Roots: Working Equitation ~ Halt Obstacles

Lise LeBlanc
May 1
6 min read

The sport of Working Equitation is gaining is popularity all around the globe. The obstacles are fun and challenging. In Ease of Handling riders maneuver through the obstacles with precision, and calmness. In the speed phase, adjustability, obedience, speed and smart course lines are the tasks .

During my stay with Bernardo Tavares, at the Tavares ranch in Alentejo Portugal I rode as a garrochista for 6 days. I experienced the cultural roots of Working Equitation. This gave me a unique perspective of the obstacles. As a Working Equitation Judge, I understand the obstacle criteria. Working in the field as a garrochista gave me the historical and practical significance to the 'how and why ' behind the judging criteria.

Over the next few blog posts I will highlight some Working Equitation obstacles and the significance behind the judging criteria as it relates to the sport and field work.

Today, I will discuss the Halt Obstacles

Elix at the Jug, 2024 Royal Winter Fair, Toronto Ontario Photo by Tracy Hanes

The halt is a very important maneuver in Working Equitation, and it is featured in several obstacles. In Working Equitation there are many opportunities to demonstrate a good halt. This, is in my opinion, is one of the most overlooked opportunities to score higher points in the Ease of Handling phase. Halts seem easy, but there is a lot going on at the halt. It is often forgotten about in training. A good halt in an indicator of training.

Horses mostly are unbalanced until they are trained to be engaged from behind. Many riders focus primarily on moving, and moving at speed.

How many spend time in halt?

Balance and engagement is actually improved with transitions. That includes transitions to halt and from halt. Impulsion and power are achieved when speed is reduced. A halt is the perfect test of engagement, without speed. A proper halt will show the haunches neatly tucked and rear legs straightly under the horse. Lack of engagement will often cause the haunches to swing to one side. A proper halt shows a horse that remains light on the shoulder, and ready to move with power, in any direction. The horse is on the bit, immobile and calmly waiting for further instructions. Judges want to see this halt, this immobility, obedience and focus. A horse that halts 'square' means that the legs are underneath - and not lagging behind, or stepping forward. The horse at the halt needs to be submissive to all the aids, while waiting patiently for rider's direction.

Riders need to pay attention to these important requirements and not 'speed' thought the halts in the Ease of Handling halt obstacles.

I will go through some of the judging criteria for Jug, Switch Cup (rounding posts), Gate and the Bell Corridor in Working Equitation, and make connections to the significance associated with the halt while working on an Iberian ranch, afterwards.

Jug Obstacle

Some of the criteria:

1) Approach the jug through the entrance markers at the gait required. (L2+Canter). Halt at the table. The straight approach and halt is best, although the rider is permitted to circle the table once.

2) Transition to halt beside the table . A transition halt is required at the table. The best halt will be a straight halt directly from the gait of entry without intermediate steps. The more intermediate steps (through trot or walk) demonstrates a weaker transition and placement of weight on the shoulder. However, still, a decent halt, with immobility can be achieved at the table in good position. It is important to wait 3 seconds before touching the obstacle - to show the judge that you have immobility.

3) Lift the jug (some show it to the judge) and replace it on the table. During this action, the horse should stay straight, on the bit, and not interfere or become distracted. Any movement of the hooves during execution of the jug task is penalized.

4) Transition from halt to required gait. The best transition forward into the required gait is without intermediate steps. Halt to canter. Intermediate steps indicate lack of engagement at the halt.

5) Leave through the direction markers

There are direction markers with this obstacle to show the rider how to approach and how to exit. Also, any interference with the obstacle while inside the markers results in a penalty (jug falls etc) It needs to be rectified by the rider, and the obstacle done over.

Switch Cup / (Rounding Posts)

The switch cup is a halt obstacle that requires precision to achieve the halt in a good position to move the cup from one side to the other. It is a test of the transition to and from halt. And, because the task is done easily it can be a test of the immobility.

1) Approach on a straight line and halt with posts slightly ahead of rider's shoulders.

2) Transition to halt from required gait. Once again the highest degree of difficulty is to achieve the halt without intermediate steps, and in good position.

3) Establish halt immobility. Wait 3 seconds before touching the cup.

4) Move the cup from one post to the other.

5) Transition from halt to required gait. Once again - without intermediate steps is the highest degree of difficulty.

Rounding posts involves a corridor made by 6 posts - 3 on each side. The rider reverses around the middle post and returns the cup to the last post on the side from which the cup was removed.

The author training the Switch Cup with Juan José Verdugo Camacho in Spain, 2024

Bell Obstacle

The bell corridor can be a straight corridor or it can be an L shaped corridor. In each case the rider enters at the required gait or can transition to walk just before entry to the corridor.

1) Halt before the bell in good position to reach. This means rider will not have to lift out of the saddle to reach and ring the bell. Once again the halt needs to be established and immobile for 3 seconds before touching the bell.

2) Ring the bell. The horse should not move or show concern or distraction. It should not offer to interfere with the bell.

3) Reverse out of the obstacle until front legs clear the end of the rails. A horse that has halted well will be ready and able to reverse easily without resistance.

4) Turn on the haunches and transition to required gait.

The Gate

1) Approach the gate perpendicular.

2) Transition to walk approximately one horse length from gate.

3) Turn on the forehand

4) Halt in good position to lift the latch

5) Wait 3 seconds before touching the latch in order to demonstrate the halt and clear immobility

6) Move through the gate. Horse should not interfere / touch the gate

7) Halt on other side of gait in good position to replace latch

8) Proceed to required gait.

Halts are very important in the field. There can be long periods of time to wait while work is being done on foot. The patience of the horse is tested. Garrochistas need to defend or hold the cattle off of areas. A halt might be a calm break between periods of activity or a halt can mean defending position in a deliberate manner. One such example is defending a sleeping calf to protect it from the herd of cows on the move. Horses even at the halt must be prepared to quickly move off quickly in any direction. This is what makes the halt such a tricky thing to train. On the one hand we want calm and immobility, but on the other hand we want impulsion.

In the sport of Working Equitation the halt is even further tested because obstacles during the speed phase do not require halts. So, you can see how the halt might deteriorate if the obstacles are performed too much at speed. For this reason, I train halts more often, while I seldom ever train obstacles with speed.

In field work, the halt is necessary and valuable. The halt holds ground. The strong, immobile halt calmly sends signals of authority to the cattle. This calms the herd, and creates a safe space for necessary work to be done.