Here’s some great advice on how to ride a perfect square halt on your horse or pony from five-star event rider Coral Keen
1. When you first start introducing halts, it is important to remember that the most vital part within this movement is for the horse to stand still and be submissive. Initially you do not want to be making too many adjustments trying to make the halt square, as this can lead to the horse fidgeting within the halt and it becomes an issue. Once they are happy and immobile in the halt, then think about the squareness.
2. When you start training halts it is fine for them to be a bit progressive. Start with walk to halt first and then move on to trot, halt, reducing the walk steps gradually. Don’t expect it to be too direct. Allowing your horse time in the movement initially will also help them to develop the feeling of positioning themselves into a square halt.
3. The quality of the walk or trot before you halt is vital. Your horse needs to be active, so when you collect and prepare for halt they do not drop off behind the leg. You need to keep the impulsion and the hind leg working underneath your horse as this then helps their hind quarters to be square and not trialling behind. Remember, as with any downward transition, it is a forward movement and you need to ride forward into the halt.
4. Straightness is key. Practise riding squares instead of circles to test your straightness. Also ride halt transitions on the square after a turn. The turn will help position the hind leg in the correct place to ask for a square halt.
5. Your balance and position as a rider will contribute towards a good halt. The aid for halt would be to step into the heel, sit really nice and tall and deep in the saddle and let everything go down through your stirrups, remembering to look up and ahead and not down.
6. Once your horse is ready for adjustments within the halt, use your leg for whichever leg your horse is trialling behind. So, if it is the left side hind, use your left leg and if it is the right side, use your right leg. Correct the horse by making them take one small step. Try to keep hold of the rein, use the leg on that side and make them stand square. When the horse reacts to this, even if it is not the perfect halt, praise them for a positive response. The horse will then start to learn that when he comes into the halt, he needs to move his legs and position himself to be square.
Now you’ve got that advice in mind, take a look at these dressage competitions available to enter where you can show off what you’ve learnt…
British Dressage
Date: 15 February
Venue: Alnwick Ford Equestrian, Morpeth
Details: “This affiliated competition features classes from prelim to inter I.”
Enter now
Affiliated and unaffiliated dressage
Date: 15 February
Venue: Ladyleys, Oldmeldrum
Details: “This unaffiliated and British Dressage show includes classes ranging from intro to advanced medium, with freestyle to music classes too.”
Enter now
Unaffiliated dressage
Date: 16 February
Venue: Mullacott Event Centre, Ilfracombe
Details: “This unaffiliated competition features classes ranging between into and elementary.”
Enter now
Mid-week dressage
Date: 18 February
Venue: Reaseheath College, Nantwich
Details: “This unaffiliated show, starting at 5pm, has classes from intro to elementary.”
Enter now
Evening dressage
Date: 21 February
Venue: Urchinwood Manor Equestrian Centre, Bristol
Details: “This unaffiliated show has classes from intro to elementary.”
Enter now
British Dressage
Date: 22 February
Venue: Highfield Equestrian at Howe, Cupar
Details: “This affiliated competition includes classes from intro up to medium with a range of qualifiers and freestyle to music classes too.”
Enter now
Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings
