One rein stop

[Dream2own]

I've just noticed this term on another thread and I confess to never having heard of it. Can anyone explain it to me or share their experiences?

The YouTube clip I saw looked a bit unbalancing for the rider.

 

[LittleBlackMule]

It's basically an emergency stop, not a technique you would use all the time.

If a horse is tanking off with you, pulling on both reins together can effectively just collect the horse (engaging the hindquarters) and enable it to brace against you and continue to bolt.
Using just one rein unbalances the horse, so disengaging the hindquarters, so it can't pull against you.

 

[Dream2own]

Would that not be dangerous and potentially cause the horse to fall?

 

[Tern]

As above its an emergency stop, i got taught to climb up a rein and pull as hard as you can, makes them either stop or turn in a ridiculously tight circle. Though this technique is not liked by some as when doing in wet condition there is the possible your horse can fall, it's a love or hate thing - just like when a horse is rearing some will pull on one rein to unbalance horse therefor pushing it back down.

 

[LittleBlackMule]

You are supposed to school your horse to disengage its hindquarters with one rein, in a safe environment first, ideally. Yes, if used with extreme force at speed, the horse could fall, but when used sensibly at the first sign of 'brake failure' it can save you from danger.