How to Perform a Half Halt

Co-authored by Kathy Richardson

Last Updated: April 28, 2024

Half-halts improve your horse's concentration, increase fluidity of its movements, and build a stronger connection between you and your horse. The half-halt slows your horse's front end momentarily, while the back end continues at pace; the horse's frame compacts, creating a topline arch in which his balance is on the haunches rather than the forelegs. This shift in balance "wakes" the horse and makes him more responsive to signals from you (e.g., for a turn, a change in gait or speed, etc.). Timing is crucial to coordinate your aids, so you may find it best to learn the half-halt in stages. Ultimately, the half-halt differs slightly from rider to rider and horse to horse – have patience and consult our "Troubleshooting" section to help correct common problems.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Executing the Half-Halt

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Your body should be flowing with the movement of the horse's, rather than holding stiffly. Relax your shoulders up and back. This way, the horse can more easily sense signals from the seat.
2
Use your rein aid. When you're first learning the half-halt, it's likely you'll use your hands more than when you get accustomed to the signal. Let the signal be very slight: turn your wrists in to increase contact with the bit.
- Do not pull on the reins.
- You'll probably notice the horse lighten the bit and stride more evenly – however, this is most likely not a true half-halt (where the pace is maintained in the hind legs), but rather a disengagement of the hocks and consequent disruption of energy.
- If the horse hollows his back and raises his head, these are also signs that you need to continue to adjust your signal by engaging other aids.
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This signals the horse to deepen his hind-leg step.
4
Create a slight resistance in your seat to suggest a halt. Briefly tighten your lower back muscles and squeeze your rear end, as though you were sitting on a swing and propelling yourself forward.
- If your elbows are hanging at your sides, the slight change in your back should travel through your arms into the reins, giving the horse enough of a signal that you do not need to manipulate the reins at all.
5
When the horse shifts down, apply your driving aids. Once you sense a bit of "halt," signal to him to keep moving steadily forward. You may do this primarily with your seat or leg, or with the two in combination.
- Push your seat in a forward motion.
- Apply pressure with your leg lightly at the horse's side. Keeping your legs lightly against the horse's side throughout the half-halt helps ease the transition into driving forward.

Part 2

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Troubleshooting the Half-Halt

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1
Do not let the half-halt last longer than one stride. Pulling on the reins or bracing for too long against the horse may cause the horse to lean against your hands, rush off, or become unresponsive to your aids.
- If your half-halt was unsuccessful, try again in another stride, this time with a little more emphasis.
Remember, most of the half-halt signal comes from the seat and leg aids. You may find you don't need to do anything to the reins at all. If you do, rather than tugging on them, squeeze them gently as though squeezing a sponge.
Some horses need a half halt in the first strides of their cantor or trot in order to establish the rider's control over the pace. If you wait too long for the half-halt, the horse may have gathered too much momentum to execute it.
It's important that you have a precise concept of the half-halt signal and what each aid is telling the horse. Some say the half-halt is like talking to the horse, but you must know what you want to say. In short, "ho and go."^{[1]
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Part 3

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Practicing the Half-Halt

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1
Practice your seat aid at home before trying on the horse.
- In a seated position, push downward with your lower back and rear end as though you were on a swing and pushing it forward. This helps you get used to the half-halt signal.
- When you're ready, practice on the horse in a walk: squeeze your seat and apply just a light pressure to the reins.
- If the horse halts, reward it by gently scratching him and praising him.
- Keep practicing this until the horse responds to the seat aid with minimal (or no) rein pressure.
- When you've mastered that, repeat those steps from a trot.
- If the horse is confused, you can return to the walk-halt exercise to reinforce the meaning of the signal.
2
Build the horse's expectation to halt through with a trot-to-walk exercise. This simple exercise can help make the half-halt signal clear. In a way, both you and the horse are learning at the same time.
- In a dressage arena, ask for a transition from trot to walk at A, E, C and B.
- Walk a few strides only, move back to a trot.
- Repeat this for a few circuits. The horse will quickly learn the pattern and expect to slow down at the given letters.
- Next, at those letters begin to ask for a transition to walk, but at the last minute change your mind and stay in the trot.
- This method lets you give a small suggestion of half-halt, and since the horse is expecting the signal, he is likely to respond. When you tell him to continue, he'll rebalance and move forward.
3
Evolve your half-halt signal from a halt. Like the above exercise, this builds the horse's expectation of a change, this time working from a full halt. Try this if your horse doesn't respond to the exercise in Step 2, or use the two exercises in combination.
- Signal a full halt and let the horse rest for two minutes.
- Trot about 40 yards (37 m), then signal another full halt, resting again for two minutes.
- After trotting another 40 yards (36.6 m), start your halt signal, but as soon as you feel the horse shifting downward, drive him forward.

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Question

I just changed horses, and the new horse is extremely averse to aids, except in her mouth. Her sense of the reins is almost non-existent, and she is extremely fast, and I'm having trouble half halting with my body. Are there any tips for extra control?

Community Answer

Try strong but short half halts. When you do a constant pull, the horse tends to ignore you. Also, try to squeeze with your thighs, and be sure that you do not grip with your legs.

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How do I half halt when I am doing the rising trot?

Colie

Community Answer

Continue in the rising trot with the reins snug to the horse's head, and on every down-beat add more pressure through the reins to the horse's head.

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Do you half halt with the inside or outside rein?

Equestriangoose

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It will depend. As a beginner, you generally will half-halt on both reins. By the time you have to use an independent rein half-halt, you'll know how and on which rein to use it.

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Tips

The amount of each aid needed for a half-halt may depend on the horse, or even the day. Pay attention to how your horse is responding to different aids, and adjust your signal accordingly.

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Likewise, the half-halt varies slightly from rider to rider, depending on their individual physique. You'll need to practice to find what works best for you.

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Warnings

If possible, take a video recording of your horse performing half-halts so that you can get a clearer idea of the signal.

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Don't mix up the commands: when you ask for a half-halt, don't push and pull, as the horse will simply refuse to listen!

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Never advance to a higher pace before you are confident and in total control of the slow and lower movement.

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A half-halt is meant to make a horse's mouth softer as well as to check him back. Don't pull on his mouth, or he'll pull back.

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ALWAYS wear a safety helmet and boots

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Have an experienced rider or instructor available when first trying half-halts so they can help you with any questions.

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