30/ NOVEMBER 2021 THE RIDER


The (Simple?) Halt To Walk Transition


By Kathy Farrokhzad. Just a simple halt to


walk transition. We do it all the time! So what’s the fuss? In my experience,


horses often do something other than walk straight for- ward out of the halt. Try the transition a few times and pay close attention to what happens after you ask for the walk.


Let’s break it down.


The Halt First, develop a strong,


marching walk that shows “activity.” In other words, the walk should be brisk and fairly up-tempo. Not so fast that it feels like your horse will break stride into trot any second; but develop a for- ward, reaching, free-flowing walk.


walk when the foot-falls are evenly spaced apart


You’ll know it’s a good -


1..2..3..4. If it’s more like 1..2.3.....4, then you know that it’s still not a “pure” walk, or one that is rhythmi- cal, balanced and strong. You can prepare to halt


after you get that walk! The aid for the halt


starts with the legs – two


end or pushes from the hind end. Make sure you are ask- ing his hind end to move for- ward first. The horse should ideally


step forward


legs on – and ends mainly in your seat. While in the walk, you’re walking with your seat bones, in rhythm with the horse’s movement. Pre- pare to halt with a half-halt. When you halt, you stop the seat. If the horse continues to walk, don’t be as free- flowing with the seat bones. Follow up with half-halts on the reins (not a steady pull) until you get the legs to stop.


Stay in halt for five


seconds to really establish immobility. Work on keep- ing your horse’s attention - no looking around! Consider the halt as a


movement rather than a “stop everything.” Stay toned, connected, tuned into each other, and just wait. But don’t wait too


long! If you managed the five seconds, and your horse


is still with you, walk out of the halt. It takes practice to stay immobile while ready to go at a moment’s notice.


The Walk What happens during


the very first step out of the halt?


Does your horse lift his


head and stick the nose to the sky? Does he take a large


step left or right? Does he take a few tiny,


slow steps before establish- ing his normal pace? Does he go to take a


few steps backward before


he realizes you wanted for- ward steps? Practice While it seems too sim-


ple, achieving a bold, pow- erful but contained, smooth walk out of the halt is some- thing that must be learned by both the horse and rider. It doesn’t always come natu- rally.


Here are a few things to


keep in mind as your horse takes that first walk step. • Is he ready to step out with an active hind end? One of the first things to notice is whether the horse pulls him- self forward from the front


promptly and energetically from your two light leg aids. • Is he walking straight? You can notice straightness by observing his front shoul- ders. Do they aim straight forward, or do they step slightly sideways? Does the hind end swing to one side or the other? Be sure to keep your reins even, your legs even, and your seat and upper body pointed forward. When the horse takes the first step, make sure you are not leaning or weighting one seat bone over another. Urge him to go straight from your straight body and aids. Use leg aids to counter any hind end swings. • Does the horse throw the head up in those first few steps? If you try it yourself, you’ll feel the discomfort through the back of your neck and shoulder blades al- most immediately. When the head goes up like that, the base of the neck actually drops. The back hollows and the horse’s underline length- ens. This puts him on the forehand immediately and he has to carry your weight with a compromised bal- ance.


In this case, make sure


you are not letting your reins out through your fingers, or doing letting your elbows turn to jelly as you transition to walk. Find a comfortable rein length for the horse and keep it right through the transition. Keep your elbows on your body and expect the horse to walk even while he stays round and on the bit. Intersperse the halt to


walk transition through your ride as a breathing break. Just after you’ve done some canter and trot work, go to the walk, halt (five seconds) and walk again. It might take some practice to get the im- mobility and then the energy and regular footfalls of the walk after the halt. Use it also as a cool


down at the end of the ride. Before you get off, do a few halt to walk transitions. And most importantly, have fun! Bio: Kathy Farrokhzad is an EC coach and author of the Horse Listening book col- lection, Goal Setting For The Equestrian: A Personal Workbook, and the creator of the Practice Sessions on- line program. If you liked what you read here, check out her blog at HorseListen- ing.com for many more arti- cles about horses, riding and life in general.


This pretty three-year-old filly is Let’s Get It Did. She is 16 hands, has a sweet temperament and is a fairly straightforward, easy ride. Diddy, will


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