Downward transitions are often not fluent, largely because the horse loses his balance and falls in a heap.
So, in a fluent downward transition, the horse will go from one pace to the new one in one fluid movement, without falling onto his forehand or stopping abruptly.
How to do it:
Give a half-halt before the transition, and don’t stop riding forward. You need plenty of impulsion in a downward transition to engage the horse’s hind legs and encourage him to step underneath and push himself forward into the new pace.
Even a transition from trot to walk needs plenty of energy, or the transition will be abrupt, and the walk steps will lack purpose and activity.
Similarly, if you don’t ride forward into a halt, the chances are that the horse won’t halt square and will most likely trail a hind leg.
In a nutshell, if you simply slam on the brakes without using your legs, a downward transition will be rough, unbalanced, and not fluent.
Related Read: How to Ride a Forwards Downward Transition