Stupid problem - my horse won't halt!

[Ziggy_]

I can go from canter to trot, no problems.
I can go from trot to walk, no problems.

On a good day I can go from canter to walk, but my horse will not halt under saddle if her life depended on it!!

Even when i'm getting off she is shuffling off towards the gate/her stable.

I ride 4/5 horses a day, all of the others will go from trot/canter to halt so i don't think the problem is me.

When I ask her to halt she just pokes her nose out, tosses her head and keeps creeping forwards, or starts going in circles!

i want to show her in the summer and i'd love to try dressage too so i need to this sorted.

any suggestions?

 

[PapaFrita]

Keep practising! Walk -halt -walk -halt etc, etc, aiming for a definite pause before she shuffles off, and lengthen the pause each time. This is a very common problem with ex-racehorses BTW. If she starts to go backwards, MAKE her go backwards until she's sick of it. Been through it all with my 2!

Good luck

 

[the watcher]

Does she halt properly in hand? This might be a good place to get the lessons sorted, and then transfer the commands to your ridden work

 

[Orangehorse]

Picture a huge precipice that you will both fall down if she doesn't halt at the desired point. Your body language will be stronger!

If she fights the bit, try breathing out as you come to a halt and don't use the reins. This is how I make my horse halt, it looks nice and smooth. Not so good if you are going to show though, as the judge won't know your aids.

 

[saskia295]

Halt in front of a wall, or build a pole across some barrels and stop in front of that (make sure you make the pole high enough so she doesn't think you're asking her to jump it). And I echo what someone else said about walk-halt-walk-halt and just keep going. She will get the idea. I know it's frustrating but really try not to yank her to a stop.

It may be that when she was initially backed, she was not taught the aid for halt. Is she a youngster? If this is the case, you will have to go right back and teach her from the beginning.

 

[Michelle73]

Practice on the lunge too. Thats where I teach most of my horses the voice commands of what I need them to do. If its good enought for the Spanish Riding School of Vienna then its good enough for me!!

I also completely blank any negative behaviour but give lots and lots of praise for good behaviour - its amazing how quickly the horse notices this and reacts to it.

 

[Natch]

Second saskia, ride a halt from walk at a wall or corner where she has no option but to stop, but make sure you really ride the aids nice and clearly. With patience you should be able to ask and get it further and further away from the wall.

The nose poking might indicate the thinks the rein contact is too strong, you could try really riding her from the seat instead? and voice commands aplenty, until she really knows both voice and physical commands, then try without a wall.

Finally don't forget loads of praise like she's done the most wonderful thing a horse could ever do for every slight improvement.

Good luck let us know how it goes!

 

[Cop-Pop]

My mare used to strongly object to stopping so if she wouldn't stop I'd work her for another 5 mins then try it - she's lazy so I normally only needed to do it the once. I also never stop her near the gate. She stopped fine in hand and on the lunge just not under saddle - she was too eager to go and get her carrot!! She stops fine now that she knows she just gets more work if she messes around

 

[Dressagebabe]

Every time she shuffles forwards you should rein back a few steps until she catches on that it is easier to halt as rein back is strenuous work.

 

[Flame_]

Mine won't either, she stresses and upsets herself until she's on the move again. She's weird though, with many stupid problems! Only suggestion I've got is try a VERY SHORT halt in your dressage test.

Good luck.