Using your feet

Stirrups are not brakes! In fact the more one steps in the stirrups, the worse the brakes! For good half halts and downward transitions, practice doing them with bend, never retract the rein! Never press in the stirrups! To bend you can open the rein if needed, but never pull it back. When you pull the rein back, you stop the hind legs. We want to stop the front legs and make sure the hind legs keep going for as long as good balance requires, in order to support the horse in the downward transition and help him step under with the hhind legs. When you press in the stirrups you hollow your back and the horse copies you. so, the downward transions are butt-high and lack engagement. Focus on your lower leg by practicing riding downward transitions in shoulder in and leg yield. You must keep your hands still, preferably on the neck for this to work. Use your core muscles, think about what you want, and ride forward until it happens.