Teaching to turn on the hindquarters. How??

[chubbypony]

I have a problem. I would like to teach my horse to turn on the hindquarter like they do in halter classes. You know how you spin your horse around without him moving his back feet? How do you teach a horse to do that??

This was my first try at it:

I put a standard chain on my horse(which I later replaced with a rope halter for the better pressure points) and took a small hand whip out with me to try to teach my horse. Once I finally have him standing square to start into the turn I tapped his from legs with my hand whip...He doesn't move, so I tap harder more persistant. He moves his front feet over properly, but as he starts to turn about half way around his back feet are practicly crisscrossed and he panics. All the feet move every which way and we have to start over.

Progress = 0

Is there a trick to this? Is my horse just a flop. I know he is old and set in his ways, but I have a little girl who desperately want to show him at our fair. Anyone with hints or tips please give them.

Thanks guys!

[kedwards]

I'm not familiar with how turn-on-the forehand is done in halter classes, but I assume it is much the same as what is asked under saddle.

In any case, teaching generally works best if it is broken up into small steps in order to help the horse understand what is being asked. Don't try to get a full turn all at once. Start with just asking him to take one step away, then reward him immediately for any movement in the right direction. Gradually, you can ask for greater refinement in his response or for more steps.

It will be clearer and more consistent by asking first with a steady cue (such as using pressure from your finger), so that you can release as soon as he responds. It takes longer, but it's less likely to make him anxious and once he gets it, he'll really understand the game, rather than just be moving off instinctively from the whip.

[chubbypony]

Actually I would rather teach him with my hand/fingers, but I think for showing I prefer he learn with a whip. In the show ring he will be in you are generally not suppose to touch your horse in any direct way. If I use a whip to teach him it can be carried in the ring and used as a guide. Also I am using a word "over" and I am saying it everytime I ask him to move. I am slowly replacing whip pressure with the just the word "over".

He is getting what I want, but everytime he makes it half way around his back legs are crossed and he gets panicky! The flies are pretty bad so he will not keep both feet planted. I think that might be part of our problem.

Any more hints or tips?

[kedwards]

If he gets panicky halfway around, then don't go halfway. Start with a step or two for now, reward him, and end the lesson. If he gets the general concept and ends the lesson feeling succesfully, the training will go much quicker and more smoothly the next time out.

As far as the whip versus finger, once you teach the command, you can then transfer it to a different cue. If you start with your finger to teach the initial concept, you can gradually move to just pointing with your finger, then ultimately to just pointing with the whip.

[chubbypony]

What I am doing right now is asking for him to move over one step if he tries to move his hind legs I say "No! or Ho!" and give a firm tug on the lead. When he does it correctly I say, "Goooood Boy!" and he gets patted. He is getting the concept and I am longing him before we work on it to get extra energy off. It seems like if he is exercised a little before hand that he listens much better. Otherwise he is looking around and not paying attention to me. I will try the hand/finger tonight. I was using the "butt" of the whip, so he gets solid pressure and is used to seeing the whip in my hand. I think he is getting more comfortable seeing it now, so I will just try my hand.

Thanks so much for all your help. Keep it coming if you think of anything else!!