A Sally Andrews answers: This is a really common issue, so you certainly aren’t alone. The first thing to do is make sure your horse is in front of your leg. Then, ask yourself – how does he know when you want him to do something different?
Consider the half-halt – this is a signal to prepare the horse for something new. So, coupled with a half-halt, how does your horse know you want him to lengthen his stride or collect? It’ll have to be through your body language. He doesn’t speak English – he only understands what you tell him to do via your body. So, your movements have to be clear and concise.