Have you ever felt as though the concept of the half halt is a memo every other rider, except for you, somehow received? If so, you’re not alone! There was no memo, and there are more riders than you can imagine out there who also just don’t ‘get it’!
Which is strange because the half halt is one of the most widely referenced tools in riding! And yet it remains one of the least understood! Today, I want to simplify it for you. We’re going to look at what the half halt is, what it isn’t, how to tell if yours is working, and what to do when it’s not.
My goal is that by the time you finish reading, you’ll have a clearer picture of how this small moment of communication between you and your horse can genuinely change how you work together.
What ‘Is’ The Half Halt?
Let’s begin with the simplest explanation. The half halt is a tiny moment of rebalancing. Nothing dramatic, nothing forceful. Just you and your horse pausing, ever so slightly, to redistribute weight, reorganize, refocus – and then continue on together with more clarity.
Think of it as a gentle invitation to reset the balance so that the next stride, transition, or movement feels more together.
And while on it’s own, it’s extremely powerful, it’s also worth noting that a half halt is rarely a “one and done” situation. Because it’s such a small moment, you often need a few of them close together to make a noticeable difference. That’s normal. The half halt is subtle by design. That subtlety is its power.
Why Does it Feel Complicated?
The confusion around the half halt usually begins because people make it sound far more complicated than it needs to be. There is this idea that half halts belong to the world of very advanced riding. That they exist on a mystical plane occupied only by the Top 1% of riders – and maybe some unicorns! That is not the case.
You can begin using half halts today, no matter where you are in your riding journey. Like everything, you will refine it over time, but you do not need to wait until you are “ready” to begin.
The real key to understanding the half halt is recognizing that it is not just one aid. It’s a blend of a lot of your aids working together, almost simultaneously. If you take nothing else from this, please take this: your hands come last. Most riders begin with their hands, and that is where everything falls apart. The reins are not the half halt. They are only one final part of it.
Riding the Half Halt
A correct half halt begins with you. Your seat and posture come into play first. Think of it as ‘carrying’ yourself so that you’re modeling what you want for your horse to follow. You should become an example of the ‘self-carriage’ you’d like your horse to adopt. Then your leg is there to maintain the forward energy. Only once that energy is present do you close your fingers briefly to collect and channel what you’ve already created.
The hand does not create anything. It only gathers what the seat and leg have already put into place
This is where many riders struggle. They go first with the reins, hoping to “make something happen,” but there is nothing there to collect. They are trying to grab and hold energy, rather than wait for the energy to be ready to be gathered. When the reins come first, it either stops the forward flow completely or it creates tension that blocks the possibility of connection. Either way, the half halt simply cannot work.
Did It Work? (the big question!)
So how do you know if your half halt actually had a positive influence? One of the clearest signs is a lightening of the forehand. When the weight redistributes, you can usually feel the horse lift slightly in front. The balance improves, and the energy begins to feel clearer. It becomes easier to direct. Everything feels a little more organized underneath you.
You may also feel the rhythm settle. If things were starting to get fast or slightly scattered, the half halt helps to bring the horse back into a more relaxed, consistent tempo.
You and your horse become more together. That’s what a half halt is supposed to achieve: a sense of working with one another rather than against.
What you should not see is a big, dramatic change. If the horse slows considerably, hollows, or becomes tense, that wasn’t a half halt. That was just pulling! A correct half halt is barely visible. You almost have to feel it more than see it. When a horse and rider are working well together, you won’t see big corrections. The rider uses quick, subtle adjustments before things go wrong. The half halt becomes part of that quiet conversation.
Why Isn’t My Half Halt Working?
If your half halt isn’t producing these kinds of changes, there are a few likely reasons. The first is, like I’ve already mentioned, too much hand. If the rein aid is too strong or too early, everything falls flat. Another common issue is the lack of your supporting leg. If your lower leg swings forward, or if it’s simply doing nothing, the energy disappears before it can be gathered! Timing is another factor. Many riders hold the half halt too long.
