Does your horse resist, fall forward, stumble, or buck when you initiate transitions between walk, trot, or canter? If so, learning to use the half halt might be the solution you’ve been looking for. The half halt is essential for smooth transitions and is as natural as walking. Horses and humans perform half halts throughout their day, though most people aren’t aware of it.
A half halt is similar to the moment you pause at the front door and wonder if you left the keys on the dining table. It’s that split-second when you decide whether to turn back or continue forward. Another instance is when you’re getting out of a chair, and you re-arrange your feet to balance before rising. The half halt is an unconscious, spontaneous re-balancing reaction that prepares you to change direction or speed.
Horses use half halts to prepare for changes in movement. For instance, while walking in the pasture, they may hear a dog bark and instinctively half halt to rebalance before cantering, changing direction, or continuing their stroll. These small half halts help horses move fluidly and avoid stumbling.
If riders don’t use half halts to signal a change in movement, direction, or gait, horses will struggle to rebalance for new activities. Our task is to teach our horses what a half halt is so they can rebalance and move fluidly from one activity to another.
I explain the half halt to my horse while he’s on the lead rope walking beside me. I teach him to be attentive to my voice, body language, energy level, and breath. First, I synchronize my steps with his front feet, matching steps like musicians in a marching band.
To initiate the half halt, I count the last three strides before each transition. If I’m walking on the left side of my horse, I say “One” as our left feet touch the ground. When our right feet touch the ground, I say “an’.” As our left feet touch the ground again, I say “Two,” and so on. It goes like this: “One – an’ – Two – an’ – Three – AA-ND.” I pronounce “AA-ND” clearly and slightly louder, accompanied by a gentle squeeze (not pull) of the lead rope. My body language changes, too; I draw my sternum up as I inhale deeply and momentarily shorten my stride.
I adjust the tone and energy of “AA-ND” depending on the movement that will follow. For a less energetic gait or a halt, I lower my energy and tone, making it sound like “AA-nd.” When asking for a halt, I exhale, relax my body, say “Rest,” and gradually come to a complete standstill while my horse matches feet with me. As my horse slows, I say “Good,” and when he stops, I say “Nice” and give him a small edible reward. After a few tries, my horse may halt even before I say “AA-ND.” I then adjust my voice and energy level and might follow “AA-ND” with commands like “Walk on” or “Trot,” rewarding him when he moves with me.
For transitions to a more energetic gait, such as from walk to trot, I raise my energy and tone, saying “aa-ND.” I then use the same energy for the next movement, such as “aa-ND, TRR-ot.”
When connected by the longe line, my horses and I also match feet, and I remind them that we will half halt together there as well. This helps the horse make smooth, calm transitions along with me.
We practice the same technique when I’m mounted. I count the last three strides: “One – an’ – Two – an’ – Three – AA-ND.” While saying “AA-ND,” I squeeze the reins, pull my stomach toward my spine as I inhale. As I exhale, I release the reins and ask for the next movement using my voice and other aids.
After learning the half halt, your horse will respond to a simple squeeze of the reins, a straight posture, and an inhale, by rebalancing and preparing to perform his best for you
By Chris Forté
Further reading related to half halts: