Horses 101: Turning Your Horse

We are back in the saddle again, this time for a lesson on making turns. You are still riding your horse with direct reining, using two hands to help become a better-balanced rider. Your reins will have light contact with the horse’s mouth, meaning that the reins will not have any dip in them, but will form a direct line from the point they meet the bit, to your hand. The straight line should continue from your hand to your wrist and through to your elbow. Your hands will close lightly on the reins. Your fluid shoulder will allow your arms and hands to move with the rhythm of the horse’s head, placing only the lightest pressure on the bit.

Your turn begins by walking your horse forward. Once the horse is walking in a straight line forward you make your turn using your body from your waist up, looking slightly into the direction you wish to turn. Visualize yourself having six eyes, the two you see with, one on each shoulder point and one on each hip bone point. By moving these “six eyes” into the direction of your turn you will be accomplishing many things.
1) You will be bringing the hand toward the turn, back slightly.
2) You will be allowing the other hand to move forward slightly.
3) You will be shifting your weight slightly to the side toward the turn, requiring the horse to rebalance in the same direction.
4) Your outside leg will slide slightly further back, telling the outside hip of the horse to bend as you turn. This is also the leg that will motivate the horse to keep moving if he needs encouragement to go forward.
5) Your inside leg will rest against the side of the horse at the girth area, forming a pillar for the horse to bend around.

All these aids should be done accurately but gently so the horse will have no doubt about the command you are giving. You will be communicating with your horse’s body in all the right ways, making it easy for him to accomplish the turn.

Please note that when making your “six eye” turn, you do not turn your body completely in the direction you wish to go. Imagine yourself turning your car’s steering wheel to make a right hand turn. You turn part way then “follow” the turn through. You do the same with your body. You turn part way and follow the turn through. As soon as the horse shows it will make the turn in the direction you want, begin to straighten him out by repositioning yourself forward.

For those of you who have only used reins for turning to this point, the process will seem strange at first. However, it is rewarding when your horse becomes so responsive that it seems you are merely “thinking” about turning and your horse turns exactly as you wish. What is happening is that your thoughts are instructing your body to make a very slight weight shift and your legs are making very slight contact on his sides. Consequently, the horse knows what you want and does it. That is when you and your horse are beginning to ride as one. It’s every rider’s dream!

Darleen Finnigan, CHA (Certified Horseman’s Association) and ARIA (American Riding Instructors Association), teaching for 11 years at Saddle Soar Ranch, Inc. Edgewood, WA. Specializing in Gaited Horse Riding. 253 927-6899 or www.saddlesoarranch.com