One of the most overlooked—but essential—skills in reward-based training is teaching pause. A well-structured pause system creates clear communication between horse and trainer, reduces frustration, and helps training sessions flow more smoothly.

Why is Pause important?

Over-arousal is a common challenge in food-based training. We want our horses to be engaged and enthusiastic, but not so excited that they struggle to focus, think, or regulate their emotions.

Teaching your horse to pause helps prevent issues such as:

• Mugging and crowding – No more unwanted nudging or searching for treats.
• Frustration and guesswork – Your horse knows when to engage and when to wait.
• Tension and over-arousal – A reliable pause allows your horse to reset and stay in a learning state.
• Confusion during transitions – Smooth, clear shifts between active training and downtime.

Pause is at the core of a well-functioning training system. It helps your horse understand when training is “on” and when it’s “off,” creating predictability and a confident starting point for active learning.

How do we build a strong Pause?

Pause is not about withholding food or correcting the horse—it’s about offering choice, relaxation, and structure.

In the beginning, pause often looks like your horse eating hay while you stand nearby. It’s a setup that gives your horse a real choice:

➡️ Engage in training and receive reinforcement
➡️ Pause and still access reinforcement from the environment

This approach builds:

• Choice and control – The horse decides when to participate.

• Emotional balance – Training becomes safe and predictable.

• Trust in the process – Your horse doesn’t feel pressured to perform or interact for food.

A well-trained pause allows the horse to communicate their needs—even before you’ve built a full repertoire of reward-based behaviors.

Why Pause training works

Pause training is one of the most powerful tools for reducing frustration and building independence. It teaches your horse that:

• Reinforcement is available even without constant engagement.

• Taking a break is safe and rewarding.

• They have exit points—clear ways to opt out without negative consequences.

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A horse that understands pause training is:

✅ More relaxed
✅ More confident
✅ More independent
✅ Less reliant on the trainer for constant cues

In the Reward Based Riding School all training starts from Pause in the beginning. Later on when we helped the horse and the trainer to create a good emotional setting for training, pausing can look in a million different ways. But being meticulous about pause training in the beginning makes all the difference.