Grand Prix by Go and Whoa

A palace is built brick by brick... a Grand Prix horse is built half-halt by half-halt. But no half-halt is exactly the same. This mysterious little gem of all equestrian pursuits and the sacred child of dressage itself never seems to be adequately defined. Perhaps this is because it is so utterly simplistic.

Remember Fractions?

It is as it says, a fraction of a halt. What does the halt do for us? It places the forward progression of the horse onto a single spot. For a moment, forward progression ceases, but forward inclination does not. In a correct halt, the horse still stays at the ready to move off at a mere suggestion. It is this inclination that allows us to ride some portion of a halt that diminishes the forward progression of the horse without diminishing the forward inclination by any degree. "Half" is a tidy way to describe it, but there are in fact "quarter", "eighth", "three quarter" and "sixteenths" of a halt... or any degree needed to alter the forward progression of the horse to suit the needs of any given moment.
This process becomes increasingly more refined from the early lessons of the horse Go and Whoa. Gradually he learns to go and whoa with degrees, at more subtle requests from the rider, and to combine the two in such a way that the hindquarters continue to progress as the forehand diminishes progression thereby shortening the "frame" of the horse, increasing engagment and setting the stage for further collection.
Lessons Learned:
So here we are, Philipe (that really handsome horse in the pic above) ready to show 3rd in two weeks.... really? Because as I was riding yesterday I realized that I was losing some of his forward inclination in the half-halt. UGH.... its subtle. He is very under himself naturally, but does not always PUSH from there. A further refinement to work on!

OUR EXERCISE:
On a 20m circle I would ask him for a working trot. Take a good inventory of the level of push from the hind leg.

Half-halt = on the 'up' of my rising trot, stretch taller with shoulder blade back and down, close fingers on outside rein and close legs. If there is ANY diminish of his push power, correct with a tap from the whip.
I found he would buck up slightly... Seeds of our croup high issue in the left lead change I think. YUP!

I continued a few times until he would drive a little more at each half-halt. Repeated in canter which was easier for him since he has such an exceptional canter.

We'll see what tomorrow brings!
Clinic with Krissi is Friday and Saturday.... I'm sure she'll have a lot more to add. :-)
~ Stacie