What's Inside
Search the Site
Tip/Quote of the Day # 3410
"It's important that the rider doesn't disturb the horse – leaning this way or that – and that is the same with this pulling and pushing. You give a half halt, but half halt is not just pull back and then let go. First of all you have to push the horse into your contact, and while you do a half halt, the horse should not get tighter in the neck and not get slower in the hind legs. Actually we want to engage the hind legs. It's something you have to work on all the time, and get to feel it. When you tell the rider, now this, now that, you are already too late. You have to practice this, so that the riders get to feel it themselves." ~ Monica Theodorescu
Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share with your friends! Look for the share buttons on the far right side of the page. Thank you!
Related Articles:
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4118
- Lateral Work as "Medicine" For the Dressage Horse
- Riding From "Front to Back"
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1615
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1613
- A Test of Your Flatwork Training (For All Levels!)
- Quin's Blog post # 2: The Ultimate Answer to Riding, the Universe, and Everything
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4057
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3479
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3245
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3041
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2543
- An Exercise to Help Teach Your Horse to Seek the Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1845
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1797
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1743
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1741
- The Crest Release, the Automatic Release, and Everything In Between (With Pictures!)
- The Function of the Rider’s Elbow Joints
- Improve Your Canter to Trot Transitions!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1808
- Do You Know What Skills You and Your Horse Need to Have Before Entering a Novice Level Event?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1753
- Does Your Horse Pick Up the Canter With His Haunches In?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4236
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3801
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3771
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3710
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3630
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3601
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3543
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3497
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3162
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2975
- Video # 325: This is Bridget doing a Dressage test!
- The 'Half-Go'
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2710
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 59: Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Part II - Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2558
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2244
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2131
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1895
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1893
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1878
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1868
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1864
- Ruth's Blog post # 5: Connection Issues in Canter Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1816
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1813
- An Exercise to Help Improve Your Horse's Connection Over the Back
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1776
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1762
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1755
- Video # 312 and Question # 331: This is Rachael!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1737
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1715
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1700
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1687
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1686
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1685
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1680
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1662
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1626
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1623
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1606
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1600
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1582
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1564
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1549
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1542
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1470
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1234
- Clashing of Aids vs the Coordination of Aids
- What Does it Mean for the Horse to be "Between the Rider’s Hand and Leg"?
- Develop an Independent *Hand* - an Essential Skill That is Key to a Good Rein Connection!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1959
- The Problems in the Eventing World Today! (written in 2014) (Current freebie!)
- Keep Your Aids Dynamic
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4412
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4409
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4374
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4303
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4290
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4215
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4083
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4028
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3974
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3897
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3852
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3809
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3768
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3735
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3688
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3679
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3594
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3573
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3500
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3442
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3431
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3392
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3381
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3322
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3310
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3276
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3238
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3234
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3222
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3198
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3172
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3165
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3104
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2976
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2764
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2727
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2677
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2670
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2633
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2585
- An Exercise to Help You Improve ALL of Your Downward Transitions
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2501
- A Jumping Exercise to Help You to Turn Your Speed Into Impulsion
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2293
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2285
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2223
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2199
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2180
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2158
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2142
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2105
- Question # 341: Amy has a question about a new horse she is riding, who is not a big fan of flatwork!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1855
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1780
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1769
- The Benefits of "Stair Stepping" Your Lateral Exercises
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1742
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1625
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1611
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1594
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1570
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1503
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1492
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1461
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1431
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1401
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1373
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1337
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1327
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1295
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1275
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1267
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1258
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1221
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1154
- Guest Blog post # 74: "Imagine (there's no pulling)" by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1016
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1006
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1001
- Different Half Halts For Different Situations
- Adding More *Scope* to Your Lateral Work - For Better Dressage Scores!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 828
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 626
- The Front Door Analogy, That Will Help Improve Your Connection
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3440
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1860
- Video # 315 and Question # 340: Kaley has a question (with video), about his horse's jumping form, and whether or not his horse might still have upper level potential, despite the form he shows now as a green horse.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1726
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1520
- Question # 294 and Video # 92: My question is about banks, specifically jumping down....
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3917
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3734
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3616
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3606
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3400
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3395
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3289
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3164
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3156
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3133
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3129
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2937
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2936
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2873
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2709
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 58: Coping with Stress and Anxiety - Part I: The Worry Bucket
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 57: Desperately Dependent or Fiercely Independent: Finding the right balance
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 56: How long will this take??
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 55: Filling Your Treasure Chest
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 54: The Power of a Plan
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 53: Personality Part 2: Internalizer or Externalizer
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 52: Personality Part 1: Past, Present, Future
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 51: Who do you compare yourself to... it really matters!
- A Mental Trick to Help You to Think More About Your Horse's Hind Legs When Riding & Jumping
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2311
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 50: Horses as mirrors: Does it work the other way around?
