How to teach a half pass?

[NicoleS_007]

Basically how do you teach a half pass? Horse has finally got the leg yield after months of lets say not very good ones but is finally straight through the body Also started teaching shoulder in a whils ago and we've got the right rein sorted and a kinda poopy left one ... as usual!! And were finally getting somewere with the flying changes over a pole just took about a billion attempts to get one but now gets it first time over the pole. So how do i ask fo a half pass? Iv tried coming off a circle and using the leg yield aids in the opposite direction but we kinda just go straight!!!

 

[vicky86]

You firstly need to work on travers (quarters in) you need to take sure this is good as it is the foundation of half pass.

Once this is solid I then start to teach actual half pass by doing 10m loop from say M (or any quarter marker)heading back to the track at F, as I head back on the straight line to F I ask of quarters in towards the way you are going (so in this case to the left) making sure you keep the head and neck pointing toward F. Doing the first part of the loop gives you the bend around the leg anyway so you just have to think of trying to maintain this bend but ride the neck and shoulders towards the track. Try not to ask for too much at the start just literally think of riding the movement but slightly ask for the quarters to come around your leg nearest the track (outside leg).

This is how I teach mine intially as it makes it easy for them as you are not asking for too much angle. You need to remember its not actually a sideways movement as in your not actually asking the front legs to cross its all about bringing the quarters around your leg.This is what ive been taught anyway hope it along the same line as others. Im sure smeone else will come up with a much more simpler way of explaining it - I wish I could draw diagrams .

Sorry if that sounds hard to follow ive never been very good at explaining myself :-/ but thought id give it ago.

 

[RubysGold]

I went to a demo (cant remember where now) and they did lots of leg yield, shoulder in, travers etc before the half pass. And then when the horse was nice and supple and warmed up, they set out some poles diagonally across the arena.
So they turned to go up the diagonal alongside the poles, and asked for shoulder in along those poles.
I hope that makes sense lol.

 

[Laura1812]

A great book is Classical Schooling with the Horse in Mind by Anja Beran

Gives loads of detail on teaching all the lateral movements and stuff, I wouldnt be without mine!

 

[NicoleS_007]

Thanks for the replys me thinks we shall start with the travers then and see how we get on!!!

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

If you try and you just end up going straight, a really easy way to teach it is to go down the centre line, start leg yielding towards the track, midway just put him in a shoulder fore position for a few strides and just continue towards the track in half pass! This is really easy for the horse as he was going towards the track anyway, so he doesn't have to 'understand' that bit - just the different flexion.

 

[NicoleS_007]

If you try and you just end up going straight, a really easy way to teach it is to go down the centre line, start leg yielding towards the track, midway just put him in a shoulder fore position for a few strides and just continue towards the track in half pass! This is really easy for the horse as he was going towards the track anyway, so he doesn't have to 'understand' that bit - just the different flexion.

Ohhh il give that a go. Tbh i think it is the flexion that confusses him, if i flex his neck to prepare for a leg yield i can feel him anticipating but if i do it the opposite direct he just goes blank!!!

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Yes, because he is confused, but he should get the idea if you change the flexion midway after the leg yield...he should 'get it' immediately because he is *already* going towards the track. Try it at least!

 

[PC Steele]

Basically how do you teach a half pass? Horse has finally got the leg yield after months of lets say not very good ones but is finally straight through the body Also started teaching shoulder in a whils ago and we've got the right rein sorted and a kinda poopy left one ... as usual!! And were finally getting somewere with the flying changes over a pole just took about a billion attempts to get one but now gets it first time over the pole. So how do i ask fo a half pass? Iv tried coming off a circle and using the leg yield aids in the opposite direction but we kinda just go straight!!!

Make sure you are not rushing too many moves too soon. But yeah you need to teach Travers and then start off by doing shoulder in then just put your outside leg back and see what happens. Its just very important that you have the shoulders positioned correctly in the half pass otherwise they cant physically do it!!!!