Wild Roots Horsemanship, LLC

Whoa means whoa and nothing else 🫡

A topic I come across a lot in teaching lessons (as well as c**t starting) is the use of vocal cues. People ask when to use them, in what order they should be used, what should be used, etc. and my biggest feedback will always be, “Not much else matters except that whoa means whoa and nothing else.”

What I mean by that? Your horse needs a total stop cue. On the ground, I always think about when I’m up in the saddle - if I absolutely NEEDED a stop from the kiddo I’m riding would I actually have one? Whether I’m trying to de-escalate or avoid a bad accident a total stop is crucial for our horses to understand. And that stop would ideally come from a simple yet effective vocal cue (something you can rely on regardless of what situation you’re in).

So, I choose “whoa”. If I say that word, it means stop and stop completely no matter what. Many of us use the word for multiple meanings and don’t even realize it. All too often I hear my students saying “whoa” when really what they mean is “slow down”. I’ll watch as people use the W-word for everything from a downward transition to a half-halt to an attempt at calming or regulating the horse. Then, inevitably, I hear, “My horse won’t stop when I say whoa!” after they’ve been in a situation where they really needed that word to mean “stop completely”.

Be conscious and consistent with your vocal cues! We can use all kinds but stick to the expectation that each cue is unique to its own meaning. Examples? For a downward transition, I use “easy”. For a total stop, I use “whoa”. And I never, ever confuse the two. This leads to a horse that understands the difference between slowing down and stopping completely. And that comes in awful handy when I really need it. Don’t wait until you need it. Teach it now. Stick to it. And be grateful later.

Way to go, Finn 👏🏻

Sound on to hear my stud c**t slowly but surely rip my patience into pieces 😑

I have fought and fought with these three about the shenanigans they get into and ya know what?? Sometimes, you just have to pick your battles and yesterday I decided to let them have their cake and shred it too apparently.

The current score?

Draco + Finnjamin: 1
Innocent training tarp that blew into the boys’ lot: 0
Fitz on lookout duty: 1/2