Post by Elaine on Jul 5, 2008 18:04:07 GMT
Transitions: SOFT HALT (also leaning & softness)
A soft halt is one of the basics of all ridden work. It will show you immediately if your horse accepts the bit (or halter, or bitless bridle or whatever) or not. I recommend you get this good before you attempt walk, trot & canter transitions. This is also the basis for softness in the horse, a soft jaw (leads toward on the bit etc), getting weight off forehand, etc. It is also very good if you want to improve your brakes or if you have a horse who leans on your hands, or a horse who throws head up in air as a habit (i.e. not due to sore teeth or something else).
(this is taken from the 'creating softness when riding' post)
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A soft halt is one of the basics of all ridden work. It will show you immediately if your horse accepts the bit (or halter, or bitless bridle or whatever) or not. I recommend you get this good before you attempt walk, trot & canter transitions. This is also the basis for softness in the horse, a soft jaw (leads toward on the bit etc), getting weight off forehand, etc. It is also very good if you want to improve your brakes or if you have a horse who leans on your hands, or a horse who throws head up in air as a habit (i.e. not due to sore teeth or something else).
(this is taken from the 'creating softness when riding' post)
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- As you stand still, pick up a light contact and just hold it.
- Wait. Exhale.
- Your horse might do nothing, might pull against you, might up their head, etc to get out of it.
- Don’t increase the contract, don’t move your hands. Just hold your hands and the reins in one place and wait for softness. Imagine your hands are like a wooden post. They don't pull against the horse, and they don't move when the horse pulls against them.
- When your horse gives his head a little, and you feel the strain gone from the reins, immediately loosen tyour hands a little as a reward.
- Do this often enough and when you hop on, and pick up the reins, your horse will automatically soften his jaw.
- The idea is now your horse is balanced – he could just as easily take a step forwards or take a step backwards, whatever you choose to do.
- A lot of horses, when you sit up and take alight contact, they immediately push their weight forward, so you’re not at the 50-50 forwards-backwards balance, you’re about 80% forwards, 20% backwards, and so not balanced and not really ready for all manouvres.