Western
Intermediate
25 min
Rollback from the Fence
Focus: Agility, Responsiveness, Collection
Equipment: None required
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Lope toward the arena fence on a straight line.
- At the fence, halt using your seat and voice. The horse should stop facing the fence.
- Immediately ask for a 180-degree turn (pivot on the haunches) away from the fence.
- Depart at the lope in the new direction on the new lead.
- The entire sequence — stop, turn, depart — should be smooth and connected.
- Practice rollbacks to both directions, alternating each time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The horse stopping too far from the fence or not stopping at all.
- The 180-degree turn being too wide, losing the tight pivot.
- Not departing immediately after the turn — there should be no hesitation.
- Picking up the wrong lead on the departure.
Variations & Progressions
- Add speed to the approach for a more dramatic stop-and-rollback.
- Chain rollbacks: stop, roll left, lope, stop, roll right, lope.
- Use rollbacks as part of a full reining pattern practice.
Tip: The rollback is a stop, a pivot, and a departure fused into one movement. Practice each piece separately before combining.
