Whoa/ho!!!

[RoxR]

I didn't want to hijack the hackamore thread, but I was interested in the comments about Whoa and Ho!

Some of you may know I am very new to western riding - we have only been to one clinic but are practising at home on the basics before we go to more clinics in the spring.

I was told to use "Ho", said long, not short (if that makes sense) as it means you are exhaling and therefore relaxing in the saddle.

What is the difference between this and "Whoa" ?

Surely as far as Roxy knows (because she is also new to western training) I could exhale any word and she woud just learn by association.

Advice appreciated!
:)

PS My western reins arrived this morning!!

[floppy]

i was taught to use 'ho' too

[Epona UK]

Well Rox, I have to admit you're basically right, so long as you use the same word, and only reserve it for "I want you to stop NOW" it really doesn't matter what you say. The only thing that matters is that your horse knows what you mean. Glad you got your reins...........

Epona.

[squid_is_ace]

hi RoXR!!!!!!!

glad you have got your western reins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[Outrider]

I'm going to go to the other side of the fence on this one. I reccomend using "Whoa" as it has a different beginning sound with the "W". To me, "HO" sounds too much like "NO", even if you draw it out. With "Whoa" you have a definite "Whaa" sound with the command that sounds different than "no".

But, you could say any word like "supercalifragilisticexpialidocias" and get your horse to stop as long as you always used that word with stopping. Of course, you would have to start about half way down the arena with it! lol Happy Trails!

[Epona UK]

never had you down as a Mary Poppins fan Outrider !!

Seriously though, yes I agree with what you say,but I've found that just occaisionally, a horse will respond better to one word than the other, don't ask me why, I have no idea, they just do. For example, until recently, I had two western trained horses, both of which I'd started myself, to settle or slow them down whilst free schooling in a round pen, one responded to "easy" the other to "steady" and if I used the "wrong" word, the result was zilch !

[RoxR]

Thanks guys!

Outrider, I am most impressed at your spelling of such big words!!!!

I just hope you don't say it with the classic Mr D Van Dyke 'cockney' accent!!! LOL!!!

Chim chiminy, chim chiminy, chim chim, cheroo.........

Sorry, I'm in a silly mood!!!

:D

[Outrider]

What!!! You English blokes didn't think us Yanks had any culture? That we don't know the latest cinemas? Blimey, now, 'at 'urts, it does! Why, just the other day Miss Mary Poppins floated right down with her bumbershoot whilst I was cleaning me chimney! Y'all!

[Epona UK]

I can see that this thread is teetering on the edge of getting really silly !! Are you a closet Mary Poppins fan Outrider, or is it the lady herself, Julie Andrews ?

The hills are alive........................High on a hill stood a lonely goatherd layee ho de layee ho...........Doe a deer a female deer, Ray a drop of golden sun.......................see, I know all the words:D :D



Epona

[myEllie]

"Me a name I call myself, Fa a long long way to run."
:D

[ilovebacara]

Originally posted by Outrider
What!!! You English blokes

I dont see any blokes!! All gals from where i am sittin!
I once got told when i was about 5 by my stupid dad that mary poppins was batman gettin in touch with his feminine(sp) side and i believed it until I watched the film and realised that it wasnt! Dont ask! I was a strange child (still am) :D

[jUmPingIsLifE]

I usually say ho but sometimes to calm a horse down i will do a long whooooaaa, i don't know what hte BIG differance is lol
~NikkI~

[ilovebacara]

Originally posted by jUmPingIsLifE
i don't know what hte BIG differance is lol
~NikkI~

one begins with a 'W' and one begins with a 'H' :D:D:D

[RoxR]

aaaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhh........

:p

[Outrider]

Closet Mary Poppins fan? No, I came out a long time ago. :)I love everything that Julie Andrews ever did, but the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins are my all time favorites...Next to westerns that is! :) And as far as the word "blokes" is concerned, what do you call the gals across the pond? Happy Trails!

[Epona UK]

OK here we go.........

Young Ladies:-
Birds
Totty
Crumpet
Bit of Stuff
Skirt
Tarts
Talent

Not So Young Ladies:-
Trouble & Strife
The Old Woman
'Er Indoors
She Who Must Be Obeyed
The Wife


Can anyone think of any I've missed.............................Epona;)

[ilovebacara]

u missed some but i dont think that mike would like it if i said them! :D

[Epona UK]

I know, I was being polite, I wuz brung up proper.

[ilovebacara]

lol :p good good

[Outrider]

Ahhh! Now I could do with a Talented Tart in Skirts I could! Eating Crmpets and a Bit of Stuff on a picnic, whilst watching the other Birds Totty around! Wow! I love the British language! :D

[Epona UK]

and there was me thinking that we spoke the same language Outrider :D :D

[ilovebacara]

hhhhhhhhmmmmm :D

[raeychelle]

I have seen some people use Ho religiously and get irate if you try to say whoa, but I have used both with my horse and, as they sound fairly similar and I am using other means to convey my message, he knows what I mean (usually).

The only thing about using Ho is that it has some other very negative connotations when used in reference to a woman, so it may sound a little silly to someone who is listening to you and doesn't know what you are doing.