Turn on the Forehand

[tasha]

Ive always been a bit pants at turn on the forehand, and Im having trouble getting Kal to do it. We can pirouette a bit as Ive always been better at it, and Kal will TOTH for gates and in hand so I know she can do it, its a communication problem!

Anyway, when I ask for one she tends to rein back. I use inside leg to ask for the bend and steps, inside hand to reiterate the bend and outside hand to try and stop forward movement (sometimes if we dont get rein back, we just circle tightly). I've tried positioning by fences but Kal tends to get a bit stressed in a "I can't do it, there's a fence there!" way.

All help gratefully accepted. Thanks!

[coss]

i would start with turn about the forehand so that you keep some forward motion and not get rein back - it also keeps your horse thinking forwards and won't ruin your halt (i know of horses that did a bit of TOTF and now think they have to do it everytime they halt!)
how is she on the ground for TOTF (you mentioned TOTH - turn on the haunches i take it)? i would do it with just a head collar, lead your horse forwards and then gradually slip back so you walk with your hip where your leg/foot would be. then slow Kal's walk down a bit (to get her listening) and push with your hip and just prevent some forwards motion with the leadrope on the headcollar. once you get one step walk forwards immediately as a reward. when it comes to riding just ask for one step before walking on, don't over bend - i wouldn't use the inside rein at all as you want the inside hind to do a nice cross under and you don't want to encourage the front end to turn.

once you have 1 step sussed, move onto 2 and so on, always walk off positively from it as this will hopefully stop the rein back :)

[inhs]

here's a simple way to do it - first get it right when you're standing beside your horse, then repeat it in the saddle. (also known as hindquarter yield, as hindquarters are yielding away from you)

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=1196685793

have fun!

[tasha]

Some intersting thoughts there, thanks. Looks like more groundwork is needed before ridden attempts again :) Will have a go this week!

[dressagexreo]

try doing turn on forehand from the walk and then on every corner ask her to wait on the outside and move off the inside. So your stopping the outside shoulder but still engaging the inside hind.

Or it could be just as simple as a touch with the crop every time she backs up and just be patient and with time she will learn.

Make sure her neck is always relaxed in the turn on forehand.