Thanks to a request, I’m writing about the half-halt. Ever notice how every definition you read starts with the disclaimer that it’s the most misunderstood concept in riding? Not very encouraging. It goes on to say that it’s a cue that combines both whoa and go. How hard could that be? There’s squeezing and driving and pulling, but not too much. Eyebrow squint. WikiHow has an article about how to do the half-halt in twelve easy steps. Are you kidding me?
Disclaimer: I love the discipline of dressage, but sometimes they make it sound a little harder than it is. (It’s okay, I’m sure they think I’m a little “simple” from time to time, too.) Dressage uses complex concepts, described with intellectual precision. I learned half-halts this way, but it’s enough to make a rider seize-up in the saddle with over-think-itis, a common dressage malady. Especially if you’re passionate about riding and try too hard, like I did.
The USDF definition: “The half–halt is the hardly visible, almost simultaneous, coordinated action of the seat, the legs and the hand of the rider, with the object of increasing the attention and balance of the horse before the execution of several movements or transitions between gaits or paces.”
It’s an okay set of words. I just wish they hadn’t included hands. Riders tend to over-do with their hands, so why encourage it?
Not surprisingly, horses have a definition that’s a bit more intuitive. I’m bilingual; let me translate for you.
A half-halt is a re-balancing. Can we all agree that balance is way more crucial for horses than we give credit? We want the horse to balance a bit of his weight back, but I hate to say “back” aloud because, again, we tend to use our hands too much to start with. Hands are over-rated; trust your body instead.
The mental part of the half-halt isn’t always talked about but that’s the mysterious part; the part beyond the physical cues. A half-halt is a mental re-balance as well. It’s an instant that affirms the connection between horse and rider in that moment, but also in the near future. It’s a blink of acknowledgment that the two of you are together, as well as a hint that something’s coming …wait for it. The challenge is timing. By the time we remember to half-halt, it’s too late, and the horse can’t respond in time.
To further confuse the horse and rider, there is a long list of actions used to ask for a half-halt, some big and bold, some invisible. Riders tend to like a dramatic cue using several body parts, physical strength, and a few math skills, while horses like the soft, silent kind. They taught me to do it their way.
The first rule about half-halts is that you must do it in time… think of it as a discipline of preparation. You might half-halt to begin to prepare for a transition. One more half-halt to actually prepare, and then the transition. A half-halt asks for his attention but it should feel light and happy to him, like it will be fun. “Oh goody, a trot’s coming…”
The physical part for the rider can be as simple as a breath because a breath resets the body. The inhale realigns your spine, your shoulders slide back as if you have a hanger in your shirt, which in turn realigns your arms and wrists. Let your hands rest. If anything, your hands slow an instant to feel the contact an extra second. Your seat straightens in the saddle. You can think of each of these things separately, because it’s harder, or you can take a big inhale for an upward transition and your body will follow naturally.
An exhale softens your body, stills your seat, slightly deflates your horse’s movement, and like a plane, you glide in for a soft landing. Use an exhale for relaxation or a downward transition, and melt any stray resistance.
If there is no response at all, ask again and perhaps add a slight tightening (upward) of your seat muscles or a loosening (downward). Does your horse respond? Praise him for his attention. Then breathe and cue small again, always trying for less. Think invisible.
I find a light pulse with my thighs backs up my breath even better than seat muscles for most horses… so an inhale, and if needed, a thigh pulse for more energy, or an exhale and thigh pulse for steadiness or relaxation.
At first your horse may have no idea what you are asking for. His response to you might feel like a dubious, “Huh?” Cheer his effort! This is about subtlety; a tiny half-cue that creates an energetic half-pause, lays the foundation for a relaxed transition. Give him time to figure that out.
Does your horse ever resist a cue from you because it seems abrupt to him? Perhaps he’s trotting in a relaxed rhythm, when suddenly, out of nowhere, there’s a canter cue –gasp, toss head, counter-bend, throw out a lead leg, and hope for the best. A well-timed half-halt is the antidote.
Then a few strides into the canter, he begins to speed up. Pull on his face if you want, but he’s probably tense in the poll already. Besides, you’re trying to have better hands. Think about a better rhythm in his canter. Breathe. Focus your body. Reset his speed and steady him as your body realigns. Yay, you did a half-halt.
