It’s important to ask yourself, is there a smooth transition into the halt? 

It needs to be direct at elementary level and above, so no dropping into walk or trot for a few steps if it’s a canter entry.

The transition needs to be balanced with the horse taking the weight on his hind legs and not leaning on the bit.

It needs to stay straight and immobile and on the bit in the halt for ideally three seconds while you salute and retake your reins.

You need to be accurate, so on the centre line keeping the A marker behind you so hidden from the judge. If they can see A then you cannot be on the centre line!

The halt needs to be at the correct marker ie X in most straight tests. This means your body not the horse’s head or tail.

You need a quick glance left or right to find E and/or B to find X as it’s not marked on the surface. 

In eventing in a grass arena, a centre line can be mowed and then the centre line markers can be added with a mown strip across, but this is rare.

The master judge won’t see if you are slightly early or late, but the side judges absolutely will which is why marks can range dramatically in panel judging for halts!

Then a prompt move off willingly in front of the leg to trot with energy and lightness. Lower level tests include the first turn at C too so a supple turn keeping the energy is important here.

Practice makes perfect as it’s something that’s easy to forget. Use a friend videoing you standing at C to see what it looks like from a judge’s perspective. Good luck!