what aids do you use to turn a horse?

I just look where I want to go and my boy turns. We can do 10m circles in walk and trot with no reins just looking where I want to go. He has also had a small child on him whose legs didnt come off the saddle and he still goes where they look :)
 
Funny, I was just about to ask this! It sounds a silly question, but I agree, so many ways!

When I was a kid, I was taught pull left rein to go left pull right rein to go right, but I think I may have improved (if only slightly) since then and with my current horse, I use inside leg to push him out on to the corner, outside leg back to get a bend, depending on how he responds to that, I think I maybe squeese my inside rein, then give it a little, and allow for his head movement with my outside rein...
 
all of the above lol, depends if madam is in the mood for listening or has her own agenda;), if she's good then body weight will do it, if she'shaving a thelwell moment then use everything and hope for the best:rolleyes:
 
it largely depends on what im riding and what level of schooling they have. on my old boy \i can turn my head and use the outside leg but my new ride, i open/flex the inside rein, inside leg on girth and outside rein/leg stop the bum/shoulders swinging out, if that makes sense? lol
 
I turn and look and ask for bend with the rein. Try and keep it simple with my girl she gets confused and stressy with legs and outside rein etc.

except in left lead canter i have to keep inside rein on or she will happily motorbike around
 
dafthoss said:
Glad I'm not alone never had a horse that didnt respond to this, we also do halt transitions with the reins on his neck :D
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Exactly. This is what you should be aiming for with every horse. It's a very good exercise actually. If ever I think my horse is not listenng to me, I drop my reins and ride him on the buckle. It forces him to focus on my body and where I am looking. When I pick the reins up again he is so much better.
 
Wagtail said:
Exactly. This is what you should be aiming for with every horse. It's a very good exercise actually. If ever I think my horse is not listenng to me, I drop my reins and ride him on the buckle. It forces him to focus on my body and where I am looking. When I pick the reins up again he is so much better.
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lol, I think my boy would take himself for a merry little canter around the field!
 
Some of you must either have very boring scenery or very wobbly hacks if your horses go where you are looking! I turn my head to look at things and don't expect my horse to move from the straight and narrow as I have given no aid whatsoever to do so. If I want to turn I turn my shoulders in the way I want to go, that adjusts my weight and my horses turn appropriately. If you think about it, in order to balance, turning right, your right shoulder goes back, taking your inside hand with it, whilst your outside hand follows, your right leg stays on the girth (or should do) and your left leg moves a little back, giving you the "aids" for a turn.

From the previous posts I have this wonderful vision of the guards riding past the Queen, all turning their heads to salute her and their horses all turning and flattening the poor old girl!
 
I tend to draw my outside leg back slightly, and give a nudge/press with the heel. He's generally turned on the movement on the leg though. There was a memorable occasion when a friend was riding him, and used the same aids as me, she came to a split in the road, and Harley ignored her and walked head first into the wall!!!
 
jemima_too said:
Some of you must either have very boring scenery or very wobbly hacks if your horses go where you are looking! I turn my head to look at things and don't expect my horse to move from the straight and narrow as I have given no aid whatsoever to do so. If I want to turn I turn my shoulders in the way I want to go, that adjusts my weight and my horses turn appropriately. If you think about it, in order to balance, turning right, your right shoulder goes back, taking your inside hand with it, whilst your outside hand follows, your right leg stays on the girth (or should do) and your left leg moves a little back, giving you the "aids" for a turn.

From the previous posts I have this wonderful vision of the guards riding past the Queen, all turning their heads to salute her and their horses all turning and flattening the poor old girl!
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ROFL your right of course it is more than just a little look, we may not even realise the difference unless we think about it. It is the intent with our bodies the horse picks up on.

If we are just looking at the scenery we don't want him to turn so therefore there are no subtle body movements from us, so he doesn't turn:D

I teach all my horses to move from subtle body movements. I have found that some in the past have learn't to ignore them from other riders but they soon pick it up again... It is invaluable in SJ and in emergencies
 
Seat, legs, rein - in that order. I turn my body either left or right, that makes my outside leg go back slightly and on, then I use my inside leg for bend and my outside rein to back up the request to turn.
 
i get properly moaned at if i use more than a squeeze on the reins. Its all about looking and moving your body, with a bit (or alot) of leg.

Stick your reins in the outside hand and try turning your horse with your body.
 
Seat, leg and rein aids depending on what kind of turn, where and why.

A simple bend requires less to 'aid' with than a complete turn (fore/quarters) or indeed if you're doing a pirouette (which can also be a 'turn').

If put my inside leg on and held the outside rein, I would get shoulder in/leg yield depending where my shoulders were facing...and sometimes a piroutte aswell... it just depends.
 
ok - Instructor head on now......

To turn your horse the horse must remain straight throughout it's body, by that I mean all the neck and back vertabre stay in alighment and the bend must come from the nose all the way through to the tail end not just from the neck. The horses hind feet should follow the front feet.

Your weights aids are the most important so as you look in the direction you wish to turn your weight will increase on the outside seatbone, make sure your inside rib cage and shoulder do not collapse.

Your OS leg, should move slightly behind the girth to support the hindquarters and help prevent them from swinging out, but be aware of your horse and move your outside leg to wherever it will give the most support or requirement, - If your horse slips out through the OS shoulder move your OS leg forward,

Your IS leg is your supporting leg and creates the bend,and this leg will be the one that has to be used strongly.

Your OS rein is the crutical rein, it supports the shoulder and neck, Keep the contact on this rein and do not allow it to round forward as your move through the turn as this will open the rein allowing your horse to fall out through the shoulder or lean on the OS rein.

Your IS rein creates the flexion and does very little really. Small upward and lifting vibrations on the IS rein will soften and encourage your horse to flex to the inside. Any movements with your hands should be in a upward forward thinking and lifting motion, and not a backwards pulling feeling.

keep both legs driving forward to maintain the impulsion throughout the turn.

There all that just to get round a corner !
 
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