anyone heard of doing 1/2 halts or perhaps more correctly Slowing the horse down by squeezing your UPPER legs?

Had never heard of it before (not that that means much LMAO) but obviously neither had Mac, I've never squeezed so much in my life!

Just want to know whether it's something I'll keep working on or not

Isn't squeezing how you say "go faster"? Sounds a bit confusing to me, not sure how it would work - upper squeeze slower lower squeeze faster...? no wonder men get confused by women... lol

well I'm sure it'll get refined once we both know what we're doing but at the moment it's a hard out squeeze legs (and seat) while trying to sit tall LOL.

I didn't get to the point of asking her why but wish I had, she did mention when first telling us to do it (he was racing off in the walk yesterday) that "eventually you just want to close the legs at the canter and he'll come back"

Gawd, I just hold my outside rein and think of sitting up tall and sucking in my tummy muscles... but I do keep my legs wrapped firmly round!

I actually usually "sink" slightly and exhale, when he's switched on enough that's enough, but this squeezing was nearly the death of both of us altho by the end of today he was listening better actually getting "a" response rather than him just going "WTF???!!!" and he was softening within that response so I could ask for a canter from there, so I guess within 3/4 it was starting to work (still taking 100% effort to squeeze tho! LOL)

I'm not a fan of anything being harder than it has to be!

My half halt is a quick succession of light aids. Depending on the horse, and what I'm attempting to achieve. ie: If I want more energy in my trot, I ask for a small go, then I lift the reins with a slight backward aid, vibrate (if need be) then allow the horse forward. voila, more energy.

If I want to steady the horse, it is seatbones in and on, lift reins, vibrate (if necessary) and then allow forward...

well my flabby thighs needed to be harder than they were LOL but we were getting there by the end, at first he was "what the hell are you doing up there?!" by the end of it, it was a tiny light hand aid to back it up and he was softening up thru it too.

Had just never heard of this squeezing with the thighs thing before and wondering if anyone had...