What's the best way to stop a galloping horse?

Question

Part of my younger years was spent on a farm in

Oregon. Now the ONLY farm animal we didn't have

were horses. However, a friend that had know my

father in the U.S. Navy had a ranch down the road a

few miles. They had horses, and a daughter. She

and I hit it off and she invited me to go horseback

riding with her a few times. Well, the first time was

very nice. They also had a horse who I was warned like

to "run". Well, I got on this horse one day and sure

enough, it took off at a fast gallop. l thought for sure

I was going to fall off, or the horse would step into a hole

in the field and we would both go down.

I'm holding on to the horses mane for dear life and hunkered

down so I don't lose my balance and fall off. I must have

tried for about 3-4 minutes to slow this horse down, but

it wasn't having any such nonsense. I think it just finally

stopped because it was winded.

What is the best way to stop a galloping horse?

Answer 1

I have heard to pull the rein to one of your hips and they will have to slow down eventually because they can't run fast if their head is at the side. I haven't had to use this before but I have heard it feels like they will never stop but they will be forced into a circle. Also if you lean back more it should slow him down or at least keep you in the saddle! Stay relaxed no matter what happens, and just make sure you have a good seat so you don't fall off.

Answer 2

when the h**e does that go into cirlces.. then say whoa and lean back in the saddle.. relax your nuscles.. then you make that horse back up and do 10 circles. you punish that horse for taking off on you.. he needs to understand that you are the boss

Answer 3

I find the best way to stop a runaway is to bend their head and ask for a circle be prepared for quick circle but this way you still have one hand to hold on with, a horse can not run with his head bent around, it disengages the hindquarters which is where they get their power from, and causes them to stop.  Make sure you bring your wieght to the direction to which you are turning, as I tell my kids use the e brake, I always have them practice before hitting the trail and to make sure the horses will do as asked, and all we ride with are rope halters when on the trails.  Works with every horse I have ridden.  Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Aim for a wall?

Answer 5

You already have good answers here...I have one thing to add.  If the horse is an out of control runaway, forcing a turn can cause the horse to fall. Learn how to vault from a horse safely because at times it's the only safe thing to do.

Answer 6

This happened to me a few times, and it works when you use a pulley rein.

Answer 7

One rein stop.

You pick up a direct left or right rein and hold this rein closer to the horse's head than you normally would. Use your direct contact to make the horse turn his neck and head towards you. You may need to move your hand up the rein even closer to his head and get more contact if the horse isn't flexing. The turn is tight - his nose should be pulled towards you.

Horses need their heads for balance as they run. He won't be able to balance properly when you have this much control over his head. A tight turn will force him to slow down and hopefully then you can get him to stop.

Answer 8

Well, I would yield him.

You take one rein and pull it towards your stomach, and the horse will have to stop. Don't release their head until they give to the bit, and aren't trying to pull against you.

Answer 9

What you do is, if your horse does take off at a gallop and wont stop, take the reins and pull, then release, pull, then release and hopefully the horse will start to slow down.And also try to keep calm, if you scream a lot of the times the horse will go faster instead of slower. Or you can take the horses head and pull it around to your leg and see if that works,

Answer 10

pick a side pull his nose to your foot, on the same side put your foot back and dig it into his side. your foot will move his hips and they will follow his nose in a tight circle till he stops. once you control his nose and hips he cant go forwards

Answer 11

try turning in circles... make the horse turn him/her head so they cant run.. and have to turn, or try the give and take. depends on the horse

Answer 12

when it starts galloping and you want to stop and pulling back/up on the reins isnt working, turn the horse is small circles or at least try to. press your inner leg into the horse as you turn it in circles. going in circle motions makes the horse force to slow down since it can not run in such small circles and its head is getting pulled on.

Answer 13

Mulereiner gave the absolute best suggestion for my daughter.  A one-rein stop, which I think has been suggested.  It works well.

Pull one rein pretty much back to your hip and it pulls the horses head around (without being too harsh) and they can't buck or go forward.  My daughter uses (used now) more for bucking but I can see where it would work for a run away horse also.  Anything that changes their forward motion will stop them.

Answer 14

Living in Oregon, I'm going to assume you're riding Western.  There's a real easy way to stop a horse with such a nasty habit.  

Back in 1970 I had a little gray Quarter Horse mare who had a mouth like a cast iron trap (I got her this way as a 7 yr old).  One of the ranch hands spotted me getting run off with more than once and hunted around, found a low ported Quick Bit and a set of curb chain hooks and an english curb chain.

He rigged the curb chain so that the next time she pulled this "running off c**p" I'd have leverage.  Sure enough, I put her into a lope to catch up with the group I was bird doggin' and she tried her usual routine and this time when I asked for a "whoa", she whoa'd!  

The next time you get run off with, if you can find an open area and take ONE rein and pull it hard so that the horse runs in a circle and just keep making the circle get smaller and smaller.  Eventually the horse WILL slow down and subsequently stop.

Keep working at it!

Answer 15

honestly, if you've only ridden a few times, you're probably not going to be able to stop the horse without seriously compromising your balance. You probably did the only thing you could - hold on for dear life.

Theres lots of good advice here for a intermediate/advanced rider, but for an absolute beginner? Ask your friend to not put you on a horse thats known to run away with people!

Answer 16

Use a pulley rein... that's what they teach in pony club for emergency stopping.

You take one hand/rein and hold onto the horses mane and pull up and back on the other one (as strong as it takes to slow the horse).  This will make the horse turn, rather fast sometimes - that's why you brace yourself with the other hand. But to make the turn the horse will have to slow himself down to keep his balance, then once he is at a comfortable pace you can ask him to halt normally.

Hope this helps and have fun.

Answer 17

First of all Stay Calm!!

Steady pulling pressure won't have an effect on a hard headed horse....

Put feet firmly in the stirrups Pull back on the reins hard, release-pull-release, continue until stopped, this usually works for me.  Keep in mind that your are NOT jerking on the reins.

Or

pull head around to your foot.  They can't go very fast when going in a very tight circle.

Answer 18

I had this happen to me lots of time. One thing that worked but NOT ALWAYS. Was I would turn the horses head in and dig my leg in the inside to make its body turn in an arc. (or attempt to do that)

Answer 19

First of all you need to work with your horse and rid of this "running away problem" when youre riding...secondly, if this happens and you dont know what to do....turn your horse in a CIRCLE.  A horse cannot run in a circle....and its the best way to "stop" them if youre in danger of injury.