The Half-Halt Explained

[@michaelhoffmann2891]

I've always felt that how they explain the half-halt is what allows you to tell if a trainer is worth squat. I've had trainers who describe the half-halt as "pull on the outside rein". Just get off the horse and walk away quickly. There's a reason the half-halt is called "halbe Parade" in German dressage. A "Parade" is a moment of pose, of gathering. It's a whole body exercise. And it took me years and years to get it. :D Your husband cracked me up. "This horseback riding thing" :D:D:D:D I'd love a lesson with him and then go for beers.

[@ritaangel8736]

Your husband explains this so well! I need to remember what he said " you need to prepare your horse for what is coming up" and "then you inhale and gather up your horse". The entire lesson is so helpful. I am so glad to see your mom riding. I'm 56 years old and just bought a horse last year. I haven't ridden much since college. I was in lessons for about 4 months before my body was no longer sore for a week after a lesson.

[@hazurajane]

This lesson is memorable for so many reasons - his descriptions that ring so true, his eagle eye on what’s working and not working and omg his nailing the “rush to trot to cover up how you’re not doing it in a focused, correct way.” 😂 So guilty of that, I literally lol’ed. Thank you!

[@michawika8991]

Excellent session for me. Thank you. Sounds so simple sometimes, but so difficult to feel it deeply with the most sensitive senses. When you finally feel it you know what is the half-halt about on one hand, but on the other this feeling is so different for different horses and at the different stages of your and your horse development, that each additional perspective and shared experience is enriching how we ride half-halt. I like it very much.

[@michawika8991]

Thank you, it is very suggestive. I have watch this already before, I watched again and like it. There are so important reminders about focusing and preparation, and also breathtaking. It is unbelievable that we are sometimes stopping our breath while we do something which seems to be demanding for us, but our horse feels it.

[@jberard3752]

Lovely lesson, I would like to see more of his lessons. He gives a nice evaluation of his student in real time, asking her questions then, allows her to answer, then give real time answers with results. Thank you for your support in all of our riding. Truely greatful to you and your Brothers channels.

[@judyboyle9232]

I agree, I love you and your brother's channels!!!

[@higginsba]

What's her brother's channel? Also equestrian related? Thanks!

[@sabinelloyd8532]

That was a very helpful prep for my ride today as I am working on balance and transitions. I really like the explanation of raising and lowering your centre of gravity with breath.

[@deannalaramie7105]

It is fantastic to see a lesson for a less experienced rider. Great teaching moments!

[@bikeyspice]

"Erase the chalkboard before you write the next sentence" That is going to be useful for me to remember. Thanks

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes!! He has good imagery!!

[@eunicefischer8707]

Excellent description of proper motion of rider to keep horse in proper forward motion in half-halt. THANK YOU! EUNICE FISCHER

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You’re so welcome Eunice :)

[@dzjaag6148]

Sack the cameraman 😂 But wow, his guidance is so easy to follow and makes so much sense. Thank you for sharing!

[@vernalin4506]

Really good video of your husband giving your Mom a lesson. Would like more of these as it is very helpful.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

hehe I'll be sure to tell her she's in high demand. Next time she's out for a visit :)

[@stephaniesmith5974]

Wait WHOA-this Guy is GREAT! Like on point analogy’s!! Does he have any more videos out? He has conversations every nano second-even explaining the breath in breath out for centering not just relaxation!! Where else can I find him or his videos??!! Love ur channel and love you and now he is a great communicator! Bring him on!! Thx from NY! The the “here comes the corner of doom!”

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

This is my husband teaching my mother! Yes he is so funny when he teaches and I definitely need to get him to do some more videos

[@sharadbhutoria]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage have you gotten around to doing this yet?

[@stellachandler4719]

Loved this video Amelia. Helps to think of gathering both yourself and the horse you are riding.Good clear instructing on his part.

[@lyndaburch9381]

Great video! I love your husband’s sound effects! Thanks for sharing. And yes, preparing the horse for the next thing is such a huge lesson I have had to learn! I always need to remind myself to prepare him for the whatever is coming up! That has made a big difference in my riding. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@benitascott3533]

Yes, I cam see why people have loved yr husband's video lessons! Very nice lesson. Simple, giving clarity & effective instruction. I'll take that on board. I do love your videos Amelia. Really beneficial to me. Thankyou for sharing. 🐎🐴💞

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Thank you!

[@janetclements8988]

I love your metaphor of the comma. I’m an elementary teacher, and I always explain that little black thing as the thing that puts our talk into phrases so that we don’t sound like a robot when we read. Same thing for riding; it tells the horse that this part goes together, this part means get ready for something new, this part flows into the next part smoothly, not roughly; and breathing is important. Thanks to you and your hubby. I know how your Mom feels. I’m an older rider too.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're so welcome! I love the community we're building! If you're on Facebook, please join the Amelia's Dressage Club Group, if you're not already a member. I hope to see you there!

[@KingsMom831]

Your husband is great at explaining! Thanks!

