The halt is a fundamental movement in dressage where the horse stops moving and stands still, squarely on all four legs. Achieving a balanced and obedient halt requires the horse to be attentive and responsive to the rider's aids. During the halt, the horse should be straight, with its weight evenly distributed over all four legs, and remain calm and attentive, ready to move off again at the rider's command.

The quality of the halt is judged on several factors:

Immobility: The horse must remain completely stationary once halted.

Squareness: Ideally, all four feet should be neatly aligned, with the hooves evenly placed.

Transition: The movement into and out of the halt should be smooth, with the horse maintaining rhythm and balance without resistance.