38 Moments To Half-Halt

38 Moments to Half Halt
Good moment to apply the half-halt. Photo Credit: J. Boesveld

What does it feel like to get on your young horse's back for the first time?

Excitement.

Anticipation.

Nervousness!

If you've owned him since he was a foal, you might have waited two, three or four years before the breathtaking moment!

From that very first ride, to the subsequent weeks of awkward walk, to trot and finally canter - and then for the rest of the horse's life - there is really one thing that needs to be managed at all times while under saddle.

You guessed it: the horse's balance.

Which of course also includes your balance. In fact, everything we do on top of that horse will affect his balance, so we have to be equally obsessed with our own balance even while we help him maintain his.

Balance is a major issue for many reasons:

  • Physical: Lack of balance can cause all sorts of harm to the horse in the long term. Think of leg and tendon injuries, stumbling, back pain and so much more.
  • Mental: Sensitive horses especially react to lack of balance. Note the horse's expression when he is on the forehand or tight and tense through the back. Of course, there are more subtle signs like teeth grinding or pinned ears.
  • Rider Discomfort: Finally, the rider should be able to actually feel the imbalance, whether through uncomfortable movement, jarring through the gaits or general all-over body tension which creates the "cardboard back" that is difficult to sit to.

So how can you maintain balance, you ask?

The half-halt.

We've discussed the half-halt in detail in previous articles. This time, though, we're going to look at when we need to apply the half-halt. If we are interested in preserving balance while we ride the horse, it all comes down to the timing.

Time the half-halt correctly during  the horse's movement. In general, you want to time your aids while the inside hind leg is up off the ground (so the leg is free to move).

Also, time the half-halt so it occurs between the various movements. Many people say you should ride "half-halt to half-halt" - as in, the half-halts begin and end each and every movement (= changes of balance). If you think this must mean that you are constantly using half-halts, you're right!




When exactly should you balance (rebalance/catch the energy/give a "heads up")? Here are 38 moments in a ride that you could use the half-halt.

  1. Before the walk to halt
  2. After the halt to walk
  3. Before/after the trot to walk
  4. Before/after the canter to trot
  5. Before/after the trot to canter
  6. Before/after the walk to trot
  7. Before a corner in the ring
  8. After a corner in the ring
  9. Before a turn
  10. After a turn
  11. Before a circle begins
  12. Halfway through the circle
  13. Before the circle ends
  14. A few strides after the circle
  15. Before the "sit down" in trot/canter
  16. After the "sit down" in trot/canter
  17. Before a change of direction
  18. After a change of direction
  19. Before going into a straight line
  20. Halfway through the straight line
  21. After the straight line, in preparation for the next movement
  22. Before going downhill
  23. While going downhill
  24. Before positioning into the shoulder-in/haunches in
  25. During the shoulder-in/haunches-in
  26. After the shoulder-in/haunches-in
  27. Before the leg yield/half-pass
  28. During the leg yield/half-pass (especially to help the hind end catch up with the front end)
  29. After the leg yield/half-pass
  30. Before a spook
  31. During a spook
  32. Any time to refocus attention
  33. Before an increase in engagement
  34. After an increase in engagement
  35. Any time to regain balance
  36. Before any new movement
  37. Before slowing down the tempo (regardless of gait)
  38. Before speeding up the tempo (regardless of gait)

I considered leaving out the "before" and "after" qualifiers but then I decided I wanted to make it very specific. We tend take the half-halt for granted and use it sometimes while forget about it at other times. In this case, I wanted to highlight the frequency that it needs to be used - basically, before and after everything!

Which brings us back to the first ride on the young horse. Even while he is finding his feet and learning about gaits, gait changes and what our aids mean, it is our responsibility to help him maintain the best balance possible during each phase of his education. Introduce the half-halt fairly early in his riding career and keep using it through all of his riding life!

Do you have more to add to the list? Comment below.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions. 

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

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The Art of Slowing Your Horse’s Leg Speed Down Without Losing Energy

Many horses tend to just go faster faster when you ask for more energy. They translate leg aids to leg speed, thereby coming more to the forehand, heavier on the reins and less balanced.

We often talk about how good tempo is one of the most basic aspects of good riding. When you find the "right" tempo for your horse, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover that the balance and weight can improve with little effort on your part. Your reins lighten up. You stop feeling like you're on a roller coaster going down.

