Colt Training
Lesson One Colt Training
Lesson Two › Colt Training
Lesson Three Colt Training
Lesson Four Colt Training
Lesson Five Colt Training
Lesson Six

Colt Training | Lesson One | Lesson Two | LESSON THREE | Lesson Four | Lesson Five | Lesson Six

TEACHING THE COMMAND "WHOA"

 LESSON THREE

Harness the colt mentioned in the last lesson and have it in the same enclosure. In this lesson give the colt a thorough review of the last one. If you have said "Whoa" before this, you might as well have said any other word in any language so far as the meaning to the colt is concerned.

The meaning of "Whoa" will only be understood by the colt when it is associated with an action. The first time you use the command be sure that you are in a position to follow with the proper action. Start the colt with the command "Get Up," Compel him to go in a large circle to the left.

Keep an equal pressure on both lines, giving your entire attention to keeping him going forward until you are ready to stop him. (You should stop the first three or four times at the same spot. This will aid you in conveying your idea to the colt.) When you approach the spot where you intend to stop, hold your left line steady, reach forward with the right hand and grasp the right line about a foot farther up than the left. Say "Whoa" positively and distinctly and immediately follow with a sharp jerk on the right line, followed immediately by slackening BOTH lines. Always be sure to slacken the lines as soon as the colt stops. If necessary, in order to make the colt stop repeat the word and action three or four times in rapid succession. The third or fourth time coming around to this particular spot, the colt will, if you have stopped him there each round, respond to the command, "whoa," without an action of the lines, but be prepared to give it in case he does not. As soon as the colt shows an inclination to stop at this spot without the command or action, force him on by the command, "Get Up," and stop at another spot. It will be necessary to follow the command "Whoa" with an action at this new place, and for that matter at several new places, until the colt gets the idea that "Whoa" means to stop, no matter where he hears it and WITHOUT any action with the lines. The colt's education is not complete until he will stop with the lines dragging on the ground.

teaching the command "whoa"
After teaching the colt to stop at command from the left side, then you should turn him to the right and teach him to stop at the command and action from the right, then from directly behind. "Whoa" is the important command to teach your horse. Your life or the lives of your friends or others many sometimes depend upon your horse being so thoroughly trained to stop at command, that he will obey under all circumstances or excitement. Never use the word "Whoa" unless you mean it, and be prepared to let the colt understand you mean it. Use only the one word "Whoa" to mean stop, and let that word mean only one act. If, for instance, you want your horse merely to slow down, use some other word as, "steady."

Next lesson 4: GETTING THE COLT READY TO HITCH UP