Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Turning Well

“For the green Thoroughbred, turning this way allows them to forgo speed and antics. It allows them to be ridden forward in front of your leg and complete the circles, squares, figure-eights, whatever is asked without changing their pace.”

Welcome to the next installment of Thoroughbred Logic. In this weekly series, Anthropologist and trainer Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, offers insight and training experience when it comes to working with Thoroughbreds (although much will apply to all breeds). This week ride along as Aubrey shares her logic on how to teach a horse to turn properly (aka without pulling on the inside rein).

Last week, I cavalierly promised that I would continue the technical speak and would dive into the ways to turn a horse (Thoroughbred or other) without relying too much on an inside rein. As a result, every horse I have gotten on for the past week has been put through a set of minor experiments to make sure I have the mechanics down pat.

Here’s what that has looked like:

My last ride on Rhodie (Western Ridge) AKA Dragon, was interesting. As I was puzzling through the mechanics of turning, I realized that this horse was so switched on (to be fair, he doesn’t have an off switch), and he is so used to me that it almost felt like all I had to do was think turn and we would leave the rail at whatever-meter-diameter of circle I was anticipating. My hands didn’t have to move from their position above the wither. Well… all that had to happen was a micro lift in the inside rein, slight increase in tension in my outside elbow and the application of outside leg at the girth … okay, and importantly, I turned my hips.

Rhodie (Western Ridge) being a beast at Chatt Hills last summer, following my eyes and hips to the next fence. Photo by Cora Williamson Photography.

Conversely, when I hopped on Cove (Always Spring) for his first post-track ride, I had to break things down significantly further into their component parts. At first, to turn I needed a bit of inside rein to channel the motion in an obvious direction, basically saying “We. Are. Turning.” while applying the outside leg and rein to make a wall and balance him onto his hind end enough to turn without losing balance.

My hands were wider and everything more obvious, but after a couple circles, I didn’t have to use the inside rein to do more than “guide” him in the direction I wanted. My hips turned, my outside leg paired up with my outside rein and supported him through the circle, and my inside leg pushed in, giving him something to turn around. Were the turns perfect? Absolutely not — but he stepped under himself and gave it a try and that’s all I needed.

Cove (Always Spring) figuring out turns during his first post-track ride. And yes, he’s in need of quite a bit of weight — now that he got his test ride, he goes to hanging out and doing ground work while he packs on the pounds. Photo by Sarah Hepler.

Every other horse fit somewhere between the two bookends of “super schooled” or “neophyte,” but the concept was the same. The only changes were that the greener the horse, the more obvious and patient the ask had to be. But for each, the turns break down to these interlocking pieces:

• A rider’s hips must turn. Not their waist. Not just their head. This is one of the most important pieces that gets lost in a rider’s training that then leads to a reliance on the inside rein. The hips need to turn towards the direction of travel yet stay level and balanced to keep both leg aids able to work independently. The combination of swiveled hips and looking in the desired direction creates a very clear communication. This “going right/left” directive then allows the other aids to simply tell the horse how steep of a turn it is going to be and how balanced they must remain.

Luca (Nickel’s Defense) following my hips during his first post-track ride this past week. Photo by Sarah Hepler.

• The outside rein and leg must work together to make a soft “wall” just far enough away from the shoulder to allow the horse to move over into it (think: this helps them stand up and avoid leaning in). By applying steady, supportive pressure, this wall helps to turn the horse as a unit — meaning that when you ask for a turn you’re not just asking for their head, but for their whole body to follow your directive. An important caveat here is that the wall — being that it is a wall — will restrict the ability for a horse to move their shoulder and ribs over if it is too close to the horse. That “wall” must provide space for the shoulder to move over — so the greener the horse, the wider the outside rein must be to open that “move over” option.

Spork (Fork Union) also figuring it all out like a pro — because he is a pro; this dude already has a whole bunch of miles on him and his “oh that’s how we’re doing things” was lightning quick. Photo by Sarah Hepler.

• The inside rein guides the nose in the direction you want to go. The important word there is “guide.” It does not pull or drag or hold — it lifts slightly in the direction the rider wants to go to create space for the horse to move that direction. It guides by applying soft pressure that releases as soon as the horse is following. Think about ridiculous cliché Disney-esque dance scenes: the man requests a woman’s hand and lifts it in the direction of travel towards the dance floor. He doesn’t pull her forward and down, but guides upwards for her to step into the desired space, softening the ask as she follows.

A slight lift on the inside (visible in the elbow) guides Ramen (Plamen) around the circle. Photo by Sarah Hepler.

• The inside leg presses into their ribcage and helps create your bend. Basically it becomes the pole that a horse bends around. If you picture the leg extending as a floor to ceiling pole (well that wasn’t really the visual I wanted there… but run with it), it cannot let the horse lean over it – rather, it must keep them upright and push the ribs and shoulder gently but steadily into the space and support created by your outside rein.

Riders are already ultimate multi-taskers. I hate that by breaking down turning like this, it is only adding to the plate. Turning is no longer “inside rein and look,” but now is

a) turn hips
b) widen/add support on the outside rein and make a wall with the outside leg
c) lift the inside slightly and guide
d) look in the direction of desired travel
e) apply inside leg to support them into the outside aids and to create a bend

Neil (Lute’s Angel) rocking around a 20-meter circle without changing pace or balance. Photo by Sarah Hepler.

But here’s the benefit: In short, this type of turn adds balance, accuracy and confidence, and reduces rushing, anxiety, and well most of the things that folks struggle with when steering. If one can turn with all these component parts, the turns can be more calculated and controlled. A horse will also find that this combo helps them stay balanced. And a balanced horse is more confident, less anxious, and can maintain pace while turning without having to lean or speed up to stay on their feet.

For the green Thoroughbred, turning this way allows them to forgo speed and antics. It allows them to be ridden forward in front of your leg and complete the circles, squares, figure-eights, whatever is asked without changing their pace. Turning off the rail to head to a jump? Fantastic, the horse stays balanced over their hind and can jump up.

One more “before” picture of Cove, because give me a couple months and this horse is going to look like a totally different creature. I honestly cannot wait. Photo by Sarah Hepler.

Oooof, thanks for slogging through that — I promise less technical writing next week. However, go ride folks and break the basics down further. I bet it will be productive.

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