How To Cue Your Horse To Turn Left or Right

Here's How:

1. Hold one rein each hand. Your hands will be an inch or two forward of the saddle and several inches above, held so your fists are at a 30 degree angle. The left rein is held with the left hand and the right rein with the right hand.

2. Cue the horse to walk forward. Keep a gentle elastic contact between your hand and the horse’s mouth. The reins shouldn’t be taut or drooping. There should be a straight line from your elbow to the bit.

3. To turn left, pull back with a gentle pressure on the rein in your left hand. Squeeze back, rather than tug. As you actively cue with the left rein continue contact on the right rein as this controls the amount of bend your horse will take as he rounds a corner. The right rein therefore should neither be allowed to go slack, nor held too tightly.

4. At the same time as you cue with the reins, apply pressure with your left leg onto the horse’s side so the horse is turning around your leg.

5. As the horse obeys the cue, stop the pressure of hand and leg.

6. Keep a gentle contact with your horse’s mouth until the next time you ask it to stop or turn.

7. To turn right use the right hand and leg to cue the horse in the same manner. Your right rein will now be the active rein and you want the horse to bend around your right leg.

Tips:

1. Use the minimum pressure on the bit required to cue the horse. Harsh pressure on the mouth can upset a horse and make it insensitive to your commands.

2. Reins constantly need readjusting as you ride. Learn to adjust your reins so there is always a gentle contact with the horse’s mouth.

What You Need:

• Your horse, saddled and bridled.

• Thin riding gloves improve your grip on the reins.

• A flat obstacle free area to work--as you progress add things to ride around.