Half halt help!

[111ex111]

I know what a Half halt does, but Im not entirely sure how to actually do one! I've never been taught the proper way so could someone maybe explain to me?
here's what I know:
Keep your leg on and squeeze the reins for one stride, if your horse doesn't respond then try again on another stride.

Questions:
do you squeeze both reins? or either the inside or outside??
When hacking, how can you tell which is the inside and outside leg/rein?!

 

[nikCscott]

I squeeze the outside rein, but my trainer does a firmer outside/inside movement.

Whatever your horse understand he's probably got used to your cue. I'm no trainer though so sure other can offer so more advise on the matter

 

[ex racer rider]

Dont just squeeze with your reins, squeeze with your seat! Sit up tall, and squeeze your bum muscles (not thigh) in an upward motion, this should get you your half halt, if not try a little squeeze on poth reins

 

[momo79]

http://www.artofriding.com/articles/halfhalt.html
found this, it seems rather well explained.
I was trying to put it in my own words but the trouble with half-halts are that they become second nature when you are practiced at them and they are more about a 'feeling' than most other things we do with our horses, getting just the right feel on the rein, length to hold it for and when to repeat comes with practice.
It would probably be easier for an instructor to show you rather than have it explained to you on here. Get the instructor to demonstrate the action to take on the rein so you can get the 'feel'.

 

[Booboos]

It's a seat movement that can go horribly wrong if you overdo it with the reins. The best description of it I have read likened it to trying to get the horse to go up a step, it's whole front end has to come up if you are ever going to make it. It's more about creating more energy and then containing it so it should come from the seat/leg and it's better to create the energy and lose it out the front end at first than to start by restricting the front end with too much rein.

Ideally if you can get a lesson on a horse that knows how to collect a bit so that you can learn the feeling of the half-halt on a horse that gives you a ready response.