[@elnajensen6929]

Thank you so much Amelia, I love this so much, particularly the, "Inhale and exhale, close your calf" That makes perfect sense. It is also a reminder not to rush which I find really, really hard, I think I'm always in a hurry. What a great thing to do on Christmas Day. Thank you thank you, thank you.xxx

[@xenodike8851]

ha! i love his envisioning teaching style. i do that to :) what may help her slow/ halt is the ear trick. sit and envision you "pull your ears back". nothing else, no tilting, just move your head straight back, so th ears are a few cm behind their original position. it's easier to show than to explain. makes you automatically sit deeper, use your weight. works for everyone i taught that trick to so far. enables you to stop horses without even using the reins at all.

[@phantomglasses]

Xenodike The horse's ears or the rider's.

[@jakajajestem]

@@phantomglasses rider, I assume;) But it is 2 yrs, so maybe doesn't actually matter..?;)

[@afnaar7386]

I like the way your husband explains this! It makes more sense, now.

[@michellehovanek3441]

Stumbled upon this video, absolutely Love you’re videos and explanations, but Wow he’s awesome in his explanations! Need more!

[@debflint7630]

I view this video each time I ride and it is helping but I agree with Michael - very difficutl.

[@Conny226]

Best explanation I don’t have a horse yet, but I am taking riding lessons with a person that does not explain anything , because he is not a teacher he breaks horses. I live in the country in Missouri and it is really hard to find a good facility.

[@laurencehughes9060]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bridgermouse]

Thanks so much for the cantor videos! So helpful!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you like them!

[@abbaspromisefarm4936]

loved the opening thought of the zentauer -incredibly helpful

[@judyboyle9232]

I love your description, "A PUNCTUATION MARK"!!! As an elementary school teacher, I get it, my horsey students should get this, too!

[@chandorequestrian]

LOVED this video! Please make more videos about teaching green horses. Your husband sounds like a great trainer!

[@angelablakesley5960]

Amazing I find him very easy understand well done 👍

[@jocelynemeurant6259]

WoW your mum has a nice riding position !!! I envy her 😂 Your husband’s explanations are so easy and explicit to understand and keep in mind !! Thanks 🇫🇷🇫🇷

[@myworldautistic670]

I wish you could teach me. Your instruction is on a much deeper level. It's not commands, it's connection.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

I would love to have you in some of my online programs, amelianewcombdressage.com/courses/

[@myworldautistic6839]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage I would love that so much. But I have no way to afford them. I am severely disabled and have no income except SSI/SSDI which keeps me way below the federal poverty level. I have to apply every year for a medical grant for my riding lessons. I can get the grant because riding helps my disabilities. I wish I could do your classes. I love your videos. But it's not financially possible.

[@cindynoble2037]

So give us a little background on your husband/trainer...does he show? Teach for a living? Enjoyed the vid, Amelia🐴🐎🤗

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes, he is a trainer, yes he shows and teaches. I think he might be a better teacher than me! He's is also super supportive of my training and riding ❤️

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

@Sylvia Tomecek Germán Schneider

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

I think hes amazing. Id lesson with him if I wasnt on literally the opposite coast.

[@sandradee7725]

Absolutely love your Channel

[@konieami]

Wow! Perfect equestrian family there :-P I liked the description af half halt as gathering ;-)

[@julieheyrman]

Great! Amelia, Thank you for all your videos. in this video camera person had a little too much egg nog? lol. I have been working on half halts and this is very helpful.

[@marie-pierrebelanger7329]

Awesome

[@falizianme5846]

Where do I find the email link? Thanks!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

forms.aweber.com/form/52/766851352.htm

[@juliah.1403]

Done.

[@emmahawkins-fowler9768]

What helmet are you wearing in the intro?

[@elizamoss3998]

Michael.moss🐎🏇👍💓💘

[@veronikajankovicova9567]

Who is the person on the horse?

[@andrewbirtle3603]

He's funny.

[@Pferdecoach]

hmmm....sorry, that Zentauer example is not mine .....we are a horse on a horse - therefore we dont need an imagination of Zentauer with 2 arms and 4 legs in our mind or the horse must be with 6 legs then if this example should work , smile, but its true that the most problem in learning riding is really to bring the riders "thinking" how by being a 2 leg vertical body bringing myself into the horses horizontal 4 leg body into a harmony ...smile ....even riding master from Vienna school Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg said " think like a horse and horse will understand you " .......maybe riders should crawl like a baby playing horse on the ground first before getting on a horse .....ha ha ha.... I like that mom Newcomb is so concentrated on her own body - thats the true way, if your body fits into the horses body one day at each breath - and not only thinking if horses head is deep by hands thats all in dressage whats needed ....smile....

[@veroniqueviaudFaspasie_1957]

I think it doesn't exist in France. There is no translation in French. And I never heard about it for all my story of a rider. 🤔🤔 It should be, because dressage is a French word. 😂😂

[@KiroPhoto]

“…not appropriately dressed…”. Was thinking we’d see red and green PJs and the wifey’s fuzzy slippers. This vid was a disappointment 😂

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Sorry!

[@wendytaylor7387]

I felt the trainer was a bit condescending and critical in his tone. I prefer the way Amelia teaches.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

😅 that’s my husband. He can get a bit enthusiastic but his deep voice can play it off differently at times.