Square halt?

Get a dressage guru!

I swore blind my horse couldn't do one, but apparently if I ride properly and halt him with his hind legs beneath him he can

My dressage is pants, so cannot really explain how to do this, but more stopping with your weight shifting upwards than touching the reins.
 
My horse used to be really difficult for getting a square halt. However, with lots of transitions and patience, he now halts square every time. I think of making him step uphill into the halt and holding my body very still (which meant that he halted square in front) and then closing my legs on to bring his hind legs right under him. When we first started, I used to have to tap his trailing leg to make him bring it under, but if you practice it enought they get the idea that they must only halt square.

I am really bad at explaining things, so I hope I haven't confused you!
 
it's quite easy if they always leave the same leg; just tap that leg with a long schooling whip and give a slight nudge with that leg, and he'll soon get the message that he mustn't leave it behind. once it becomes a habit, he'll always pick it up.
 
The reason alot of people cant get a square halt is because the horse isnt working truely from behind and into the bridle. The horse might be in a nice outline, but it dosent mean its working underneath itself and over its back. If it isnt then you wont be able to achieve a square halt. Lots of transitions with in the pace, walk/trot/walk transitions etc will help to engage the hindleg.

Enjoy your lesson with Marcus, ive heard hes really good
smile.gif
 
Marcus is super - very good, really nice & also rather good looking which isn't a bad thing! If you ask him, he will help you work on it - he's also very happy to get on the horse which is great to see from the ground...
 
Marcus is very good, so I am sure he will help you out.

Make sure your horse is stepping forward equally with both hinds - is he supple on both reins? Do you have even weight in both reins, or is he lighter/heavier on one side.
Also, when you halt, it can help to have your legs a fraction back and keep them on going into the halt.
 
Thanks, I'm really looking forward to my lesson! He's not far from me either!

I managed 1 really nice square halt today, and did loads of transitions too, but his legs seemed to be all over the place! We struggle with our downward transitions anyway, but I'm sure Axey thinks he's still in the show ring!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Marcus is very good, so I am sure he will help you out.

Make sure your horse is stepping forward equally with both hinds - is he supple on both reins? Do you have even weight in both reins, or is he lighter/heavier on one side.
Also, when you halt, it can help to have your legs a fraction back and keep them on going into the halt.

[/ QUOTE ]

thank you, Axel is a lot heavier in the hand on the left, although recently he's become better. Its always his left leg that he leaves behind too
tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Marcus is super - very good, really nice & also rather good looking which isn't a bad thing! If you ask him, he will help you work on it - he's also very happy to get on the horse which is great to see from the ground...

[/ QUOTE ]

great, I can't wait, especially if he's good looking too! and he's not gay either.....just married!
I'd love him to get on Axey!!
 
[ QUOTE ]

thank you, Axel is a lot heavier in the hand on the left, although recently he's become better. Its always his left leg that he leaves behind too
tongue.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

You have really answered your own question here
smile.gif
- being heavier in one rein is a sign of not stepping through equally with both hinds. Ditto struggling with downward transitions as he will find it hard to bring his hinds underneath him and sit. Work on this and your halts should improve. He needs to develop equal strength in both his hind legs. A good exercise to try is what I call a wonky figure of eight. Do a 20m circle, and change rein at X onto a 10 metre circle, then back on to your 20 metre circle. Repeat equally on both reins, and then start doing transitions at X too. Absolutely great exercise for developing the carrying ability of the inside hind.
 
thank you, I love that exercise its one of my favourites although its difficult as there's always jumps up in the school, so I don't do it as often as I like
frown.gif

When I move yards I won't have that problem
smile.gif

I'll see if I can move the jumps out of the way tomorrow, although I won't be very popular
frown.gif
 
Right, so I moved the jumps out of the way and went into the school to do the wonky figure of 8 exercise this morning.
Axel started off by being lovely, really soft and relaxed. I did lots of half halts and transitions then started asking him to be a bit more active and forward. Well......he took great exception at being asked to work a bit harder and started getting hollow and throwing his head up. He refused to bend or circle on the left rein, and everytime he got to the top of the circle he would try and piss off right with me. My left arm was aching so much but I felt that if I let go of my left rein he would go the other way
mad.gif

It got to the point where he started rearing rather than do a left circle. He was fine on the right rein btw.
Anyway I persevered and managed to get him to do a decent trot and canter, but it took me and hour and 1/2.
Funny though that when I asked him to halt they were square probably 80% of the time.

I think he had a strop at being asked to work hard for a change!
Really looking forward to my lesson now, give Markus a challenge anyway!!
 
So sounds like he is falling out through his right shoulder - so just be aware that he does this, and be careful he doesn't fall in on the right.

You were obviously challenging him though! Be really aware to not fix your inside hand, I am terrible at this and I constantly make myself give the inside rein both to check they are in the outside rein properly and make sure I'm not fixing!
 
Thank you Touchwood, he was really good today! But he felt a bit tired so I was only on him for about 20 mins.
He seems to be getting the hang on putting the inside hind under now in halt, so I am very happy today with him
smile.gif


Sam x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top