Feature


the hindlegs move in a semi- circle shape.


When is it required? Turn on the forehand is not included in dressage tests but it is a useful exercise to teach your horse because it can be helpful when opening gates.


The benefits: Encourages flexion of


the inside hind leg, sets the horse up for the more complicated


First of all, get a square halt and make sure you have your horse’s attention...


lateral movements, can release muscle stiffness and tension.


How to ride it


1. First of all, ride a square halt on the inside track of your arena and make sure you have your horse’s attention.


2. You will ride the movement moving your horse’s hindquarters away from the fence, using the fence to help prevent forward movement. If you’re riding a turn on the forehand to the left, ask your horse for slight right flexion. Your right rein and leg become your inside aids when riding the exercise to the left.


...before you ask him to perform a turn on the forehand


In shoulder-in, watch out for: The horse offering too much bend, tilting his head or falling through the outside shoulder.


Shoulder-in exercise 1: Turn onto one of the long sides of the arena and ride shoulder-in until you pass E or B. Then ride a half 10-metre circle, also in shoulder-in, and continue up the centre line in shoulder-in. Repeat on both reins.


Shoulder-in exercise 2: Turn onto the centre line from the right rein and begin riding right shoulder-in on this line. After a few strides, leg-yield to the left a few steps then straighten the horse again, to ride another shoulder-in. Continue until you reach the end of the long side, then change the rein and ride it from the other direction.


Turn on the forehand


What is it? This exercise is used to teach the horse to move away from the rider’s leg. It requires the horse to move his quarters around his forehand and is usually ridden as a quarter turn (45 degrees) or a half turn (90 degrees). The horse’s inside foreleg pivots on the spot, the outside foreleg moves forward slightly, while


Top tip When you are teaching


your horse any sideways movements, let them find their own pace until they have worked it out mentally and physically.


Then you can focus on the quality of the pace.


In turn on the forehand, the horse... 12 MARCH 2019 | For advertising telephone 01380 734373 ...moves his quarters around his forehand


3. Allow slightly with your outside (left) rein so he has room to move into


the turn and keep your outside leg against his side to stop him rushing.


4. Your inside rein opens slightly to create right flexion, while the inside (right) leg goes just behind the girth to ask his quarters to the left.


5. You may need to make a few subtle half-halts with the outside rein to prevent the horse from moving forward.


In turn on the forehand, watch out for: The horse moving too much forward or stepping back.


Turn on the forehand exercise 1: Turn onto the centre line from the right rein then leg-yield to the left to the three-quarter line. Once you reach the three- quarter line, ride straight, halt, then ride a 90-degree turn on the forehand to the left, then leg-yield back to the centre line and ride another turn on the forehand to the left. Once you have ridden this exercise a few times, try it the other way.


Turn on the forehand exercise 2: Turn across the school from E or B then ride past X and perform a turn on the forehand of 90 degrees to change the rein, then head back on the line you came from and ride another turn on the forehand the other way.


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