The whole moment should take only the space of a single footfall, not an entire stride. If you hold too long, the energy becomes blocked – and the conversation becomes stuck!
And sometimes the horse simply doesn’t understand yet. That’s not a failure. It just means there is more training to be done, and more clarity to establish between you. The half halt is a conversation that grows and develops over time.
All Half Halts are Not the Same…
One of the most important things to remember is that the half halt is not fixed. It changes depending on the day, the horse, what you are doing, etc. Even though both of you feel physically and mentally can have an impact on the quality of the half halt. You cannot approach it as a formula where two plus two always equals four. Some days your horse is supple and forward-thinking, and everything responds easily. Other days, the response is delayed or dull.
Your half halt must remain supple and adaptable. You adjust your approach to meet the horse where they are.
Practicing the ‘Feel’
If this feels overwhelming, try to relax. The best way to learn the half halt is through simple, consistent practice. The next time you ride, begin by organizing yourself. Focus on your self-carriage first. Then, feel your horse through your seat. Allow your core to quietly stabilize. At the same time, your legs come on just enough to encourage the energy to keep flowing forward. Once that energy is there, close your fingers briefly. Then release. That release is just as important as the gathering.
You can practice this every six to eight strides to begin. Simply remind yourself what you’re about to do; then, sit tall, feel, gather, release. Notice how it feels.
Does the balance change? Does the rhythm improve? Do you feel slightly more connected? These changes may be tiny at first, but over time they accumulate. Each half halt builds on the last.
If Your Half Halt Isn’t Working…
Learning to ride a good half halt is not an overnight achievement or a quick fix. It requires dedicated and intentional time working on it in the saddle. It also takes consistency and a willingness to listen and respond to your horse. Notice the feedback your horse gives you. Notice how the balance shifts when you get the timing right. Notice the small improvements.
The half halt, more than anything, it requires an openness to feeling. You cannot learn feel from a book or a video or even a coach. You learn it by doing. That is why this is an invitation to experiment.
If you find you would like support with this, we are dedicating October, November, and December 2025 to working through the half halt inside Connection. October is focused on half halting on the lunge, and then through November and December, we will bring those principles into the saddle.
With weekly live training sessions, audio riding lessons, and ongoing support, Connection may be what will help you and your horse. You can find the details at stridesforsuccess.com/join.
For now, take this simple explanation with you to the arena. Practice it. Play with it. Pay attention to what changes. That is where you and your horse will truly begin to both understand and respond to this tool.
And, with time and consistency, the half halt will become something natural, fluid, and fantastically effective for you and your horse!
Happy Riding
Lorna
The Your Signature Ride Challenge
Here’s the idea: you use only your seat and leg aids to “write” your name in the arena. Sounds simple, right? But what it really does is sharpen your awareness of timing and clarity. You’ll learn when your aids actually make a difference. And you’ll have fun doing it. All while creating a pattern that’s uniquely yours!
You can sign up by CLICKING HERE
It’s free to join, and every rider who participates gets access to a guided audio lesson to help them through the challenge. Plus, you’ll have a chance to win 3 months inside Connection (a $66 value)
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And if you would like a little more 1-to-1 coaching, explore Restart & Reschool Private Coaching. It is perfect if you’re starting your practice – or if you’re looking to turn your existing practice into something ‘real’ for you and your horse. I’ll guide you step by step on the way! You’ll not only get the full ‘OTTB; From Racetrack to Ready Program’, but also fornightly private lessons with me to move you forward in your riding.
We can work on anything you would like; from groundwork, to lunging, to riding, to jumping… With the virtual private lessons, we can do all of these things – and more. If you would like to find out me, you can let me know a little more about you HERE and I will then reach back out and we can chat!
This is the support, training, and accountability you’ve been missing to finally follow through and start seeing progress. No fluff. No overwhelm. And as flexible as you need for your lifestyle.
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