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A description of the One Rein Stop written and re-posted with permission by Andy Ostertag.

Everything a horse does, or will do, is pre-cued in the horses body language. They are very honest and 'liar' isn't in their vocabulary. This is VERY important knowledge in the use of the ORS, or any training/working/playing with your horse. In the words of the clinician Pat Parelli, "Horses are experts at learning what happens, before what happens happens." Because it is in their language to each other.

You should start getting your horse accustomed to the one rein stop by practicing some lateral flexion on the ground after you have gone through your saddling routine. Actually, lateral flexion on the ground is a part of my pre-flight check of my horse before I ask him to accept me in the saddle and check his mood.

I stand to the side of my horse about even with the saddle horn [my shoulders parallel with the horses] with my close arm maybe up on the saddle resting my hand on the horn. I take one step forward with my outside leg toward the horses head, and gently cup the bridge of his nose, and step back again with my outside leg and bring his head around close to my belly. [Be sure there is no conflicting pressure with the reins or halter/lead rope anywhere.] When his head is back by my belly, I show him I am relaxed for him by bowing my head to his and letting go with a big *sigh* and limp body when our heads are together. With your hand on his nose, you can feel his resistance level. Be it a lean on your hand, slightly or more forceful. But at some point you will feel your horse soften and give to your hand on his nose. The milli-moment you feel him soften and give, you release your hand on his nose. Then love him up with rubs on his neck/ top of his mane and forehead.

Do the other side the same way. You will be suprised how they catch on to this. Soon you will be able to keep him in your little huddle with just the lightest of suggestion. It is a position that teaches him acceptance and patience.

First starting with the ground lateral flexion, the horse will do a good job at getting you out of position by stepping sideways away from you, but you step with him and keep your position along side the saddle and your hand on the bridge of his nose. He will settle and stand still when he knows you're on to him and in further sessions the sidestepping will diminish. That's another trait perfected by the equine. They know how to get the human in a position that is adequate to them. And the sooner you realize that, and understand what they are trying to do, it gets much easier to stay with them.

The reason for so much dwelling on the lateral flexion on the ground, is because it is a twin brother to the One Rein Stop under saddle. After I am mounted I like to sit for sometimes up to thirty seconds, again teaching him patience and change his way of thinking.

My horse, for some reason thought, that as soon as I was mounted I wanted to go somewhere [at first it was back to the barn!]. So I began to implement the One Rein stop. The instant he started to move off without cue, [I use one piece reins] I center my off side hand [right hand] on the reins above his withers, and with the left hand start a trombone motion [with a firm OK symbol with just my thumb and index finger around the rein]. Go down the rein about 18" from the bit, and back up aprox. 2 or 3 times as a preparation cue as to what's coming. Then after your trombone imitation, tighten your 'OK' symbol [Thumb and index finger] around the rein and lock your elbow on the peak of the downstroke [aprox. 18" from the bit] and extend your arm out a bit.

Now, in order, close your other fingers [middle, then ring, and pinkie] around the rein, so your rein is running through your fist. Move your fist with the rein assertively to your mid thigh and hold. Hold it there, with his head around as in the ground lateral flexion exercise. Stare at your stirrup on that side and go limp maybe even letting a big *sigh* go. [Holding your firm grip of the rein to your thigh though.] Hold his head around until he relaxes. Don't look at him, just stay limp and relaxed starring down at your stirrup.

This teaches him that you DO have control over his actions, and we will go when YOU are ready to go. [Patience and acceptance again.] When he relaxes, he will give a soft feel and produce slack in the rein. Your timing here is crucial, because it is the release that teaches him. The milli-moment you feel him give, or start to give, drop the rein as if it were on fire and burnt your hand, love him up.

A good way to practice this, is to ride with a halter and lead rope to begin. Switch the lead to different sides and practice equally. When one rein is all you have, it soon becomes the natural way for you to stop.

That is the way I started the ORS. Now, although I ride with an O-ring SI snaffle and one piece reins with a lead rope, I use the "OK" trombone motion to transition to lower gaits. And in the walk, he knows the ol' trombone means stop. The milli-moment he lowers to the gait desired, I release instantly.

But the key is to be as honest with your horse as they are with you. He knows after just a couple sessions that following the trombone is the head around. So don't break your pattern unless you are satisfied. If you start the trombone, wanting a stop, follow through with it, and bring his head around until you get the stop and relaxation. We started riding alot of trails this past summer, with a couple groups, and I have a problem with alot of strangers in the first few minutes. Although I present myself as 'cool and collected' on the outside to the other riders, I don't fool him, and he responds by breaking into a trot on his own.

Horses sense your nervousness, doubt and all your emotions. But that's a problem of mine I'm dealing with and he is helping me. When he moves off without cue, he's telling me "Would you just settle back and enjoy this buddy??" I do our one rein stop, and it actually helps me relax as well. He will stay as long as I hold him and we BOTH reach our relaxed state. And funny thing, minutes into the ride, as soon as " I " relax, wouldn't you know, that there are NO more uncued transitions?? Funny thing, isn't it?!? ; ] Not really, if you stop and think. He feels me settle in, and responds accordingly, settling into our ride.

Anyway, I'll get up off the couch and continue. When you release sooner than your intended goal, that rewards him for whatever he is doing at the point of release. [Buck Branamann states; "You get what you reward.."] Your horse WANTS to please and understand you more than we realize, and receive comfort for that. And releasing too late, moments after he has given a soft feel [that's why I use the term 'milli-moment'], leaves him with the question mark of what you actually were asking of him.

Training Tips

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