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From our Ask a Horse Trainer Series:
"Stop Your Horse With Hip Shoulder Shoulder," Issue 9, part 2 of our FREE monthly newsletter
The most common problem we see: Keeping your horse moving may prove to be your biggest challenge. Sluggish horses that look for any excuse to slow down will stop dead in their tracks when you first pick up a rein and ask for such a sharp maneuver. Be ready for it and really motivate them with your legs (spurs, crop, threats, bolt of lightning, whatever it takes) to keep moving. If your horse begins to freeze up more and more, then simply drop back a step and ask for less of a "sharp turn" (and really kick or squeeze). Then you'll progressively whittle it down, asking your horse to turn more and more "abruptly." More likely than not, you'll need to take your hand/arm waaaaay out to one side or the other because any sort of backward pressure on the reins will cause your horse to stop. If that's the case, take yet another step back in your training: Try simply walking a straight line, picking up a rein and asking your horse to bend it's neck and "gently arc" to the right or left, then release on the turn as he softens, however briefly. Your goal at that point has to be to keep the feet moving, all the while building softness and dissolving resistance. Concentrate on keeping the feet moving, gradually making your turns sharper and sharper. This is called "You gotta start somewhere." Do whatever it takes to keep the horse moving and softening. If you stick with it, he'll soon start relaxing and you'll be able to move ahead. When your horse is relaxed this exercise is actually quite easy.…
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• Hurry Up and Stop
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