A half halt is very important when you want to slow down, speed up or remind your horse who is in control.
A well executed half halt could be the difference between jumping a fence and knocking the top bar because your horse wasn't concentrating.
This article shows how to give the aid to perform a half halt, as well as making sure the horse is reinforcing your aid, by acknowledging.
Using your outside hand, squeeze and release the rein, like you are squeezing a sponge.
Step 1
Give the reins a squeeze while trotting, as you can see the horse respond better. You should feel like you are 'milking a cow'. In trot you should be able to feel the horse slow its impulsion down, and when you are doing it right, the horse will feel as though it is hardly moving.
Step 2
Keep a gentle contact with the bit and the horse's mouth while trotting. When you ask for a half halt, think 'slow' and then give a squeeze, (not a tug as this will make the horse hard and sore. By squeezing each rein at a different time, the horse doesn't fight from the slight pressure, and you get a better response.
Step 3
Use your seat and sit deep and long. Like when cantering, you should sit like a sack of potatoes, (deep and heavy, not bouncy). By sitting deep you are putting more weight onto the horses back and in the process slowing the pace.
Step 4
When the horse "yields" and softens in the bridle, reward him by lightening your grip on the reins. This will help him round his neck and topline.
Step 5
Look for more impulsion after you have half-halted. You should be going slower, but have a more active trot. This active trot is what you need to be able to perform the higher level dressage movements such as piaffe as well as jumping a tight course.
Step 6
Ask for a canter when you are ready, and let your horse out. Don't continuously squeeze, just squeeze when you first ask, once the horse half halts, stop. If you continue, the horse will stop and may even become grumpy, because you will probably be hurting his mouth.
Step 7
Try half halting in canter, and notice that your strides become shorter. Many people hang onto the reins to get this, but you should not hang onto the reins, as this will make the horses mouth sore.
Step 8
Come back to a trot, then a walk. This will probably be the end of the lesson if your horse is just starting to learn half halts, but make sure you change direction. Keep in mind that you want your horse to push out as well. After you half halt and the horse is moving slower, ask for a forward trot to canter. Then bring the horse back after a few laps of the ring. Keep the first three to five lessons to half an hour, so your horse doesn't get bored. Change the routine, and try using barrels and turns to make it interesting.
Step 9
Try half halts and jumping after about six lessons, if you feel confident enough.
Step 10
Use trot poles and small cavelettis, spacing them apart by about twelve feet. This will ensure the horse doesn't stumble when you canter over the poles.
Step 11
Use only two poles, one at the start and one at the end. This way you can count the canter strides.
Step 12
Trot over the poles and see how many rises you can put in between the poles. Start by going normal speed, e.g. twelve trot strides. Then half halt and try again, this slower pace will mean you can get more strides in. Try a faster trot also, and see how many trot strides you can get.
Step 13
Try at a canter and get your horse to slow and then speed up, and count the strides. When you become more advanced, you will be able to get many more strides in. This is how people get their horses to canter on the spot, but this is only for an experienced horse and rider.
Step 14
Raise the jumps to about 30cm at some point.
Step 15
Approach the jump. At about 12 to 20 feet before, half halt and push forward. This will increase your horse's impulsion and will mean a better jump frame. Try this a few times in different directions. Try turning after each jump in a different direction to keep the horses lead different.
Step 16
Work for about half an hour to 45 minutes on this jump training and then you should rest your horse.
Step 17
Try this at a showjumping competition. Half halt when your horse is going too fast, or when you are jumping a high fence, as this increases your impulsion and helps the horse get over the obstacle. Make sure you don't ride for long hours, as the horse will get sore. Try to incorporate other activities into your training: jumps, poles, bending, barrels, and pair riding. Keep to a slow pace, speed up, and then come back again. The horse will respond faster and you will be able to get the middle paces rather than just trot.
Tips
- Use your legs to ride into your halts, and transitions up and down, this makes your horse move with more urgency rather than "oh, OK stopping now"!
- By using your weight a little, you can teach your horse half halts by squeezing and leaning back a little, until he just responds to the squeeze, then later, just the slightest movement of your body.
- A harder squeeze may be needed with hard mouthed horses. But never excessive squeeze or yank on the reins.
Warnings
- ALWAYS wear a safety helmet and boots
- Have an experienced rider, or instructor available when training and first trying half halts, so they can help you with any questions.
- A half halt is meant to make a horses mouth softer as well as to check him back. Don't pull on his mouth, or he'll pull back.
- Always have your jumps readily able to fall.
- Never jump something you aren't comfortable with, and if your horse refuses, lower it a bit and jump it.
- Don't mix up the commands, when you ask for a half halt, don't push and pull, as the horse will simply refuse to listen!
- Never advance to a higher pace before you are confident and in total control of the slow and lower movement.
Things You'll Need
- Horse
- Saddle
- Bridle
- Riding Instructor or knowledgeable horse person
- Helmet
- Riding Boots
- A Video recorder may be handy so you can watch your horse perform the half halts, so you get an idea of what you are asking him to do.
