Half Halts at the trot. Is your horse really listening to you?

"Can Your Horse Feel Your Half Halts at the Trot?  What can you do to improve your half halt and become more aware of when your horse is responding?"



In this session Susan practices the half halt as taught by Robert Dover.  To do this, she breaths in deeply.. bringing that breath up her chest and back into her shoulder blades. She finishes by bringing her seat forward, hugging her legs and closing her fingers on the reins.  This entire process takes only 3 seconds.  Beau  has been doing half halts but has never really been thrilled with them. (for what ever issues he might be having that day)  Since he is now competing in 2nd level we need to be able to balance him more than ever so that he starts to "engage" his back end and shorten his body from the back to the front.  Lucky you as you get to watch him go through the process. This is their warm up trot and Susan is already asking Beau to listen to her half halts.  By the end of this session you will see that Beau is starting to get it.



What have you been doing for your halt halts?  Is your horse really responding to them or are you hoping that it is?