Exercise 4
YIELDING THE FOREHAND
This is slightly more difficult, but it’s really worth mastering! Your horse will learn how to unlock his shoulders and lighten his forehand, finding a new balance.
How to do it
1 Start even closer to your horse than you were for the hindleg yield. For an anticlockwise yield put your right hand next to the clasp on the rope, with your little finger towards the halter. Don’t put your fingers through any rings or into the halter.
2 Move your right arm under your horse’s neck and position yourself close to his chest, but not actually touching it.
You need to be able to see his feet. If your horse is nippy you can block that by angling your elbow towards the back of his chin.
3 Slowly bend your horse more to his left with your right hand as you ‘bowl’ your energy towards his right shoulder.
4 You want your horse’s right foreleg to step back, and his left foreleg to step back and over to his left. His bottom should start to travel on an anticlockwise circle.
5 Now repeat in the opposite direction.
6 Most horses will brace themselves against this exercise to start with as they don’t understand where to put their feet.
7 Take it steady, one step at a time — and remember to drop the pressure when your horse thinks about moving.