Pat Parelli – Stop Horse Without Reins
“How do you teach a horse to stop without pulling on the reins?” Internationally acclaimed horseman, Pat Parelli, has been asked that question a thousand times. Pat demonstrated a simple technique to teach a horse to stop without reins, based on the use of a positive pattern. This is a method, he said, that will work for anyone.
Establishing the pattern
Pat placed a bucket in the centre of a paddock. He then set off at a canter in roughly a cloverleaf pattern, always turning his horse towards the bucket. While holding the reins but not pulling on them, Pat asked the horse to stop in the centre. He waited a few minutes, allowing the horse to get the idea that this was a good stopping place. Pat suggested that the first time you try this you may want to do it at a trot, and you may want to repeat the pattern for about 15 minutes, depending on your horse. The secret is not to ask the horse to stop until it asks you to stop.
Next, Pat set off in the cloverleaf pattern again, but this time he kept the reins down and loose, not even using them to turn unless absolutely necessary. Then he came in towards the centre, dropped the reins, and called Whoaa! The horse stopped.
Further information
Pat Parelli’s courses are run Australia-wide under local approved instructors. For details contact:
Parelli Natural Horse-Man-Ship
PO Box 2232, Gosford, NSW, 2250
Phone: 1800 627 404