Master the Half Halt — Without Slowing Your Horse Down
Think a Half Halt means “slow down”? Think again.
Most riders know that a half halt is a vitally important element of equitation. Whether you are a dressage rider, or a showjumper looking to go up the grades, or one of those brave eventers - the half halt is the key to unlocking your horse's true potential.
But what really is it? How can we best describe it? And how the heck can we do a half halt that really works? Now there is a challenge.
The truth is simple: a half halt has nothing to do with slowing down.
It’s about rebalancing your horse - and a solid knowledge of the four corners of rhythm — faster, slower, shorter, and longer are a great place to start.
Discover ONE OF the secretS to balanced half halts—get your free video + PDF guide to the 4 Corners of Rhythm.
It’s 100% free...
Why most riders confuse shorter with slower (and how to fix it).
How every horse has natural tendencies — some slow down when shortened, others stay quick.
The key to understanding your horse’s unique rhythm, so your half halts actually rebalance instead of collapse.
This FREEBIE is for you if...
Your horse feels heavy on the forehand, no matter how much you ride forward
You wish you had the “magic wand” for making half halts work, every time.
Your horse tosses its head or loses impulsion every time you attempt a half halt.
You’re a trainer who wants a clear, simple way to explain and teach the half halt.
You struggle to shorten your show jumping horse to a fence.
Your horse struggles to compress or collect itself without falling apart.
You’re battling to rebalance your dressage horse and ride clean transitions.
👉 If any of these sound familiar, you’ll love this free video + PDF guide.
Why This Matters:
Most rider's I've surveyed report really struggling with the Half Halt - from the concept of it to it's execution.
This freebie gives you the first step in that missing education.
The first step in developing your half halt is to understand the four corners of Rhythm - Faster, Slower, Shorter and Longer. Without a knowledge of these (and a clearly defined "button" for each one) your half halts do not stand a chance.
Once you do understand them, you’ll have the foundation to ride balanced transitions, and rebalance your horse with ease .
meet the trainer:
I’m Jody Hartstone, I’ve been coaching for many years, and riding for even more — and let me tell you, the half halt has always been one of the most misunderstood concepts I’ve come across.
Not only did I struggle with it myself, but I’ve watched students, fellow riders, even advanced competitors wrestle with the same problem: everyone thinks they know what a half halt is, but when they try to ride it (or even describe it!), things fall apart.
Over the years, I developed my own way of describing and teaching the half halt. I deconstructed it into its essential parts so that both horses and riders could finally understand it. Once the pieces make sense, you can put them back together — and that’s when you get the half halt the textbooks talk about.
We’re often told that a half halt is just “a momentary" thing. But here’s the truth:
👉 It doesn’t start out like that.
You need to break it down, train the parts, then rebuild it. Only then does it become that effortless moment.
That’s exactly what I want to share with you — starting with the free video + PDF guide on the 4 Corners of Rhythm.
What Our Happy Riders Have to Say:
“I’ve ridden for years and thought I knew what a half halt was — turns out, I didn’t! Jody’s explanation finally made it click. My horse feels so much more balanced than before,”
Lucy
Emily
“Half halts always made my horse lose energy and fall apart. After learning Jody’s system, I can shorten without slowing down — and the difference is incredible.”
“I’ve had international coaches try to teach me the half halt, but nobody ever broke it down like this. Jody makes the mystery clear, step by step.”
Rebecca
A Balanced, UpHill, Forward and more Collected horse
is on the Horizon!
Get Instant Access to Your
4 COrners of Rhythm Free Video and Pdf today!
Find out one of the major reasons you are struggling with the half halt...
Half halts are one of the most misunderstood concepts in horse riding — and it shows up everywhere, from crooked corners to heavy forehands and lost impulsion and knocked fences in jumping.
The good news? You don’t need guesswork. You just need to understand all the elements that make up a half halt - starting with the 4 Corners of Rhythm — and how they apply to your horse. Sign up to receive immediate access to:
🎥 Video Lesson – The 4 Corners of Rhythm: Discover why shortening ≠ slowing, and how every horse’s tendencies shape the half halt.
📄 Companion PDF Guide – A clear, simple reference you can take into the arena, breaking down faster, slower, shorter, and longer — plus the exact rider “buttons” for each.
Start riding half halts with clarity, confidence, and the first step toward real balance.
Let's start solving your horse's
balance issues today!
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