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| properly applied half-halts result in a horse in self-carriage |
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THE HALF-HALT
PURPOSE–
To balance a horse more over his hindlegs to improve his posture, and to prepare to execute any kind of change in direction, position, or gait
QUALITIES OF THE HALF-HALT–
The half-halt involves all three aids in varying degrees of pressure–the leg(s); the small of the back; and the hand(s)–
The leg is applied first, and can be a driving (lower) and/or a holding (upper) leg
The small of the back (referred to as the "Kreuz" in Germany) is applied second, and is a controlling and restraining aid
The (outside rein) hand is applied last, and is a receiving aid–when the contact is correct, and the half-halt is applied correctly on the part of the rider, there is no backward action of the hand...the position of the rein and bit is simply a "wall" of sorts to tell the horse where to step up to from behind
The entire sequence and application of all the aids in succession should last no more than one second–this is a very small amount of time–followed by the release of the aids (the release is the most important part of the half halt)
Half halts may be applied individually, meaning one half halt that results in a good response from the horse, or may be repeated in slow or quick succession, but always must be in the rhythm of the horse (explained in "further tips"below), AND there must be a distinct "release" after each or in between each of the half-halts
The individual aids (leg, seat, outside rein) are usually not applied in equal strength (there is usually more emphasis on one, depending on the situation), almost never applied at the same time, and never applied rein-first!
The timing of the half halt and the pressure/strength AND release of the half halt must be practiced and refined continually.
FURTHER TIPS–
The leg is applied first because it is what drives the hindlegs further under the center of gravity. The timing is that the rider's leg is applied when the horse's inside hind leg (or outside hind leg in the case of the canter) is OFF the ground...this timing allows the hind leg(s) to swing further under the center of balance.
The seat (small of the back/kreuz) is applied second. It is the controlling or restraining aid and is applied when the inside hind leg (or both hind legs in canter) is on the ground...this timing encourages the horse to plant the leg a fraction of a second longer and bend the joints more deeply, resulting in a shifting backwards of the center of balance, allowing the withers of the horse to rise up through the shoulder sling, which gives the feeling that the horse is lighter in the front end, and the horse carries more of the weight in his hind legs, directing the energy upwards/forwards, not just faster forwards.
This new power/control is "received" into the outside rein, and the momentary increase of pressure into the rein(s) indicates to the horse to recycle the energy back into the power engine, and not just go faster forwards...it is kind of like placing a battery-powered toy truck against a wall, and the back wheels push into the wall, and the wall is "just there"–it doesn't push back against the truck, so the front end of the truck compresses against the wall. Of course, we want to give enough "room" in the front so that the horse goes forward in the amount of self-carriage that he is ready for, and doesn’t actually "climb the wall", or feel trapped and try to escape the forwards energy by quitting with the hind legs, losing the shoulders to the side, swinging his haunches, coming above or behind the bit, or in the most claustrophobic instance, rearing. This does not mean we drop the reins or give TOO much, because then the effect of the half halt is lost. This is a very fine line, and requires a lot of practice and considered experimentation on the part of the rider--this is where a good, qualified instructor comes in very handy!
One last note about the half-halt...someone told me it was once asked of Alois Podhajsky (Director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna during WWII) how many half-halts he used in a typical session on a horse? It is said that he paused for a moment, and then replied, "at least several hundred" in an approximate 45 minute work session. SEVERAL HUNDRED!
Remember, the half-halt is to ask the horse to balance more and to prepare for ANY change in direction or bearing–consider how many times during our work periods we ride through corners, do circles, change direction, change bend, transitions between AND within gaits, lateral movements, collection, collection, collection............half-halt, half-halt, half-halt!
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