By Jim Geibel
Poorly executed turns are probably the biggest reason for refusals, poorly jumped fences and knock downs. Bad turns result in horses losing their balance, impulsion and, in many cases, their confidence. Out-of-balance turns will also slow horses in a jump off round against the clock. In other words, bad turns create bad jumps and slow times.
When a horse is in a turn, the outside stretches and lengthens and the inside shortens. This creates a need for the outside hind to step bigger in order to stay on the track of the curve. It is this lengthening and shortening that, over time, creates a horse that is capable of going straight forward with pace and scope, as well as balance. This, in turn, enables the rider to execute accurate turns at any given moment.
To start any turn, you must shift your weight slightly to the inside seat bone and press down with the inside leg on that stirrup. Then pull the horse's head to the inside, or direction they are going, with soft, rhythmical pulls on the inside rein. At the same time, allow a steady feel of the outside rein to prevent the horse from falling out or overflexing to the inside. The inside rein will also guard against the horse falling in.
Your chest should point slightly toward the direction you are going. Look early and often in the direction you are going, and check the position or shape of the shoulder, neck and head occasionally.
All the rein aids are made possible by using the driving aids properly. The inside calf creates impulsion forward at the girth, while the outside leg positioned slightly behind the girth, will act as a brace to prevent the haunches from falling to the outside. The outside leg will also ask the outside hind leg of the horse to step up a little bigger. Remember to keep these principles in mind when you do turns and other school movements.
There is a classic procedure for teaching proper turns. The elementary training movements practiced at the walk, trot and, eventually, the canter are called the lateral flexion movements. These, along with the horizontal flexion exercises -accurate, relaxed collection and extensions, and up and down transitions- will slowly create the smooth, accurate and quick turning. (After all of that, riders also gain the ability to ride horses straight.)
The training movements include circles; turn on the forehand, first while standing still and later at the walk; leg yields; shoulder-in; haunches-in, and turn on the haunches. (Remember, though, all are useless unless your horse learns to stay calm and relaxed, and all of these exercises should be introduced at the walk and later done at the trot and canter.)
Riding on a circle is the primary warming-up movement, which introduces lateral bending. All horses will have an easy and hard direction. With most horses, but not all, the easy direction is left. To start a circle, pick an area 30 to 40 feet in diameter and stay on it at a working walk, if possible. If a horse is anxious, go directly to the working trot on a smaller circle of perhaps 20 to 30 feet in diameter. This will tend to help organize an unruly horse. For a sluggish type, make the circle considerably bigger to allow the horse to move out and become more animated.
When your horse has walked, trotted and cantered (when possible) in both directions Ï with many changes of direction and circles Ï and the horse has become relaxed, only then introduce any new movement. My favorite, the shoulder in, is a good example.
When your horse has responded positively for a few steps, ride straight. After a minute or so repeat the exercise. Three or four repetitions done well should be enough. If the horse gets upset, abandon that exercise for the day, or at least awhile. Don't drive, drive, drive. You will make nut cases out of nice horses. Take lots of time. Improvement, and quality, will come slowly, over weeks, months and years.
Keep your work calm and simple. Only work on one exercise per day and only after you have thoroughly warmed up and taken the edge off your horse.
Several other movements, when practiced often, create a balanced horse that turns well. They include figure eights, half circles, half circles in reverse, serpentines, and zig-zag lines. These are also movements that should be used daily.
When dealing with a horse that has been schooled and knows the school movements, the practice of the movements will fit in with a program that keeps the horse fit and flexible.
It is these horses, along with a knowledgeable instructor, that can teach students to turn, and ride, beautifully. I have said it before: Green horses and green riders go nowhere.
A lot of practice must go into a nice turn, just as time, patience and know-how go into every well-trained horse you see. Horses that turn well are trained well, although a little natural athletic ability certainly helps. Learn one step at a time, don't rush through the lessons and, above all, keep it simple. Good riding.
