The Half-Halt was described by Podhajsky as the remedy of "type 2 crookedness." He noted, in The Complete Horse and Rider, that when the reins are taken up most horses will adopt more position to one side or the other. Usually to the right, but this isn't etched in stone with all horses. He described what he called the "unilateral half-halt" in this case performed as the rider holding the right rein or hollow side and attempt to persude by short actions of the left hand (he described it as like sqeezing water from a sponge.) Remember that before and after the half-halt the horse must be driven well forward with the SEAT AND LEGS. He must not lose implusion or collection.

Just one of the many uses for the half-halt.

When I perform the half-halt, I feel as though my whole body is involved, and I kind of think of it as a virtual halt, a second of suspension of movement, but with leg to say to the horse, "slow down, round, balance, come up in front, sit down in back, but keep moving."

Think of the seat as one's thighs through the small of one's back. The back starts at the small and the small of the back is a pivot point. If back were part of one's seat, one wouldn't have quiet hands, it really needs to be independent.

Using one's hands in a half halt, and the smallest half halt you can give is just with the hands, just a squeezing of the fingers, sometimes opne might use my back and shoulders to help when a "bigger half-halt is required.

But, if one braces with any of the parts of the body above the seat, it is a technically incorrect half-halt. Sometimes when training a horse to accept a half-halt properly, one might hold it, or even exaggerate it to get a response. The horse and rider need that response so that the reward syndrome completes with a ceasation of holding aids. Otherwise, one shall get into that whole battle of holding a horse in a frame and becoming very dependent on each other.

The rider needs independence of all body parts and of the horse to do it's job and carry itself. It's the only way that a horse won't lock up and take short steps from the rear. Losing implusion and straightness. During the movement, at least. The horse will fall apart in frame. It's a habit that will be difficult to break and one very much associated with lower level riders, due to incomplete instruction.