Turn on the Forehand
Performance Tips from Jeff Wilson:
Because of the far-reaching benefits the turn on the forehand offers to horse’s and their riding partners, regarding personal favorites, this one leads all other maneuvers in this cowboy’s mind.
Fluidity of movement is the goal here, with any lack demonstrated by the horse stepping backwards during the movement, or, if a box for the horse’s front feet is used, the horse stepping back out of the box. Because of the complexity of this lateral movement, to aim for fluidity, the horse needs to learn to coordinate the movement in exact time with the rider’s aids. This only happens as a result of daily practice until a level of smoothness between the rider’s aids and the horse’s ability is reached.
Riders should realize the unique opportunity with this obstacle—the benefit of riding this movement during your early morning warm-up. Take a moment at the start of your day and add this great maneuver to your routine, gently and unhurriedly. Amid all of the excitement of the event, the turn on the forehand is a great way to begin to focus your horse early on in the day for success for the entire day. Although you can’t practice at the obstacle, you certainly can practice the turn in your morning riding.
Bringing up the horse’s needed level of coordination, engagement, and stretching, as well as refreshing the right degree of “forward” early on will facilitate the horse’s optimum try at the judged obstacle later. Riding into the judged obstacle cold allows mistakes to occur and could potentially bring frustration to both horse and rider, which is avoidable with this obstacle. You can’t overuse the underused turn on the forehand!
ACTHA Monthly | March 2015 | 12
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VIDEO is available on this obstacle on the ACTHA Obstacles Page by clicking the Turn on the Forehand icon on the website.
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The hind end of the horse will rotate around the front end in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
Judging Criteria: The front legs of the horse will remain relatively still, while the hind end crosses over. All rules of good balanced equitation apply. Harsh use of aids will be penalized.
Options: Horse’s front legs may be placed in a box or circle the approximate size of a hula hoop. * We do NOT recommend the use of a hula hoop because they are flimsy and may pop up and frighten a horse. Horse may be asked to place his front end (forelegs) on a flat stable surface such as a flat rock, and rotate his hind end. This surface should not be higher than one foot off the ground. Horse may be asked to perform a 180 degree turn in one or two directions. Open division may turn a 360 in one or two directions.