How to Perform an Emergency Stop on a Horse

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: To slow your horse from an unsafe or uncontrolled gait

   This causes the horse to lose his forward motion and slow down.
   
   Pulling too hard and too quickly will cause the horse to trip and fall.
   
   This should be practiced at all gaits until you and your horse are familiar with the procedure Don't wait until you are on an out of control horse to practice!
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   Step 2: gently pull one rein until the horses head is pointed towards his tail and he stops completely.

   ,,,,,,, It is always safer to remove BOTH feet from the stirrups before swinging the right leg behind you to the left side.
   
   If your horse spooks while you are trying to dismount, and your left foot is still in the stirrup, you may get stuck.
   
   Even though it feels easier to stand in the left stirrup to swing the right foot over, there is ultimately more risk of getting caught, dragged, and broken.
   
   This is especially true if you are a beginning rider who has not yet mastered positioning the stirrup on the ball of your foot, instead putting more of your foot deeper into the stirrup.
   
   Play it safe: remove BOTH feet from the stirrups before dismounting, emergency or otherwise.
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   Step 3: Once the horse stops

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   Step 4: you may dismount as normal if necessary.

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   Step 5: If turning the horse is not safe (such as on a narrow trail) you may need to perform an emergency dismount

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   Step 6: Remove your feet from the stirrups as you would to dismount normally.

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   Step 7: Lean forward and hug the horse around the neck

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   Step 8: Swing your right foot over the horse's haunch like a normal dismount.

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   Step 9: Land with both feet together next to the horse's left shoulder

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    Step 10: facing away from the horse's head towards the saddle.

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    Step 11: This should be practiced frequently in the area at all gaits so that you and your horse are comfortable with the motion.

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    Step 12: Caution!

Detailed Guide

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