If this seems entirely too easy and you need to make it harder, may I suggest taking up chess? It’s meant to be a war of the mind and there’s an opponent.
Regardless of the gait, and especially at the walk, if you half-halt kindly, with a generous reward when your horse responds, you might feel his back lift just a few millimeters. Reward him with a huge exhale and soft hands, because when he lifts his back a bit, your half-halt is on the way to becoming the cue to bring his head to the vertical without pulling. It’s this instant that makes you really… no, really… believe that a half-halt has mystical properties.
Half-halts aren’t trained in a day. Every horse is a slightly different individual. Every rider has a unique language. Rather than reading even more books about half-halts that eventually put both of you in a complete tense-halt about the topic, breathe and half-halt your own critical mind. Crank up the music, and while you and your horse are dancing, offer a half-halt. Ask your horse what he prefers, and then let yourself be trainable.
Anna Blake at Infinity Farm
Thanks for reminding us to breath;)
Happy Spring Rides,
Kathy
Always. Thanks, Kathy. Hooray for spring rides.
You’re welcome; it’s always about breathing. Happy spring rides to you, too, Kathy.
Beautifully written as always!
Simple, thoughtful and right on the mark.
Thanks so much Anna!!
Thanks for reading, Ellen.
Oh you explain that so we’ll! And maybe someday I’ll feel it, first step think it and practice, practice, practice.
Thanks
If you are doing it right, you almost don’t feel it. If it’s a thing big enough to disturb your horse, it isn’t a half-halt. Thanks, Doshia.
Ahh, the KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) Right up might alley. Thanks, Anna!
It’s all any human can hope for. Thanks, Lynell. 🙂
How wonderfully put.
Thank you… I love your name.
Dressage is so beautiful to watch. That is my role in dressage – “appreciator”. I enjoyed your message today, even though I wasn’t totally understanding every aspect of it for reasons stated above. I am always in awe of your writing – as evidenced in all three of your books. I look forward to the blogs and feel I understand how much time and thought goes into each and every one – although I probably REALLY have no idea. Having finished reading “Barn Dance”, the only part I didn’t like was just THAT: I finished it! I know I will go back and read many parts over and over again. Just want you to know that.
I wish I had had your blogs and books to read when I my own horse were such a big part of my life. I loved them beyond measure. I would have done better by them.
Also . . . love your photos. Today – the eye of a beautiful horse. Hard to beat that!
SO – THANKS for making a difference in so many ways.
Thank you, Jean. I hope we meet one day… and I know your horses knew your heart. This photo: I took a break from writing and went out this my phone. This is Namaste. Obviously. Thanks, Jean.
This is the best explanation I’ve ever heard & it DOES take away the mystery of confusion. 🙂
Yay. Just yay! Thanks, Mrs. Shoes.
We don’t use the words “half-halt” at our barn, really. But we do use the concept. It took me awhile to realize that’s what we’re really doing when the trainer says “ok, we’re going to trot, get ready, and then do it”. That few moments of preparing yourself also prepares the horse, without you having to consciously think about telling him about it. They know YOU’RE getting ready for something different, so they know they should be ready too.
The fun part is when you then transition to trot without feeling like you even physically cued him. You got yourself ready, and your brain said “ok I’m ready, let’s trot”, and he felt it, and did it. It’s not that you DIDN’T cue him- it’s just that your cue never got to the point of being “loud” because you took the moment to prepare, and he was listening for it.
Some people are masterfully executing half halts without even knowing it. It’s when they start TRYING to do them that things go awry. It’s a fine line we walk.
What a great comment, I couldn’t agree more!
Exactly!
JKS, your comment really is great. Thanks for sharing.
Because the half-halt always seemed so complicated, I never had the confidence to attempt it. But now I’m thinking I may be doing it already on the ground at liberty with my horse without even realizing it. When I want to get his attention and encourage more energy/speed, I inhale and say, “Ready?!?” with excitement and energy in my voice. If I add a thigh squeeze for the saddle, am I essentially doing what you’re describing? Downward transitions aren’t our problem… 😉
Just intent might be enough, see what your horse does. He might surprise you, but you are on the path. Thanks Michelle.
