Message For Heather

[Maci]

How does one acheve a nice still halt? I know it's hard work, but I'm willing to try!
I don't yet have your book, but I'm sure it covers this, so perhaps you can help me, please!

I read in a magazine that your suppose to sit deep/back, say a firm 'whoa', pull the reins back, and squeeze with your legs, all at the same time, when you want to stop. Well, I tried that last night with my horse, but it didn't work. I tried it numerous times, and we were at a steady pace in the walk, so it should have worked.

But when you are squeezing with your legs, and pulling the reins back when you want them to stop, isn't that give them 2 different signals? The pulling tells them to stop, while the squeezing tells them to go?

Please Help!
I'm Very Confused!
Many Thanks,
Maci :)

[Heather]

HI Maci,

The way those books are describing it, is the exact opposite way to get a good halt. To obtain a good halt, the horse must be on the bit- if his head is up and back hollow, the horse will never halt square. The rider must use the seat. not the hands to slow the horse, sure you close the fingers to increase tension on the reins, but never pull bcak, as you will set up a tug of war situation. To use the seat to slow the horse, you merely close your seat muscles together, at the same time closing your lower legs lightly to keep the hindleg. Squeeze your seat muscles together quite quickly and definitely- do it slowly and the horse will just gradually slwo down instead of performing a crips and correct halt.

Squeezing your seat muscles together stops you moving with the horse but also lightens your seat, allowing the horse's back to lift and round under you. Sitting back or more heavily will do the opposite, make him drop his back and raise his head, which in time, will cause ligament damage to the back. I could cheerfully shoot these authors that write such crap without actually looking at the biomechanics of what it does to the horse. I have just been lecturing on riding related injuries to the horse at Cambridge University Vet school. It is not the rider's fault, it is the information that they are still being fed.

Hope this helps


Heather

[Maci]

That explination was great! I thought the information I read was sounding a little weird, but I'd thought I'd check with you! I'll try it next time I go out to see my horse!

Thanks!
Maci :)