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Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on June 6, 2010 at 8:14pm

I personally use the pulley rein for emergency slow downs. Put one hand, that keeps contact with the mouth and holds the rein firmly, on the withers and lean on it, grab the other rein half-way between the withers and the mouth and pull-release rather strongly, repeat until the horse slows down. You MUST keep the non-yanked rein TIGHT or else you can make the horse fall down.
I would not use an one-rein stop at speed, I would be scared of causing the horse to either fall or doing a very sharp turn. I've seen pictures of a horse galloping, mouth agape, even his head was facing quite a bit away from the direction he was running.
I would only use the one-rein stop when the misbehavior STARTS, at full run I would only use the pulley rein.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Lou Emrich on June 6, 2010 at 8:22pm

I have never heard of this method. I too worry about either the horse falling or myself being thrown by this manuever at that speed. I will use this from now on. When my episode occured this horse just ran right through the bit that I was hauling on with all my weght. I will be prepared next time. Thank you so much.

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on June 7, 2010 at 9:08am

I forgot to add that when you pull on the non-fixed rein yank it up and across the withers. Repeat as needed.
Hauling back on the bit just causes the horse to run faster--I learned this on my Anglo-Arab. The horses seem to "accept" a yank IF THE REIN IS IMMEDIATELY RELAXED to the point of loosing contact.
The last time a horse tried to run away with me he lunged forward and I accidentally hit his mouth pretty hard. I immediately relaxed the rein and only gave the rein aid (pretty strong) when his head was going up and back and then I immediately loosened the rein. By the third time I pulled on the reins he was under control and stoppable. I did not have to use the pulley rein that time.
The pulley rein was standard for hunt seat riders when I started formal riding 40 years ago. Hunt seat horses are allowed to gallop A LOT faster than Western trained horses are allowed to even back then (western trained horses were allowed to move much more vigorously back then.) The one-rein stop is a Western method, I never heard of it before 10 years ago, but then I don't follow Western riding.
I would "practice" the movement on completely loose reins so that your body knows what to do when the horse goes too fast. First--give the rein aid to stop when the horses head goes up and back and then release completely, Second--if that does not work use the pulley rein.

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