​Turn on the Forehand, Turn on the Haunches and Side Pass

​Turn on the Forehand, Turn on the Haunches and Side Pass
By Gaye DeRusso
 
Turn On The Forehand (Front Legs) Also Called Disengaging Hindquarters
 
Stand parallel with the fence. You are going to use the fence to block the horse’s forehand (front legs). Use your outside rein (one next to the fence), turn the horses head enough that you see their eye but not their whole head. The rein just guides the horse in the direction you want to go. Look the direction you want to go, do not look at the horse’s head. Then with your outside leg (one next to the fence) have it a couple of inches behind the girth, press into their side with your calf, if they don't respond use your heel. Press until they move their hindquarters (hind end) over. Keep pressing until your horse is facing the other direction (so you did a 180), and the horse is straight. Make sure to stand a couple minutes afterwards so the horse knows not to walk away after the turn. This turn is a pivot not a walking turn. So front end stays still, and hind end is walking around. 
 
Mistakes - The fence blocks the horses forehand but once you are turning past the fence you must hold contact, so the horse does not walk away. Hold and keep pushing with your leg, so the forehand stays still and the hindquarters keep turning till you are straight. 
 
If the horse will not move its hindquarters over, bump with your leg. If no response use a dressage whip and tap behind your leg until the horse responds. 
 
If your horse tends to wobble, they sometimes will overturn, so once they have turned, block them with your other rein and leg to stop the movement.
 
What's It Good For? 
 
Teaches you and the horse how to control its hindquarters. So, if they are trying to kick another horse, you can push their hindquarter away to protect the other horse. Also, if your horse is trying to take off, rear or buck, it takes the power away from their backend, so they cannot do these maneuvers and puts you back in control. 
 
Helpful to make a tight turn on a single-track trail. 
 
Turn on the Haunches (Back Legs)
 
Stand parallel to the fence. You are going to use the fence to block the horse’s haunches (back legs). You will open your inside rein (one toward center of arena) to lead the horse in the right direction, with your outside rein press it against the horse’s neck to help guide it over. Look toward the center of the arena. Use your outside leg (one next to the fence) by the girth or a little forward and press with your calf and then heel to push the horse's shoulders toward the inside of the arena. Once you are turned half way, stop so the horse does not walk away then continue your turn till you are facing the opposite way and have done a 180. 
 
Mistakes - Not holding enough contact as you guide the horse will allow it to walk away. Remember this is a pivot maneuver not a walking maneuver. If the horse will not move over, you may have to bump it with your leg or use on stick on the horse’s shoulder to get it to move its shoulders over. 
 
What's It Good For? 
 
Teaches you and the horse how to move the shoulders over. So, gives you more control. Very helpful for S turns on the trail and if your horse tends to spin, this can help block it. 
 
Helpful to make a tight turn on a single-track trail. 
 
Side Pass - Moving sideways. 
 
Make sure your horse can do the turns above first, then it will be able to figure out this maneuver with less confusion. Stand with the horse facing the fence. You are going to use the fence to block the horse from walking forward to make it easier for you. Let’s side pass to the right. So, open your right rein to lead the horse in the correct direction. Put your left rein against the horse’s neck to block it from going the wrong way. Take your right leg off of the horse so it opens the door for the correct direction. Then with your left leg bring it just slightly behind the girth and press with your leg till the horse moves sideways. Start with one step and rest and then repeat 3 more times. Over time you can increase to 3-5 steps in a row as the horse understands what to do. Rest then repeat in other direction. So, to side pass to the left, open your left rein, put your right rein against the horse's neck, take your left leg off to open the door and push with your right leg to move the horse over. 
 
Over time when you can do it well with the fence, then try it with just a pole in front of you and then with nothing in front of you. 
 
Mistakes- Not holding enough pressure once you try it away from the fence and horse walks forward. Holding too much pressure and horse goes backwards. Releasing the leg before the horse does the movement. If horse ignores your leg, bump with your heel and if no response tap with a dressage whip behind your leg. 
 
What's It Good For?
 
Gives you control of entire horse's body. Helpful to open gates and move sideways any time. You can block horse if it starts running sideways when spooking.