened. It really saved me that day. He was still afraid of the cows, but each time he'd snort and spook, he got a dose of one rein stop. I never did get him past the cows, but we walked closer to them and I waited until he settled down before I let him walk on. I think of it as an emergency brake to be used in emergency situations. __________________ Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.

10-03-2006, 03:41 PM
Luv2Ride Long Yearling Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,140	Yep, carlagsd, that's my take on it, too.

10-03-2006, 04:02 PM
BrandNewCowgirl Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Middle TN Posts: 335	I've just learned the one-rein stop (not something most TWH people do) and so I've just started teaching it to the horse. I didn't know to use leg pressure, so I completely take my legs off the horse and, for lack of better term, put them in the whoa stance. Weight down in seat, heels down, toes toward head, kinda. Hee hee, it's hard to describe. Then I pull the rein to my thigh and say 'whoa'. I want the horse to know that I am wanting him to stop with this move, not turn to the right. I use leg pressure when I want them to go and the bracing when I want them to stop. The bracing also helps me keep my balance. He picked it up pretty quick (after about 15 minutes of circles...lol). Most of the time they will disengage the hindquarters with this move, but I don't really want them to as we are trail riders, and I can't always afford for my horse to disengage (off the side of a ridge, for example ). Thanks for posting this, I was wondering if we were doing it right. __________________ Even Jesus Rides a Horse - Rev 19:11

10-03-2006, 05:43 PM
recklesshoundog Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 3,163	I have a horse that has some tendancy to freak out!!! She is trained for the one rein stop no leg just the rein goes back to my back pocket and and she stops and says....oh good this means we're all right! It's like a security blanket for her....oh and me too!

10-03-2006, 07:19 PM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,738	one rein stop The only reason I would use my leg in cameo's situation is because the hindquarters are NOT disengaging and the horse is rubbernecking through the emergency stop. I use the one-rein emergency stop with no leg...flexing basically, until the horse comes to a halt. However, disengaging the hindquarters requires leg. It's muscle memory dependent on the situation, I think. When the horse is out of control, no leg! I think, in cameo's situation, more work needs to be done at flexing for the bit for the emergency stop to be helpful. Also, I do agree with the leaning portion of the emergency stop. If you've had to do one at full speed - that horse is leaning to the inside while you're turning at full speed. Your weight COULD overbalance the horse into a fall. Now, with a horse that can rubberneck through a flex, I think you would HAVE to use leg pressure to push the body into the turn. __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

10-03-2006, 09:01 PM
Mrs. Hazel pethig Newborn Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 46	It's interesting to see the variety of different ways this can be taught. I was taught to lean back slightly and try to keep my center of gravity as low and centered as possible. If you lean to the inside or outside, I think it would be very easy to unbalance the horse. Grab the horn or mane with one hand, and bring the other rein back to my hip and slightly up as to not cause them to lean into it. I use leg to get them to yield their hindquarters, but I think during an emergency situation, using leg on some horses may make them speed up faster. __________________ Mrs. Hazel Pethig