This word is different from 'whoa' because it asks
the horse to 'stay' in one
place rather than
stop while already in motion.
Once they learn the word, it comes
in handy in lots of situations.
The first time I heard it spoken was when Jake, Gary,
& I were
on our very first overnight camping trip together.
Jake's quarter horse, Ben, six
years old at the time, was (for the 1st time)
hobbled by his left front leg with a
10 foot rope staked into the ground.
Somehow he got his rear left foot tangled
in the rope & was
starting to panic, stomping his rear feet, & getting
ready to
take off running....
Jake called out, "STAND!", & Ben stopped dead in his
tracks
& waited for Jake to come over to remove the rope from around his foot.
Gary & I were amazed that Ben would listen and understand what to
do,
so we requested a lesson for ourselves & our horses!
The following
method via Jake has worked time & again
for me & Magnum. Most recently was
when he broke free
from his 'hitching tree' because something spooked him
enough
that he pulled back & broke the metal clasp holding the
lead rope to his
rope halter & ran off a few feet
before I yelled, "STAND!"
He stopped in his
tracks!
It's taken alot of repetition over the years,
but the results in times
like these are definitely worth the effort!
So, without further ado, let's get into the roundpen
(your safe, enclosed
schoolhouse) & learn to STAND!
In the first lesson, we'll be using our
handy catch rope.
Put it on & lead your
horse into the center of the roundpen.
(If you don't have a catch rope yet, use
a halter & lead rope.)
Drop the rope in front of him (just under his
head),
say, "STAND!" in a forceful tone of voice,
& slowly back away from him.
walking toward him to
push him backwards to where he
was standing & repeat your voice command,
"STAND!"
Back slowly away again, repeating the word at any time
that you can tell he's going to move, before he moves!
(Don't worry, you'll get good at anticipating
his movements before he moves!)
Next, you walk around the roundpen, around him.
in the middle of the roundpen & back away & around him again.
He may turn his head to watch you go behind him,
but don't allow him to move his feet,
by calling out "STAND!", &/or starting over.
Once you get all the way around him on the 1st day
(or maybe only as far as just having him STAND
while you back away a few feet), stop the lesson on
this 'good note' & let him "think about it overnight" until
the next time you're able to be with him in the roundpen.
Once you can ask him to "STAND" & walk completely around
him while he has the catch rope on, it's time for lesson #2.
Lead him into the middle of the roundpen & remove
the catch rope. Ask him to "STAND!", back away & walk
all the way around him. Remember to say "STAND!" anytime
you anticipate him moving, but this time if he moves,
send him around the pen for a couple of laps.
This will be his consequence for moving without being asked.
(I keep a short whip lying on the ground near the middle
of the pen to grab & use, as shown in the 1st picture
when I talk about WHOA, when I need to get him trotting.)
Ask him to "WHOA" & then "COME HERE" back
to the middle of the roundpen with you.
(DON'T reward him just yet with any rub to the forehead,
because he hasn't done what you originally asked him to do.)
Once he's back in the middle ask him to "STAND" again,
move around him until his stays in place while
you walk all the way around him, THEN give
him his reward of a rub on the forehead!.
Remember to end on the best note possible in the time you have each day,
be prepared to repeat these lessons over & over for awhile,
& have fun giving refresher courses!!
And at the end of any lesson or ride, pay attention
to what kind of 'hugs & kisses' YOUR horse likes.
(Magnum puts his head on my chest to get pets & snuggle,
but Rosa doesn't like her head touched.)
