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Stopping a horse might sound simple, but teaching a correct, soft, and balanced stop takes skill and timing. Whether you’re working with gaited horses, hot horses, or cold horses, the principles of leg on, leg off, and proper rein use apply across the board. In this post, we’ll cover the do’s and don’ts of stopping, how to avoid common mistakes, and a few extra tips that will make your horse’s stop smoother, lighter, and more controlled.
Why Stopping Correctly Matters
A good stop isn’t just about pulling on the reins. It’s about teaching your horse to respond to your body, your legs, and your seat before relying on the bridle. When done correctly, your horse will stop willingly, softly, and with their hind end underneath them—rather than hollowing out or resisting your hands.
Do: Use Your Legs as the Gas Pedal
When teaching the stop, think of your legs as the gas pedal:
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Legs on = go forward. Relax your calves against the horse’s sides so they know the motor is running.
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Legs off = motor off. By releasing your leg pressure, you’re signaling that forward energy is shutting down.
Keeping your legs gently on the horse helps with both steering and stopping. If you ride with no leg contact, you’re relying only on the bridle, which makes your horse heavier in the face and less responsive overall.
Don’t: Rely on a Bigger Bit
A common mistake riders make is trying to control the stop with more hardware. Simply putting a harsher bit in your horse’s mouth won’t teach them to stop correctly. Instead, focus on timing, softness, and body control. A balanced stop comes from riding the whole horse, not just pulling harder.
Do: Set Up the Stop with Seat and Hands
Before you ask for a stop:
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Sit back – Roll your shoulders back and sink into your seat.
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Lock your hands – Place your hands in a steady position so if your horse throws its nose forward, it meets the bit (or halter) instead of pulling you forward.
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Keep driving forward until you release – Push with your legs like you’re pressing a gas pedal, then release your legs when you want the stop.
This encourages your horse to stop with its hind end under them, creating a sliding stop if they’re soft and collected enough.
Don’t: Stop and Go Straight in the Same Direction
If you’re practicing multiple stops, don’t just stop and immediately go forward in the same line. That makes the stop feel temporary and unclear to your horse. Instead:
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Stop and wait for a few minutes until your horse relaxes, or
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Stop, then turn 180–360 degrees before moving forward again.
This makes it crystal clear that “stop means stop,” not “pause and go.”
Do: Add Backing as Extra Credit
While not the main focus, teaching your horse to back up from the stop position improves the stop dramatically.
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From the stopping position, keep your reins steady.
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Use your legs to ask your horse to step backward.
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Release as soon as they move their feet.
The more you back your horse, the lighter and sharper their stop will become.
Don’t: Throw Yourself Back in the Saddle
One big don’t is throwing your upper body backward when asking for a stop. This hollows out your horse’s back and encourages them to resist or scotch. Instead, sit deep and let your body weight signal the stop while keeping the horse driving forward until your legs come off.
The Payoff: Soft, Balanced Stops
When your horse understands the gas pedal concept—legs on for forward, legs off for stopping—they begin to stop willingly without fighting the bridle. Over time, this develops into a collected, athletic stop that can turn into a sliding stop with the right softness and balance.
A horse that stops softly on a dime is just one step away from bridleless riding—it’s that powerful.
Final Thoughts
The do’s and don’ts of stopping come down to riding with feel and clarity:
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Do ride with your legs on, set your body position, and reward softness.
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Don’t depend on harsher bits or jerking the reins.
Stopping should feel natural, not forced. With consistency, patience, and the right cues, you’ll develop a horse that not only stops willingly but does so with style and balance.
