Technique?

[Morton90]

Hello.
I am loving (& becoming slightly addicted) with learning to ride as an adult beginner.
I always process the lesson afterwards which leads to my questions on here.

Today I was on a strong/ forward horse, when going from a trot to walk, the instructor asked me to slightly open and close my hands on the reins & to give and pull back the reins to slow the horse down. I do this whilst having no idea what I’m doing (if that makes sense) can someone please break this down for me?

 

[HopOnTrot]

Half halt? Do you mean open and close the fingers, rather than move the hand further apart and in again?

 

[Morton90]

Yes that’s it! How does it actually work?

 

[Skib]

I was an older adult beginner and half halt always puzzled me too. Especially as in my case, going round the school, it was done with the outside hand and the last thing I wanted was to stop or slow down the horse. Out hacking now, I might use it I suppose to steady the mare and remind her that I am riding her. In the school it was useful to warn the lesson mare that we were about to transition or to turn. It has the effect of shortening the horse just a little and thus bringing the hind legs under to get a better push forward.

Since this is the opposite of the cues one learns when starting to ride (when shortening the rein means slower) I remember being puzzled and may be that is why I dont remember actually thinking of a half halt for years.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I was taught to ride as a child, the RI used to call 'steady' as we went into a corner or prepared for a transition. It was only later than I realised that he was teaching half-halt. I use it a lot when riding these days.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

It’s like slowly and gradually applying the brakes, rather than slamming the brakes on. Gives you and the horse more time to balance rather than falling into walk.

 

[EventingMum]

I teach it as a "rebalance and listen aid" to the horse either to prepare for a transition or movement or to refocus their attention. The key to it is that it should be a quick, subtle signal and can be through the rein or, on a more responsive horse via your seat and back.

 

[dottylottie]

when i was in a riding school, i was always taught it was a “listen up, instruction coming” to the horse - used for upwards and downward transitions. now with my own horses, i use it to ask them to sit up a bit for the next transition, and a bit of a stock-take on my own position