Riding half-halts
QHow do I know when I’ve half-halted correctly? My instructor often tells me to half-halt before a transition or movement, but I’m not sure I’m doing it right. Becca Dawson, Lewes
Karin says... Half-halt may not be the same for every person in every situation. Basically, it’s a means of bringing a horse back into balance, and how to achieve this depends on how and why the horse and rider are out of balance in the first place. Often this phrase is heard when the instructor is seeing the pace as too fast to achieve a good transition or movement, so the horse’s balance is too forward. There are many ways in which a rider may be out of balance. Within the Ride With Your Mind network we don’t ‘teach half-halt’. Instead we organise the rider to organise their horse. When your horse rebalances himself (a half-halt), we draw your attention to the fact that this has happened and what you may have changed to achieve it. You can practise these techniques both on the ground and in the saddle to get a feel for correct position and strengthen your core.
DON’T…
Lean forwards or backwards from the vertical position
Hollow or round your back
Grow tall, breathing into upper chest
Push down in the stirrups, lifting up your seat bones
Pull back on the reins
Take your thighs off and go ‘bum heavy’
INSTEAD…
Stay on the vertical — shoulders, hips, ankles all aligned
Keep front and back of body the same length
Keep your ribs down, breathing into your lower belly
Keep your feet light, seat bones down
Passive resist — a short hold/resist
Keep your thighs on the saddle, supporting your bodyweight