Everything Horse UK Everything Horse Magazine, October 2018 issue 38 | Page 30

TRAINING
Say what ...
Say what ?
Dressage Decoded with Harriet Morris-Baumber
Half Halt,
Through , Falling
In or Falling Out,
Soft, Behind
or
In front of the
Leg , Ahead or Behind
the Vertical ,
Against
the Hand, On
the Forehand
30
A
Image above: If your horse is
‘behind the vertical’, his nose is
tucked in close to the chest
re the technical terms used by your
instructor or the comments made by
the judge on your test sheet sometimes
a mystery? Here trainer and event
rider, Harriet Morris-Baumber tries to
demystify some of the jargon. Half Halt
The terminology used by equestrians can at times be
viewed as a foreign language. Do you often look blankly
at your instructor when they comment your horse is
behind the hand, or feel like you need an interpreter to
understand the judges’ comments on your dressage test
sheet? Through
After-all your instructor is trying to help improve your
riding and the judges’ comments are designed to be
constructive so you know what areas you need to work
on to gain more marks, so it is vital you understand
what they mean.
Harriet Morris-Baumber is well-placed to help us
understand these often confusing terms as she is
experienced in being on the receiving end when she
competes herself, as well as actively trying to simplify
her language when she trains others.
The Half halt is when the rider gives the horse an aid
to slow down a fraction but not stop completely, ideally
without losing any power or activity. More like a ‘whoaa’
than a ‘stop’.
This is when the horse has unlocked his mind and body
and is free of tension or resistance, allowing the energy
to flow from his engine (hind legs) through his body
into the connection at the front. Imagine a hosepipe
with no kinks or knots, the water will flow seamlessly
‘through’ from the tap to the end.
Falling In or Falling Out
Falling out, is when your horse fails to stay in the middle
of an imaginary corridor. He might feel like there is a
magnet pulling him to the outside edge or like he is
being sucked into the middle if he is falling in.
EVERYTHING HORSE MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2018 • ISSUE 38