Teaching a good square halt

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andreo

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Hi as the title really. Reo has great paces and super walk, but we never quite get square halts, this is something all my previous horses have just done ;) so any ideas other than the usual going forward into the halt, half halt etc.

During our tests we usually get comments on him being too deep, poll not at highest point etc, but as a 5yr old, broken a year ago this is the stage of training he is at so I want to try to pick up mark in other areas where I can. Thank :)

*Added by admin*: See how Michael Eilberg teaches his horses to halt square every time: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/michael-eilberg-how-to-achieve-a-square-halt-video-509813
 
Ok, some people say that this is 'just teaching a square halt, not riding a square halt' which is fair enough. Obviously ride it properly anyway, forward then sit and slow the trot before closing both legs and both hands equally..sort of like squeezing him into a halt..I always find myself thinking of a tube of toothpaste.

Aaaanyway, the trick is if he doesn't halt square, to correct him. Carry a whip, if he drags a hind leg close the corresponding leg on his side and tap with the whip if necessary. If his front legs aren't level (if you can't feel it, you can tell by looking at the shoulders) tap his shoulder until he moves into a square halt. Sometimes they may have to take an extra step forward to correct it, thats fine to start with.

Just make sure that everytime you halt, you correct him so that he stands square. When he's square, praise him and let him stand for a little bit, then move on. Soon enough they just start halting square out of habit :)
 
Also, always make sure he's standing square before getting off. If he learns that by standing square there's a chance he'll get out of doing any more work, you'll probably find he stands square every single time ;). I know that whatever horrors happen during my dressage test, at least I'll finish with a nice square halt! :D
 
a good tip i was given to begin with is to walk over a pole on the ground and as your horse steps its front feet over ask it to halt.

seems to work!
 
MAke sure he is moving from behind, as if he is dragging his back feet when mocing, he will stand with his legs waaaay out behind him - as mine used to ;)

To halt, I breathe out, sit tall, push my feet down and if he doesn't halt, I squeeze on the reins. He is learning that if he responds at the first few cues, he doesn't get any pressure on his mouth, and his halts have improved no end, as I am focusing more on the approach to them rather than the end result :)
 
This was asked at the festival of the horse to Edward Gal, this is what he said , well the very basics .

get the horse used to standing still when asked , don't even think about asking for a square halt until he can stand still on command, at this point he stressed its not important to be square. lots of praise when the horse does stand still and do it in a variety of places.

Then in walk practice slowing the walk right down, obviously his horse was so used to doing this, it looked like the horse was walking in slow motion, he really wanted the horse to think where each foot was going , the horse really placed the foot almost to command from a movement of Edwards it was fantastic to see.

I bet that is as clear as mud, but it is so hard to put into words his actions.

He was fantastic.
 
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