How do you ask for the first sliding stops and what should you look for?

The first asks for a sliding stop should be introduced gradually and from speeds that are moderate rather than full gallop, allowing the horse to discover the physical experience of the slide incrementally rather than being committed to a full-speed stop before he understands what is being asked. The most common mistake in introducing stops is asking from too much speed too soon, which produces a horse that braces, stiffens, or uses his front legs to stop rather than locking the hind legs and sliding through. From a moderate hand gallop on a straight, relaxed rundown, the stop is asked by sitting deep — pushing the seat into the saddle and bracing slightly against the stirrups — while saying whoa in the same deep, commanding tone established during ground and slow work. The seat and voice ask first, and the hands follow only if the horse does not respond to the seat and voice alone. When the hands are needed, they apply a steady, straight backward pressure on both reins simultaneously — not a seesaw or a side-to-side motion, but a straight back pull that says stop going forward — and release completely the moment the horse begins to comply. In the first correct stop attempts, look for the hind legs to step under the body as the horse slows — the characteristic dropping of the hindquarters that precedes and produces the slide. A horse that stops correctly will visibly sink behind as the hind legs lock and slide forward, with the front legs walking forward as the body slides. Even a few feet of slide in the early attempts is evidence that the horse is finding the correct body position. A horse that stops by stiffening all four legs simultaneously, by leaning on the forehand, or by braking abruptly without any sinking behind has not yet found the correct position and needs more foundation work before speed is increased. After each stop, allow the horse to stand quietly for a moment before asking him to walk forward and begin again. This standing rest communicates that the stop is a place of comfort and reward — the pressure of the rundown and the effort of the stop end in rest, which teaches the horse to seek the stop rather than avoid it. Walking forward quietly after the stop, rather than immediately spinning or turning, also gives the horse's muscles time to recover and prevents the soreness that can develop when back-to-back stops are asked without adequate rest.