Half-Halts: How often do you do them and when?

Laura F · Well Schooled

Half-Halts: How often do you do them and when?

Sonia · Well Schooled

I was always told by coach that the half halt was to be used for 2 reasons. One to re-balance the horse and two, to prepare it for a transistion. You should feel the horse and when it's coming unbalanced, a half-halt should be applied. There really is no set time or place that a half halt should be applied, it's really all in the feel and how your horse is going.

I hope I explained that so you can understand?

horsepix · Foal

Sonia wrote:

I was always told by coach that the half halt was to be used for 2 reasons. One to re-balance the horse and two, to prepare it for a transistion.

Me too. But, if you think about it, you're constantly transitioning. Bending line to strait line, strait line to bending line, transitions within gaits, etc. The half-halt is a near constant tool in my bag. It is my way of telling my horses that "Hey...pay attention because something is going to change soon."

Laura F · Well Schooled

then how do you know if the half-halt has worked? I've heard the expression that it has to "come through", but what does that mean? Does the horse get lighter in front? Collect more?

dbliron · Advanced

Like Horsepix, I'm riding 1/2 halts to some degree more or less all the time, to keep my horse in balance and ensure that the hindlegs are stepping up to my seat/hands consistently. I don't think of riding them to prepare for transitions at all - I'm riding them to build/maintain the balance all the time.

You know if your 1/2 halt has gone "through" if the horse lightens in your hand when you give following the 1/2 halt, and when you feel the back round up under you and the balance shift (even if only momentarily) up through the withers as a result of an activated and slightly lowered hindquarter. When you are learning to ride effective 1/2 halts, and your horse is learning to respond correctly, you will find that you won't get that feeling very often, and that it's sometimes so fleeting that you'll miss it. That's a normal part of progression, and quality practice will teach you both the feel and the response.

spirithorse · Advanced

I find that I use half halts to regain the attention of my mare. I find that half halts are more useful in that aspect than having to do with my position or the horse's position. It is sayin to the horse "PAY ATTENTION" biggrin

Queenrider · Advanced

Jane Savoie has an excellent video"Half-halts Demystified". Watch it to have your questions answered. In a normal 30 minute riding session you should be doing hundreds! Half-halts come in various "strengths" as well.