No nonsense whoa like old timer real cowboys trained?

Question

So how did the old timers put those no nonsense whoas on their horse?

My best friend and I were kids in the mid to late 70's and we rode H/J TB's mainly. They all went in a snaffle and had excellent brakes. Not many horses we ride these days do and my best friends says it's because no one has the time to train the way they did. So how did they/trainers/cowboys put that whoa on a horse? I'd like to put a serious whoa on my horse, so specifics are appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

yup i remember the 70s I think we just let are horses run they stopped when they count,nt run no more.

Answer 2

Like Silvaspur said - they got a lot more daily practice at it.  And practice makes perfect.

If I come across a horse that has a hard time stopping with the bit, and I can't manage a one rein stop... I will put the halter on under the bridle and use the lead line to make a second set of reins.  I have their bit as the primary set, and the second set as an emergency break.  Eventually, I use it less and less until I can get rid of it.

I also use reverse psychology - if my horse doesn't want to stop, and they want to keep moving... well I keep them moving.  Usually at a trot or canter until they are tired then I ask again.   Pretty soon they catch on that it is better to listen the first time I ask.

One of the worst old school ways I saw of teaching a horse to stop - and sadly one of the big "Mustang" trainers in the area does this - they tied two ropes around the horses front fetlocks and ran the ropes up through the D rings of the saddle and over the seat.  If the horse didn't stop, they jerk up on the rope and pulled the front feet out from under the horse.  I won't mention the trainers name, but he made it clear that was how he trained all his Mustangs, and that it was a great way to do it.  That guy was a Jackass!

Keep practicing - it works the best.

Answer 3

I precede and include the 70s in my cowboy training experiences...sent horses out of state to train with so-called cowboy experts.  I even dated and came close to marrying more than one you may have heard of.  Yes, I am that old.  Of the many misguided trainers I met( and my poor horses suffered under) during the 50s, 60s, and even into the 70s and 80s, I will say that not all (but most) used cruel force in training horses.  I never met a cowboy trainer that didn't study Native American methodology, or Spanish riding school methodology that could achieve what you want without using unnecessary force.  Not one good horseman will ever use a bit for brakes, and if a trainer tells you otherwise, steer clear.

Answer 4

Craig Cameron has a great lesson he teaches on Whoa.  He believes whoa should mean do not take another step.  He teaches you to do this with your seat more than the bridle.  I wish I could spill it all but I would not give his lesson the justice it deserves.  See if you can find his lesson on RFDTV or to purchase on line.  If we could all get this down like he says, we would be safer horse and rider alike!

Answer 5

I start mine as colts in the round pen and in hand as well.  Whenever I want them to stop, I say whoa and pull on the lead.  When in the round pen, to begin with, I also use a lunge line so if they try to move through the whoa I can tug on them to correct them.  Consistancy is the key.  You can't let them get by without stopping when you cue them. Before long you no longer have to use the lead but they will respond with only the vocal command.

Answer 6

You have to remember. That cowboys used their horses for work. To pull in cattle, check fences, and run errands in town. Anytime those horses stopped, it meant rest, which was a nice relief for them. These horses learned through experience and not so much on "round pen" training.

A good way to get a good "whoa" on your horse is to let him stand at a rest for a few minutes. Most people now a days, wait for the stop, give a nice little pat, and the horse goes straight back to work. So horse's aren't learning to enjoy the rest because they anticipate the work.

For several of my green horses that have all run in them. I'll get on their back and let them run as long as they want. If I say whoa, and they don't stop, they keep going. If they want to stop and I'm not ready, I'll keep them going. Finally when they've got a good work out on them, I'll say whoa, and more times than none, the horse is more than happy to stop.

The point- let your horse learn to enjoy the whoa. Don't ask for a halt and a few seconds later ask for more work. Let him sit there and relax and pretty soon you'll have a horse that appreciates when he's worked and appreciates when he's asked to halt.

EDIT: I know some people like using the back up  method, however I do not. If you end up backing the horse up after every halt it becomes a habit for the horse. I can't tell you the countless number of times younger team roping and tie down ropers complain that they lose time because when they ask for a halt the horse automatically backs up dragging the steer. It might be beneficial for some horses, but I prefer to not train any of mine this way.

Answer 7

You don't want to do it the way the old-timers did it.  They used very cruel bits and barbaric techniques, for the most part.  My horses have a nice 'whoa' on them using a voice cue alone.  One also stops when my seat is deepened and I lean back a bit with no other cue.  She's very sensitive.  Both my mares will put the brakes on immediately now when cued.  To get there, I trained it by giving the voice cue with a slight pick up of the reins and deepening of the seat, if they did not respond, pick up reins a little more, slight bit pressure, give cue again, etc. Slowly increasing the cue intensity.  When they stopped, if it was not immediately on the first voice cue, I backed them to the spot where I asked for the whoa initially and praised there.  They both got the point very quickly (horses don't like to back up much).  My TB mare, the first time I got on her, I asked for a whoa and the former owner told me "She don't do that one".  Within 5 minutes, she was stopping when asked most of the time with no bit pressure.  After a couple weeks work, she had a 'serious whoa'.

Answer 8

silva pretty much said it all and is correct.if a horse doesnt want to stop you keep it going untill you say it is time to stop and this took time and when you stop a horse you make it stay stopped for a while.we also used to use the corners of the arena to teach them to whoa. most of my training is with a halter and lead rope or a bosal and mecate and a pull and release saying whoa once,if the horse didnt get it the first time (most dont) you do it over and over untill it is second nature for the horse.the reward is the rest.also you never keep pulling on the reins for a stop because the horse will start to balk and that is when you get a rearing horse.remember one pull for whoa and two pulls for backing.

by the way i did go to the spanish riding school in Vienna to study their training techniques.