406 | Harnessing the Power of the Half Halt

06/22/15 • 12 min

The half-halt is one of the most useful aids you have in your toolkit as a rider. However, many riders are not utilizing this subtle yet powerful communication to its full potential.

The half-halt should be one of the earliest things that riders learn to master when learning to ride their horse. It is a vital part of riding well and being able to perform accurate, balanced movements with your horse.

However, while many riders understand the concept of the half-halt in theory, unfortunately, the carrying out of the actual movement leaves a lot of room for improvement.

The half-halt is essentially a rein check or a postponement. You are asking your horse for his undivided attention and letting him know that something is about to happen.

When ridden correctly, the half-halt can be used to re-balance your horse, to ask him for his attention, prepare him for an upcoming movement, to ask for more self-carriage or collection, to steady or slow him down, to set up transitions and, in fact, should be sprinkled generously throughout your ride from start to finish.

Additional Resources for Equestrians:-

The half-halt is one of the most useful aids you have in your toolkit as a rider. However, many riders are not utilizing this subtle yet powerful communication to its full potential.

However, while many riders understand the concept of the half-halt in theory, unfortunately, the carrying out of the actual movement leaves a lot of room for improvement.

The half-halt is essentially a rein check or a postponement. You are asking your horse for his undivided attention and letting him know that something is about to happen.

Additional Resources for Equestrians:-

Previous Episode

396 | Learning to Slow Down Over Fences

Does your normally relaxed, sane, and rhythmic horse turn into his version of a racehorse each time he rounds a corner and spots anything that resembles a jump when you are riding? Your quiet calm ride turns into a flat-out gallop, resembling the rush for the finish post on the final furlong of Aintree... (minus the cheering crowds!)

Unfortunately, horses rushing or racing over fences is a common problem for riders. And one that, once all pain or discomfort has been ruled out as the cause, only patience, time, and consistent correct schooling can help remedy and slow down your jumping experience.

Why Do Horses Rush?

Rushing over jumps may begin to become a habit because of lots of varied triggers for different horses and riders. One of the more common ways is due to a lot of riders becoming anxious over fences. This is also true for the horses. They pick up on this anxiety and become a little tenser themselves.

This feeds the rider's anxiety, which in turn feeds the horses. A vicious cycle is created between horse and rider every time a fence appears on the horizon

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Next Episode

411 | Simplifying the Shoulder In

Does the thoughts of riding shoulder in leave you feeling less than confident in your riding abilities. Are you a little unsure about the angle, the bend, and the degree of collection required in order to successfully ride the movement? Shoulder in is super for encouraging suppleness and collection in your horse. However, if ridden incorrectly, things can quickly begin going the opposite way of your desired results...

Shoulder in is a great movement to begin really flexing and strenghtening your horse. However, for many riders it seems far too complicated to even consider riding.

Shoulder in is a lateral movement and when ridden correctly, will entail your horse bending around your inside leg, with the shoulders at an approximately 30-degree angle to the side of the track or arena. With the shoulders in, you will then ask your horse to move forward on the line, moving away from the direction he is bent. It is also important to mention that the bend should be consistent from head to tail, not broken or over-bent in places.

Additional Resources for Equestrians