But how do you stop??....

I wish I had a pound for every time I was asked this question - I would be rich.

It usually comes when we are out hacking in a halter or rope hackamore. Usually on meeting a rider on a horse coming in the other direction. Said horse is usually in a 'big' bit with fashionable tight noseband and equally fashionable tight martingale, often attached to fashionable breastplate.

My answer is always - the same way I stop with a bit.

Pulling back with both reins attached to to a horses mouth isn't going to stop a pulling horse.

We need to rethink how we look at the reins. Forget that they are attached to the horses face and, instead, realise that they are connected to the horses feet AND if we have control of the horses feet we have control of the horse - simples-

So, we need to learn how to use one rein to move one foot. More on that another time.......

Oh, and by the way, I'm not against bits - I do use them - the most comfortable one I can find for each horse, with no noseband or martingale or special reins.