In our previous article, we talked about why you should help your horse slow the legs down. Now, let's see how you can establish a calmer, more reasonable tempo that will allow your horse to swing more through the back, stride deeper under the body and carry the rider's weight with better strength.

1. Slow Down the Legs

Sounds easy and fairly obvious. First off, just get the horse to stop the leg speed. Do this fairly quickly. In other words, don't let the horse go around the ring a few times before you start to ask him to slow down.

As soon as your horse speeds up, slow him down. It is your job to be as clear as you can be in your aids. Explain to him that your impulsion aids do not translate into leg speed. Teach him that he can accept your aids without feeling like he has to brace, go faster, or otherwise become uncomfortable.

Some horses need more convincing than others to slow down. It depends on how sure they are about running "away" from your aids - if you have been letting them run for a long time, you will have to repeat and be patient. Do as much as you need, but as little as possible to get the legs to slow down. This is the first step.

2. Accept Under Power

The next thing that usually happens is that the horse thinks that he has to stop everything. Maybe he breaks to a walk or halt. Maybe he just does this low energy, super strung out under power trot.

But there is more to it than that. Because if you just slow the legs down, you will likely lose a lot of the energy at the same time. In that case, the horse moves his legs slowly, but continues to arch his back and drop his neck because he has to. There is no energy available for him to lift his back to carry the weight of the rider.

So it isn't really only about slowing the legs.

The key to finding the horse's ideal tempo is to slow the legs while maintaining energy.

If, after you slow down the legs, you feel like you and your horse have fallen into quicksand, and each step feels like it has to drag to the next step, you know that's not what you wanted.

Here are the steps to finding energy while slowing down.

3. Gently Allow More Energy

If you soften your body and begin to move along with the horse, he will often offer more energy once he settles into the rhythm. You should just ride when he offers an increase in impulsion. Pet him lightly when you feel him take initiative.

If the horse doesn't offer, then ask in increments. When the horse goes to speed his legs, half-halt to slow down again. Ask for more energy but half-halt the speed. Do this over and over again until the horse maintains the leg speed but starts to engage through the hind end.

Keep in mind that you are part of the equation here too. If you ask for energy but then speed up your posting rate, then the horse will automatically speed up his legs to keep up. So when you ask for energy, make sure you "hover" on the forward phase of the post just a split second longer. Don't fall back to the saddle - carry your own weight down slowly enough to not disrupt the horse's speed.




4. Find the Balance Between Slow But Strong

Sometimes, the horse might slow down and not even know that he can increase his energy. This horse needs gentle encouragement to allow the energy through his body. 

Other times, the horse might fluctuate between fast/slow/fast/slow. In this case, it's your job to be the metronome for the horse, and to dictate the slower leg speed after you ask for more energy. This horse might become confused because he is sure that your leg/seat aids mean faster leg speed. You have to take the time to change your "language" so that he understands that increased energy does not mean increased leg speed. This horse might need weeks of practice before he is convinced that leg speed is not what you're after.

5. Ride With Commitment

Once you find the energy, you have to ride differently. You can't just push him along and let him brace. So you have to hold your own weight, release a little more through your own back, control your post in the slower rhythm, and basically "be there" with your horse in an energy-but-not-speed feel.

It's Easier Said Than Done!

As with most things in riding, changing your internal speed, increasing your internal energy and putting it all together can be quite the challenge. Because, as with all things riding, it starts with you. But it is possible and even if you've never thought about the horse's leg speed, you can do it with some intention.

You know you're on the right track when your horse takes his first few "swinging" steps in slowness. You can feel it through the saddle, with a sudden trampoline-y feeling that many riders describe as a "swing". Maybe your horse arches his neck a bit, lifting the base of his neck and stretching over the top.

You know you're getting it when he gives you a snort, and his expression softens or his ears point softly forward.

And you're definitely there if you find your reins just got longer miraculously on their own, because the horse just rounded and let his energy travel over his topline. (In this case, gently take up the loose rein because you don't want the bit to suddenly move in the horse's mouth.)  

How do you slow our horse's legs down? Let us know in the comments below.

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions. 

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

Click here to read more and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

Horse Listening

I don't believe in putting my work behind a paywall. But there are expenses in every venture. If you really liked this article, consider tipping us! Your tip will help me keep producing more riding TIPS (pun!) with free access to everyone. With thanks for reading!

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Riding gives us the place to just be.
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Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!
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