|
|
You're pretty sure you know how to turn a horse. You pull the inside rein to draw the horse’s nose and shoulder around, right?
So why does your trainer keep telling you that is why your horse keeps falling on her forehand?
Try this simple exercise: Sit comfortably on your horse in the middle of an arena, and let your legs drape loosely on the horse's barrel. Ask you horse to walk. Then pull the right rein either toward your body or away from your body (open rein). If that were the way to turn a horse, then your horse should turn right. But more likely, what will happen is that your horse's haunches will swing away from you, and the horse will walk in a wider and wider arc, moving closer to the rail.
So no, that's not how you turn a horse. This is how you turn a horse.
- Move your outside leg (the leg "facing" the rail) slightly behind the girth, and keep it firmly on your horse's barrel.
- Press your inside leg (the leg "facing" the middle of the arena) on your horse's barrel at the girth.
- Keep a firm feel on your outside rein, which should be level with and just outside the horse's withers.
- Squeeze the inside rein, and, if necessary, pull it gently toward your inside hip.
Voila! Your horse will bend her body around your inside leg and will turn in that direction. You can ride a deep corner or a perfect circle that way. Here's why:
Look at the woman in the photo. Imagine reins are attached to either side of the pencil a few feet in front of her. If she pulls the right rein, what will happen?
Yep, the pencil would just rotate under her. The tip would swing to the right and the eraser end would swing the opposite way. That's what happens when you pull on a horse's rein to try to make the horse turn. The nose goes one way, the haunches swing out the opposite way.
Now what if she held the left rein firmly and held the outside of the pencil in place with her left leg so it couldn't swing out. That would create a "wall" on the left side of the pencil. Now suppose the pencil was made of foam, and she pressed her flexible tube will your right leg and squeezed (or gently pulled) the right leg into the foam while squeezing (or gently pulling) the right rein. The erase end can't swing away to the left because her left leg is holding it in place. The tip can't swing out to the right because her left hand is holding it straight. Instead, the pencil would bend around her right leg. If the pencil now moved forward, that bend would allow it to glide smoothly to the right, making a graceful arc.
The same thing happens if you turn (or circle) a horse this way. By creating a "wall" on the outside while applying pressure on the inside, the horse will bend her body around your inside leg. Because the outside rein is holding her neck straight, her neck can't crank too much to the inside and her shoulder can't "pop" to the outside. Because the outside leg is holding the haunches, they can't swing away. And because the inside leg is applying pressure at the girth while the inside rein flexes the jaw (and perhaps pulls the jaw toward the inside), the horse can't do much of anything other than bend gently around the inside leg.
Yep, the pencil would just rotate under her. The tip would swing to the right and the eraser end would swing the opposite way. That's what happens when you pull on a horse's rein to try to make the horse turn. The nose goes one way, the haunches swing out the opposite way.
Now what if she held the left rein firmly and held the outside of the pencil in place with her left leg so it couldn't swing out. That would create a "wall" on the left side of the pencil. Now suppose the pencil was made of foam, and she pressed her flexible tube will your right leg and squeezed (or gently pulled) the right leg into the foam while squeezing (or gently pulling) the right rein. The erase end can't swing away to the left because her left leg is holding it in place. The tip can't swing out to the right because her left hand is holding it straight. Instead, the pencil would bend around her right leg. If the pencil now moved forward, that bend would allow it to glide smoothly to the right, making a graceful arc.
The same thing happens if you turn (or circle) a horse this way. By creating a "wall" on the outside while applying pressure on the inside, the horse will bend her body around your inside leg. Because the outside rein is holding her neck straight, her neck can't crank too much to the inside and her shoulder can't "pop" to the outside. Because the outside leg is holding the haunches, they can't swing away. And because the inside leg is applying pressure at the girth while the inside rein flexes the jaw (and perhaps pulls the jaw toward the inside), the horse can't do much of anything other than bend gently around the inside leg.
If you turn your horse this way, she won’t fall on her forehand, slow down through the turn, lose her balance, or pop her shoulder out on a circle. Instead, your inside leg will gently drive her into your outside hand (like your left hand on the tube) and your outside leg will be slightly behind the girth to prevent her haunches from swinging away (like your left leg on the tube), and your inside leg will allow her spine to bend and her barrel to yield to your leg.
Now here's the surprising part. Suppose you do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with your inside hand. Your horse will turn anyway because your legs and outside rein will be bending her body in the direction you want her to turn. You can turn your horse through every bend with just these aids. The inside rein adds the final polish. By gently squeezing your inside hand, you encourage your horse to soften and flex her jaw. She will remain perfectly balanced as she glides smoothly through the turn (no matter how wide or sharp it is), driving with her inside hind leg toward your outside hand, and remaining on the bit throughout the turn.
More great articles on dressage can be found here.
More great articles on jumping can be found here.
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD April 2016; updated Jan 22, 2020
The Thinking Equestrian
Now here's the surprising part. Suppose you do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING with your inside hand. Your horse will turn anyway because your legs and outside rein will be bending her body in the direction you want her to turn. You can turn your horse through every bend with just these aids. The inside rein adds the final polish. By gently squeezing your inside hand, you encourage your horse to soften and flex her jaw. She will remain perfectly balanced as she glides smoothly through the turn (no matter how wide or sharp it is), driving with her inside hind leg toward your outside hand, and remaining on the bit throughout the turn.
More great articles on dressage can be found here.
More great articles on jumping can be found here.
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD April 2016; updated Jan 22, 2020
The Thinking Equestrian
|
Denise Cummins has over 30 years experience as an equestrian and horse business owner. In The Thinking Equestrian, she shares valuable tips on caring for and training horses, giving riding instruction, and running a successful horse business. |
We thought you'd also like...
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  Elasticized Side Reins
|
  Sports Medicine Boots
|
  Longe Line
|
  Unscrew Longe Line
|
  Leather Halter
|
  Quality Breeches
|
  Military Grade Cell Phone Holster to
Clip Over Boots |
  Fun Horse Bracelet
|
Opening Photo Credit: © Accept001 | Dreamstime.com - <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-close-up-shot-rider-her-dressage-horse-trotting-showground-image58964312#res9815805">Close up shot of rider on a her dressage horse</a>
Photo Credit Woman Riding Pencil: © Adam121 | Dreamstime.com - <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-i-like-drawing-young-pretty-girl-riding-drawn-pencil-image50447120#res9815805">I like drawing</a>
Photo Credit Woman Riding Pencil: © Adam121 | Dreamstime.com - <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-i-like-drawing-young-pretty-girl-riding-drawn-pencil-image50447120#res9815805">I like drawing</a>
