*photo from yourhorse.co.uk

How to do a turn on the forehand

The purpose of the turn on the forehand is to teach your horse to move without hesitating from the inside leg into the outside rein, keeping the horse’s inside foreleg nearly stationary. Your horse’s inside foreleg, remaining almost in the same spot, will continue stepping up and down in rhythm as the hind legs move sideways, creating a semi-circle-with the inside hind leg crossing in front of the outside hind. This movement is strengthening and supplies exercise because it requires the horse to step with his inside hind leg under himself and hold it as his outside hind stretches in the direction that the hindquarters are moving. The goal of this exercise is each time you ask your horse for another turn there is an unhesitating positive response to your leg aid.

How To Do a Turn on the Forehand:

1)Track to the left at the walk (riding a few feet off the rail).

2)Halt your horse parallel to the rail. Bend him slightly to the right toward the rail (do not over bend his neck).

3)Give your horse a slight nudge with your right leg behind the girth. Your right hand asks for a slight bend to the right; your outside rein maintains a steady contact. With constant, rhythmic pressure from the right leg, ask your horse to step to the left with his hindquarters.

4)Your right leg pushes him into the outside rein; the outside rein, with the wall acting as reinforcement, keeps him from moving forward.

5)Continue asking your horse to move his hindquarters away from your leg. When this movement is done the right way, your horse will move his left hind right underneath his body, stepping in front of the left hind.

6)After four or five steps, you will be facing in the opposite direction-180 degrees from where you started. Once you have completed the turn, praise your horse.

7)After you have completed your turn on the forehand move forward at the trot to keep your horse thinking forward. Repeat the exercise in the opposite direction.