Turn on the haunches

[NZhorserider]

After reading Silver1's thread, I got thinking... how do I do a turn on the haunches?

I can do a turn on the forehand, but how do we do it on the haunches?

Thanks
Grace+Razzie:)

[Claire Louise]

Turn on the haunches involves a horse moving around a pivot foot, which is planted and remains stationary on the ground. A turn on the haunches to the right uses the right rear foot as the pivot, while a left turn on the haunches involves the left hind in a similar manner.

Best place to start is in the stable ask you horse to move his shoulders over with out moving behind then you can start doing the sme in the scholl then whilst riding. It is important to always keep aids the same so when you find what works keep it.

The inside leg remains passive except to maintain forward motion. The outside leg moves the outside hind foot over. The inside hand tips the face slightly in the direction of travel and the outside rein comes back in a straight (albeit imaginary) line to the pivot foot and restrains the forward drive of the pivot foot while the inside hand re-directs it.

When you start give the horse a break even if all he does is move slightly in the direction you want him too. Turn on the haunches is the begining of canter pirrouette and as such is classed as a high level movement. Youre horse will take time to understand and rewarding even the smallest of try's will get a better result next time.

Don't know if this helps. I was also taught once that moving you outside leg forwards can ask the horses shoulders to move over but my own horses do turn on haunches as described above.

[lisae]

I like to work with my weanling and yearlings on the halter, practicing their gaits and stopping, backing, etc. Would it put too much strain on youngsters' legs to start learning the turns both forehand and on the hauches, from the ground? We have a 20' x 14" stall and could use the long wall because our weather is wintery now.

[Claire Louise]

as long as you don't overface the youngsters there is no reason they can't start learning how to move on their fore and hind at any age. Most people have there horses doing this already, How many times do you ask your horse to get out of your way and put your hand to the shoulder and the horse move just his shoulder or the same with the hind quarters.

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by Claire Louise
Turn on the haunches involves a horse moving around a pivot foot, which is planted and remains stationary on the ground. A turn on the haunches to the right uses the right rear foot as the pivot, while a left turn on the haunches involves the left hind in a similar manner.


actually a true turn on the haunches the back legs should piaffe, while the front turn around them. you are even allowed to get away with a really small demi vault haunches in during competition. I've never seen that done, but i've had to do haunches in in competition before...I got zinged cause Pat's back legs wouldn't piaffe...:mad: he doesn't like turn on the haunches.


If you have a horse that's excellent at obeying off of rein commands then all you should need to do is open your inside rein and use your outside rein as a direct rein against the neck, to do this you should only have to turn your shoulders in the direction you are headed. If the horse is not so good at rein commands, most usually aren't then you can back that up by asking with the outside leg to turn. But basically the rein does the turning and the leg keeps the haunches from swinging out.

if you are working youngsters you can make this sort of a game. like if you can get them to the point in lunging they are following you around see how well they can do it. you can step sideways in one direction or the other and they should follow you, do this in a circle and you have a turn on the haunches! I don't know if that was clear though, it makes sense when i'm doing it...:p

[Claire Louise]

Sorry didn't mean pirrouette, although the two are almost exactly the same in competition you would be doing pirrouette Turn on the haunches round a pivot would be more western reining than european dressage.

[IrisSilverMoon]

I didn't mean a piroutte either.

[NZhorserider]

Hmmm, Razzie and I are going to have fun on Saturday!