Half Halts: Simplified

We have all heard it. This “mysterious” thing called a half halt. It seems on a regular basis there are new articles about “demystifying” the half halt as if it was an enigmatic subject that we could only hope to one day understand. What if I told you the half halt really isn’t as elusive as often claimed?

Ask a group of dressage riders what a half halt is and how to execute it and you will receive a variety of answers. The cause of the range of answers? The lack of true understanding of what a half halt is and how to execute one correctly. Often times we confuse the meaning of the half halt because we were taught a half halt is an elusive thing that can only be understood through the rider’s “feel.” Let me ask you this very question: “What is a half halt?” Which of the variety of answers have you been taught?

Let’s break it down:

What is a half halt? It’s a trick question, and the answer is in the name. It’s a half of a halt; an almost halt. Think of the half halt in terms of a vehicle coming to a stop sign. You know those times you “pause” at the stop sign, but don’t fully stop? You know the times you touch the break pedal, but don’t press down firmly? Admit it, we have all done it! That pause, that “almost halt” is your half halt. A rebalancing, a shifting of weight to the backend of the horse (or car). The half halt is a sophisticated and subtle form of communication between horse and rider. It’s how we balance and develop the horse’s movements. It’s how we talk to the horse through our aids, not our words.

Developing the Half Halt

Teaching a horse the half halt is not the same as teaching a dog to sit for it is not a trick. When a child learns how to speak they don’t start off by speaking in full sentences; they start off with a few words and grow their vocabulary over time. A child learning to speak is a long process that differs from child to child. This is the same when teaching a horse the half halt; it is a process for them to learn the subtle aids, and sometimes in the beginning of the training we have to over emphasize the half halt, just as we have to overemphasize how letters or words sound to children learning to read and speak. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a dressage horse trained. It takes time for them to learn the half halt and learn the communication from the rider. With all of that being said, here is how to train the half halt:

Step 1: Giving to Pressure

The first step, a prerequisite really, is that the horse must understand the basic fundamental of giving to pressure. For example, in regards to giving to the pressure of the hand/bit, when you close your fingers they must respond by softening their mouth. You can practice this even at a standstill. Pick up your reins and close both hands in a fist. The horse should respond by softening(giving) their mouth and neck. If the horse responds by bracing against your hand and coming above the bit, don’t give with your fingers rather maintain a consistent pressure until they soften. If your horse is very green at giving to pressure, close one hand only (outside rein), and with the other ask them to flex to the inside by taking and giving the inside rein. As soon as they soften, you must immediately soften your fingers and wrists. (***Note, I did not say release your fingers. If you release your fingers completely you destroy the communication link between your hand and the horse’s mouth. Softening your fingers is a reward, completely letting go of the rein says to your horse you have left the conversation).

Step 2: Transitions, Transitions, Transitions

Once your horse understands the basics of give to the pressure of the bit, now you can start training the half halt. Before we begin, it is important to understand that training the half halt is a process. A horse’s understanding and response to the half halt takes time and consistency to develop. It is important to think of the half halt as a communication continuously being developed and refined. With that being said, how do you develop this nuanced form of communication? Transitions.

Carl Hester was once quoted that he rides over 70 transitions within a horse’s 45 minute workout (including transitions within a gait). Why so many transitions? Simply put, to develop the horse’s understanding and reaction to the half halt. When executing a correct and balanced transition, the rider is continuously half halting to rebalance the horse through the transition. Let’s look at the simple walk-halt transition (or is it that simple?!)

Steps of the half halt — image created by author

Walk to Halt Transition

When asked to execute the walk halt transition the majority will abruptly halt by pulling on the reins. The horse will most likely halt but, through a lack of preparation from the rider, will lose his balance and fall on the forehand. Where many riders fall into this trap of unprepared transitions stems from the mindset of the rider. The rider views the transition as an event rather than a continuation of what came before it. A properly executed transition comes from the quality, reaction and balance of the preceding gait. In other words, the rider should feel the ability to do all other things within the gait or exercise they are riding.

Let’s go back to the walk to halt transition with our new mindset. With this change, the rider focuses on the walk itself, not the transition. With continuous half halts (remember, pulsing the hand in closed fist). The rider makes the walk smaller and increases the horse’s balance onto the horse’s hind leg; thus, controlling every step the horse takes. When asking for the halt the rider just closes their outside rein a bit more and deepens their seat. The horse, being completely in balance and focused on the communication from the rider, immediately halts. Because of the response to the half halt the horse is more balanced on their hind-end, not the forehand.

The above example is what you, as the trainer of your horse, is working towards. Training for this involves frequent transitions both between and within each gait. Think of training the half halt to a horse as constantly asking them the question, “are you with me?”

Your Role as the Trainer

As the trainer, you are responsible for the education of your horse. Here are a few tips to help make training the half halts (and anything!) more successful.

1. Be consistent: Consistency is a vital component to training a horse. Be consistent in your expectations of the horse. The horse should react by softening to the pressure of the rider’s closed hand and taking more weight on the hind leg. If there are inconsistent expectations that change every ride, the horse will not be able to understand or grasp the halt halt.
2. Self Discipline: This is probably the most influential and important qualities you, as the trainer, must implement in your riding. Self discipline is what creates consistency. In regards to the half halt, every time you close your hand into a half halt you have to be attentive as to what reaction you receive from the horse. Every time you close your hand on the rein the horse has to give. It is this attentiveness and self discipline that separates the good riders from the best.

The Half Halt is the communication link between horse and rider. Just as it takes time for a child to learn to talk, it’s a process for the horse to learn and develop their understanding of the half halt. Patience, consistency and self discipline are all qualities that are necessary in order to effectively train the half halt.