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 49: Respect: Essential for horse and rider
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 48: Working with horses is complicated... that's a good thing
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 47: Courage... Is it as simple as "Cowgirl Up" ?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1903
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1900
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1848
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1831
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1826
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1823
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1817
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1793
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1790
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1787
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1773
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1736
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1673
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1667
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1650
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1648
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1640
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1612
- The *Volume* of Your Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1578
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1574
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1552
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1525
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1459
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1413
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1398
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1377
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1286
- The Most Productive Way to Begin Each Ride
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 974
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 963
- The Mysterious Half Halt (Current freebie!)
- Question # 318: My horse and I are continuing on in training and he has really become much more balanced over all in the show jumping. Before he used to land and have such a large canter stride that it seemed like most of my focus was...
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3638
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4487
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4486
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4472
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4449
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4447
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4401
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4365
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4348
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4333
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4326
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4319
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4301
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4283
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4278
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4221
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4213
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4196
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4183
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4126
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4120
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4115
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4063
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4022
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4008
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4007
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4003
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3981
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3966
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3952
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3922
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3888
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3871
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3864
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3850
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3686
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3674
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3658
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3570
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3569
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3532
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3524
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3521
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3520
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3513
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3462
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3457
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3413
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3408
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3373
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3332
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3320
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3317
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3308
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3249
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3219
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3175
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3112
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3087
- Is Your Free Walk Really FREE? And Do You Make Good Use Of It?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3035
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3018
- Guest Blog # 116: "The Cone of Uncertainty" by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2961
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 63: Personality and Why It Matters
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2916
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2904
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2883
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2880
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2817
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2811
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2809
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2785
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 62: Coping With Stress Part V: Gratitude
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2708
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2669
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 61: Coping with Stress Part IV: Do What You CAN Do
- Sport Psych in a Minute, with Dr. Haefner - Video # 60: Coping with Stress and Anxiety: Part III - Getting Grounded
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2628
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2614
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2608
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2603
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2527
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2526
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2510
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2488
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2469
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2449
- Question # 353: Amanda has a question about how to teach her young horse to lift and use his back correctly.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2384
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2343
- "Reset" Your Aids
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2153
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2151
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2080
- All Roads Lead to Rome.... Or Do They??
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2052
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2032
- Quin's Blog post # 3: How are you and your horse communicating?
- Video # 309 and Question # 325: Kayla is finding it difficult to keep her horse on the aids in walk to halt transitions.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1590
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1583
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1538
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1526
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1484
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1356
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1314
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1284
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1253
- Horses that Tilt Their Head in Dressage
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1114
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1096
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1094
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1053
- Dressage Canter Adjustability Exercise # 2
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1028
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 964
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 918
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 894
- The Art of Slipping the Reins - and When and When NOT To Do So
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 747
- Does Your Horse Try to Pull You Out of the Saddle?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 719
- Discussion # 125: Let's discuss this great quote from Christopher Bartle!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 659
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 645
- The Rein Back
- Does Your Horse Show This Positive Sign After a Flatwork Session?
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3788
- There Are Always Two Sides to Every Story - Even Between You and Your Horse!
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2957
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2907
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2666
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2644
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2570
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2513
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1553
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1464
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1402
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1382
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 1133
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 951
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 866
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2002
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4513
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4508
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4502
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4483
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4478
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4368
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4330
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4297
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4284
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4237
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4234
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4210
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4170
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4143
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4097
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4085
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4075
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 4056
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3957
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3951
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3901
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3828
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3799
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3798
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3763
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3754
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3733
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3731
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3719
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3718
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3714
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3712
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3697
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3694
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3693
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3687
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3682
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3678
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3668
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3666
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3660
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3659
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3637
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3625
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3615
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3605
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3587
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3572
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3563
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3548
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3504
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3492
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3490
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3484
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3469
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3454
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3430
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3411
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3380
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3377
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3372
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3370
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3331
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3329
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3324
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3307
- Guest Blog # 120: Too Focused? by Bill Woods
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3261
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3229
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3217
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3214
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3204
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3192
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3185
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3178
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3171
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3169
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3159
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3158
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3128
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3121
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3108
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3089
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3088
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3065
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3045
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3027
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3014
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 3007
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2984
- The Order of Aids For Changing Your Horse's Bend From One Side to the Other
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2928
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2898
- "The Power and Promise of Collaboration"
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2846
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2822
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2815
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2770
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2740
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2731
- 3 Distinctly Different Ways of Controlling Your Horse's Shoulders in Circles, Turns & Lateral Work
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2720
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2715
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2697
- Video # 323, and Question # 355: Rose would like some help with her 6 yo Connemara mare, who tends to be tense and rushy.
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2672
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2671
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2668
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2662
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2661
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2635
- Tip/Quote of the Day # 2602






