I use not throwing my rope as a way to remind this horse—a 4-year-old who was started in the reining—to keep driving from the hind end and to keep his shoulders up in the front end.
WHY?
This horse doesn't get strong instead of as we're coming into a stop. I stop him and don't throw if I feel his stride wanting to lengthen out. When I would normally throw, I will just swing through it and pick him up and get him on his butt. I will make him keep his stride tight and not let him get long and flat. A long and flat stride makes the back of your saddle pop up. I want my horse to be ready to take a jerk, so when I throw my rope, I want my saddle horn to rise up. I don't want it flat and level, because then the horse will learn to get stiff in his front end and start hitting on the front end. It's just not helpful in the timing of their run.