When you talk about it, it all seems so naturally simple and almost like a whisper that, are you there? Anticipation, inviting the horse’s curiosity and quietly looking forward to something new. If we were doing half halts with our best person, it might perhaps be a special look that would produce the same effect. I will always complicate something in my mind if it involves steps, but taken as a whole with a good feel just seems so much easier. Love your explanation.
Thanks. “Taken as a whole” is a good place to start. Somehow less intimidating to horses and riders.
Oh my gosh, I just thought of something that Ray said all the time! “just get a soft feel, and then ask your horse”. That is exactly what he was telling us to do, in your terms – “half halt”. Check in to make sure you’re both relaxed and together before the request comes. 🙂
Ray is a dressage master.
Thank you for this, Anna! I mention half-halts a lot in my current manuscript (for a children’s novel I’m working on) and this is really helpful. I’ll be doing some editing! Love your blog, it’s always interesting and insightful.
Yay! Start ’em off right. Thanks, Vivien.
I love your writing and read every blog and every blog is gold! Thank you so much for writing it.
(psst. If you don’t mind, there’s a typo here: “To further confuse the horse and rider, there is a long list of actions used to ask for a half-halt, some big and bold, some invisible. Rider’s tend to like a …” That “Rider’s” needs to lose the apostrophe.)
Brilliant as always! 🙂
Thank you, and thank you! (Corrected!)
I gave up reading about how to do half halts several years ago. Too confusing. But you have hit the mot important elements on the head: rebalancing and mental communication. There are so many different types of half halts needed in every ride. I think that over the years the most important thing I have learned is to keep my wrists relaxed. I know this is an oversimplification but for me it made all the difference. thanks for this informative post
Wrists, and even more so, jaws that are tense tell the story… Thanks Anne.
This is perfect! I had never thought of a purposeful breath as half-halt but I know that when I increase my awareness on my breath things flow much better and my mare goes more softly.
Big smile. Your mare taught you before me. Great comment.
I like the way you think! Horse always comes first in your posts! Plus, you have a natural way of explaining, Anna! Always a pleasure reading your work!
I have also put some work on my own blog. Maybe you would like to take a look at it sometime 🙂
Monika
Beautiful blog, Monika. Good for you!
I love this. I sent it to Melissa so she can help me with it.
Believe………and Magic Happens !
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Good luck, Donna!
I think I may be taking the advice about soft hands to the extreme and maybe I have no hands?? As my green mare is very mouth sensitive (i re-started in a rope halter but am trying to get her to accept a straight rubber bit at the same time). i try to never hang on her mouth but when I watch a video of me riding I worry that I am giving her too much room to interpret what I want, not enough direction. I know you hate a focus on the hands but could you write something about where that balance is? Too tight versus too giving? How do I know what’s right for her?
I really love what you write (just finished one of your books) but worry that I am at the too soft, too easy, let-her-get-away-with-too-much, end of the spectrum. And yet I am too rushed too so trying to hear and reward the “try” earlier. AHHH, too much in my head makes it all mush!
Keep breathing, Jill. I’d love to write about this… very soon. Thank you for the idea. In the meantime, rope halters have challenges of their own… if the “reins” are attached to the lead loop dangling from the halter, then she can NOT feel left and right clearly… and if you’re not clear enough with your legs in turns… well, try more of a side-pull sort of set up. We can talk bitless if you want, but for now, how about a web halter with reins attached to the rings (where the noseband and the side pieces attach). It’ll give her more comfort and clarity. This is a guess; I don’t know enough about you or her to know for sure, but give it a try. And relax. Green horses have lots of time. Thanks, again.
At the tender age of 45, when I began my quest with horses, I could not wrap my head around the concept of the half halt. A great mentor and friend of mine explained it to me as an essential polite communication between rider and horse. I’ve always imagined it as tapping the horse on the shoulder and saying “Excuse me, are you ready to try something different?”. My biggest challenge since has been in remembering to ALWAYS ask politely. Your suggestion of simply focusing on the breath makes ALWAYS so much more attainable. Thanks Anna!
In my mind: “Pardon me…” and yes, sometimes riding distracts us from riding politely. Great comment, Laurie.
This is very helpful, thank you!!
Thank you, and welcome!