# Walk, Trot, Halt, and Dismount Part of the Horsemanship Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/horsemanship/guide/index.md) *11. Basic Riding Skills* > **11.** On level ground, continuously do the following movements after safely mounting the horse. Do them correctly, at ease, and in harmony with the horse. This requirement covers seven riding skills that show whether you can stay balanced, communicate clearly, and keep the horse moving with steadiness instead of confusion. - **11a:** Walk straight for 60 feet - **11b:** Walk a half-circle within 16 feet radius - **11c:** Trot or jog straight for 60 feet - **11d:** Trot or jog a half-circle within 30 feet radius - **11e:** Halt straight - **11f:** Back up straight four paces - **11g:** Halt and dismount The goal is not flashy riding. The goal is quiet control. A rider in harmony with the horse looks balanced, calm, and predictable. Video: [How to Steer Your Horse (video)](https://youtu.be/uZ_5lxUyCdw) Video: [How to Ride a Horse (video)](https://youtu.be/fV7kuUrjutY) Video: [Riding Despite Physical Challenges (video)](https://youtu.be/oFy6FqQ_PXM?si=Qk7V2jJdKykcp9il) ## Requirement 11a > **11a.** Walk the horse in a straight line for 60 feet. Straightness starts with your own body. Look ahead, keep even rein contact, sit centered, and use both legs evenly so the horse does not drift. The walk should feel relaxed, not rushed. ## Requirement 11b > **11b.** Walk the horse in a half-circle of not more than 16 feet in radius. A circle asks the horse to bend through the body. Your inside leg helps keep energy and shape, while the outside aids help prevent the shoulder from drifting out. Think “curve,” not “sharp turn.” ## Requirement 11c > **11c.** Trot or jog the horse in a straight line for 60 feet. At the trot or jog, straightness becomes harder because the gait has more energy. Keep your eyes up, hands quiet, and legs supportive. Try not to balance on the reins. Video: [How to Trot a Horse (video)](https://youtu.be/-3CMZSbQRgg) ## Requirement 11d > **11d.** Trot or jog the horse in a half-circle of not more than 30 feet in radius. This movement combines bend and impulsion. You need enough forward energy to keep the trot, but enough organization that the horse does not fall in or drift out through the shoulder. ![Bird's-eye arena diagram showing the straight-line and half-circle riding patterns with their required sizes at walk and trot or jog](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/horsemanship/guide/straight-line-vs-half-circle-riding-patterns?v=4acfbeb7) Video: [Tips for Trotting (video)](https://youtu.be/KCSkmYEQxEg?si=ET5yK-3VM_Pjzae3) ## Requirement 11e > **11e.** Halt straight. A good halt should feel balanced, not abrupt. Close your aids, steady your body, and ask the horse to stop without throwing its head or stepping crooked. Video: [How to Stop Your Horse (video)](https://youtu.be/GJ0Y_ZaCSmo) ## Requirement 11f > **11f.** Back up straight four paces. Backing should be calm and deliberate. The horse should step back in balance instead of raising its head or twisting. Straight backing shows the horse understands your aids and is staying attentive. Video: [How to Back Up a Horse (video)](https://youtu.be/aolJGYfOZI0) ## Requirement 11g > **11g.** Halt and dismount. Finish as carefully as you started. Bring the horse to a quiet halt, prepare yourself, and dismount with control so the horse stays calm and balanced. Video: [Mount and Dismount a Horse (video)](https://youtu.be/vBdXfiNXu7I?si=Cb12AYTlH2J_lbtg) ## How to Ride in Harmony The phrase “at ease, and in harmony with the horse” is the heart of the requirement. Harmony means your body is not fighting the horse. You are not bouncing hard, yanking on the reins, or giving mixed signals. Your seat, hands, legs, and eyes all support the same message. **What Harmony Looks Like** — Signs that horse and rider are working together - [ ] **Balanced position:** You stay centered instead of leaning or gripping wildly. - [ ] **Quiet hands:** The reins guide instead of pulling constantly. - [ ] **Steady rhythm:** The horse keeps an even pace. - [ ] **Soft transitions:** Starts, turns, stops, and backing look organized. - [ ] **Calm attitude:** Neither horse nor rider looks rushed or upset. > **Safety First!** > > Always follow the instructions of your counselor or riding instructor about helmets, arena spacing, and whether the horse is ready to trot or jog. Riding skills should be practiced on a suitable horse in a controlled setting. > **Tip** > > Pick a point ahead when riding straight lines. Your horse often follows where your eyes and shoulders point, so looking past the end of the line helps you stay straighter. > **Be Prepared! The Horse Drifts Off the Line** > > You ask for a straight walk, but the horse keeps drifting toward the rail. > > - **Check yourself first:** Are your eyes, shoulders, and reins even? > - **Support with both legs:** A drifting horse often needs clearer guidance from the rider's body. > - **Make a quiet correction:** Avoid sudden pulling. > - **Try again with a clear destination:** Ride toward a visible point. [United States Pony Clubs — Horsemanship Education](https://ponyclub.org/): Educational horsemanship resources that reinforce position, safety, and riding fundamentals. The riding part of the badge ends here, but horsemanship can keep growing in many directions. In the next requirement, you will choose between exploring horse-related careers or using horsemanship as part of a healthy lifestyle or hobby. --- - Previous: [Approach, Lead, and Tie](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/horsemanship/guide/req10/index.md) - Next: [Choose Your Path](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/horsemanship/guide/req12/index.md)