USING TURNS TO COLLECT
Before you start this exercise, spend 10 minutes warming up your horse by walking and trotting him on both reins. You’ll need to hold your reins loosely over your horse’s withers with your thumbs on top. There should be a little slack rein between both your hands as seen in the picture below. You’ll start by turning your horse towards the left. To do this, walk down the centre of your arena, then:
Squeezing with your legs and, with your voice, send your horse forward and pick up a sitting trot down the centre line.
When you feel your horse pick up speed, count two strides, then increase the pressure in your left seat bone placing your left leg behind the girth and squeezing.
Collect your reins by raising them above the pommel, slightly towards the left and increase the contact.
Once he’s turned almost 180° to the left, release the rein pressure and lower your hands.
If he picks up speed again, count two strides and repeat the process using the right rein and right leg to turn him right.
Do this exercise a few times on each rein. Your horse may not be able to turn very tightly at first, but he should always travel on a straight line as he comes out of the turn.
The more times your horse does this exercise, the easier he’ll find it to use his hindquarters to turn rather than turning on his forehand. He’ll also learn to anticipate the turn when you increase the pressure on your left or right seat bone. It can take a few weeks of practise for your horse to immediately recognise your aids to ask him to slow, collect himself and turn, but eventually he should be able to turn tightly (90°) before you straighten and ride him away.