When a movement comes up in your reading, virtual learning, and social feeds multiple times in a few weeks, it is a sign to use it to improve your training!

Last fall was the season of the Turn on the Forehand for my training.

You may already use this in your training, and I hope to add some examples of when it can come in handy to improve your communication with your horse. But first we will get through some basic questions. What is it? Why do we use it? What level of training does my horse need to benefit from it? Why is it not a movement you show? 

Why is it not a movement in Dressage tests? According to Jennifer O. Bryant, editor of USDF Connection, “it is not a move for a test because it lacks a forward component.” It is traditionally taught and practiced from the halt, where turns on the haunches are considered a part of the walk work of USDF tests. 

You are probably wondering, “When do I introduce the turn on the forehand to my horse in its training?”

The answer is - as soon as possible! At the end of this blog, there is a worksheet to help you introduce these to your horse. For me, a turn on the forehand taught in hand is a prerequisite for lunging. Introduce it to your horse with these simple steps, and remember that one correct step is all it takes at first. One small difference in my normal method is that I sometimes use a gentle inside rein to help introduce inside poll positioning, so that it's easier  for the horse to understand. Later on, doing it with contact on both reins helps the horse step more through. An alternate aid I also find that works for younger horses is using the lash end of the whip on the hip with gentle taps (increasing in intensity until he responds). After yielding the haunches from the hip is confirmed, going back to doing it where your leg hangs makes it easier to execute from the leg undersaddle. 

Why teach it to a green horse? It engages the inside hind leg, and helps a horse bring it closer to his center of gravity. In a good Turn on the Forehand, the inside hind steps up and slightly toward the outside fore. This supports engagement across the hind end of the horse's topline. Furthermore, it supports lateral bend and helps desensitize (or sensitize) them to the whip and driving/sideways aids.

When else is it useful? If your horse is overwhelmed by a new environment or resisting loading on the trailer, doing turns on the forehands in hand increases its submission, relaxation, and attentiveness. Having a horse focus on his whole body by activating a hind leg promotes relaxation - some horses even nudge a hip to make their buddy yield their haunches in the pasture. It’s a great way to get your horse to relax and be attentive to its handler if the sympathetic nervous (fight or flight) system is activated. 

Undersaddle turns on the forehand helps introduce the correct response to the leg, both the sideways and the driving aids, which you will constantly need your half halts as you progress. When asking for a turn on the forehand undersaddle, proper bend and inside positioning makes the correct response easy for your horse. I recommend reading this guide to the turn on the forehand from the USDF which has the most thorough explanation of how to teach it to horse and riders, with proper terminology and reasoning. The last bit - “Common Faults” - helps us understand possible mistakes (be prepared for your horse to not understand the first time you ask!)

After we recognize the horse is yielding its haunches to the leg, a turn on the forehand will help the horse develop the best possible connection to the outside rein. For a more advanced use of the turn on the forehand, refer to this demonstration from Laura Graves. Laura describes this as an effective tool to keep her hot horse focused on her and not running away. Once again, we find that this movement develops attentiveness and the correct response to the leg. 

In the video, the introduction is quite helpful, but the Turn on the Forehand exercise begins around 5:15 minutes in. Note that the first words out of her mouth are “it can be done by any horse at any level!”  In this video, she is using the turn on the forehand to generate the correct response to the outside rein from the outside leg. After the turns on the forehand have improved her connection, she follows those exercises with leg yields, creating a correct feel to the outside rein from the inside leg. 

When else can it have an impact? Well, for one, it can help a rider who is struggling to get the proper canter lead. Learning to feel true bend through the rib cage has been a challenge with my current mount, but when students have had a hard time getting the left lead on her, one quick turn on the forehand left and they’re off in a beautiful left lead canter. For horses who have trouble finding the proper straightness in a leg yield (haunches lagging), a turn on the forehand as soon as the horse has lost its whole body connection will create a beautiful leg yield. Be warned, there may come a day where this step is too easy or over done, and you have to teach your horse to yield his haunches into the bend (ask me how I know!), but for most humans and horses it is best to start with moving away from the pressure. 

Turn of Forehand Worksheet

Ready to give it a try? With the help of a trainer, use this table to record your horse’s learning combined with the USDF guide to train your horse to run a turn on the forehand. 

Attempt the turn on the forehand in hand four times each way in hand, taking the time to notice if your horse falls victim to one of the “common faults” listed on the guide, or if he does it correctly.

I find that the second attempt is normally the best attempt, and it is easy to build on!

If your horse does one step correctly, go ahead and increase your ask to get 90 degrees to 180 degrees turns. Starting in hand will help you get it right undersaddle, as you will know your horses’ tendencies.