FLATWORK FEBRUARY #23: RIDING A GOOD HALT

A good halt involves a horse being straight and attentive, with each leg making up the corner of a rectangle (i.e. the front legs in a line and the back legs in a line). Ideally, you want your horse to stand with his hooves under his shoulders and hips, not out behind.

To help you achieve a good ‘square’ halt, your horse needs to be travelling forward with impulsion and straightness into the halt. Being on a soft, comfortable contact and having your horse engaged behind will make executing a good halt much simpler. It is essential to remember a transition to halt, from any gait, is ridden from behind; it is not about pulling your horse to a halt!

It is a good idea to practice your halts against the wall of the arena, to begin with as this can help with the straightness. Plan where you want to halt and sit deeper into your saddle and stop your hips from following the horse’s movement. Remember to use your legs and a soft hand to support him in the actual transition; as soon as your horse halts, relax your rein aid. If he is not ‘square’, you can ask him to take a half step forward with either leg by gently using your leg. It is vital to step forward to square up the halt rather than move backwards; the horse must always be thinking forward.

We hope these tips for a ‘square’ halt help you score a few extra marks in your next dressage test.