Smart yearling turn on the forehand help

[Bloopie]

I’m going to talk to my trainer but I won’t see them for a few days. I have a whip smart (long) yearling. He also has no work ethic. Meaning he looks for ways to get out of whatever you’re asking of him. I know horses have a natural asymmetry and he’s weak on the left side.

Recently he’s figured out how to completely blow through turning on the forehand using his left hind. He was making good progress until he started this. I stand at the front to prevent him from walking forward and ask for “over” while looking at his left hip (also have a lunge whip in hand to tap if he needs clarification). His latest trick is to keep his head exactly where it is so he’s still looking at me, shift his body sideways so his right shoulder (technically his right shoulder should be his “inside” shoulder) is popped out and basically walk in a weird crab legged circle around me. I tried taking the lunge line and kind of looping it low over his neck but it wasn’t quite enough. I’m just looking for one good step as we work through this set back. Ideas on how to block that shoulder? And how to build muscle on his left side? He’s very balanced when running around on his own and He’s darn near perfect at this on his right side.

[SusanO]

Why are you doing this to a yearling? They have really short attention spans anyway. I think if you have a significant asymmetry you need to look for physical reasons that exercises will not fix. Maybe OCD somewhere? I am not a vet but my observation is that when you see an asymmetry or an animal is not as developed as you might expect there is pain somewhere that is keeping that animal from using those muscles. I think you have an astute observation but you need to get veterinary help to figure out what is going on here.

[Arlomine]

My first reaction to this post is that I think it’s most helpful when working with horses in general, and especially young horses, to be careful with the language you use. The words you use, even in your head, frame how you physically respond to your horse. Your little guy is not trying to get the best of you. He’s not trying to get out of work. He’s not trying to be lazy. He simply doesn’t understand.

If you are trying to do turn on the forehand the way that people in the US do when doing 4-H, it’s really a pivot on the front foot. If you’re doing it the way a dressage person would do it, they make a small circle with their front feet. I tend to be practical with young horses and I teach turn on the forehand and yielding the forehand in a few steps at a time as part of opening and closing gates. They understand why they have to move their body because it applies to navigating an object smoothly. I don’t get too hung up on little details at this point. The movements are large, and personally I would not do a little 4-H type pivot with any horse… Let alone a baby, but I know that this is considered normal in many halter classes.

This is an age for learning general concepts of lots of things, and not getting too bogged down into minuscule details. If you really think there is a physical issue with your baby, calling a vet to do a neurological exam would be the way to go.

[Bloopie]

He’s always struggled more with his left side. The vet saw him this summer for his annual, did a bunch of flexion tests and nothing was wrong - his diagnosis was “using my left side is hard so I don’t wanna”. We’ve been working on yielding since he was just turned one. I don’t mind if he moves his front feet. Even one to two steps forward and I’m ok with that given his age, just not walking. He can do the same task with his right hind with zero problems so I don’t think he’s confused at all - it’s just harder for the left side. Also, this is a bit of a regression since I’ve started standing in front of him - he used to pull forward at a walk, couldn’t do that because he won’t walk through me and much improved, now crab walking.

[colorfan]

What I hear is you added a level of difficulty and now he figured out a different way to do the movement.
Without seeing what you are doing, I suggest going back to the way you used to do it reestablish a movement that is closer to what you want. Remember the training scale even in groundwork so don’t try to move on until what you are asking is relaxed and has some rhythm. Then try to make refinements. His avoidance is telling you you tried to make to big a jump in what you are asking.

[colorfan]

When I do groundwork I think of how what I am doing translates into ridden work. When I teach turn on the fore on the ground, I stand at the horses side and approx where my heel will touch the horse I ask for the haunches to yield. At first I don’t worry about the front end. When the cue and movement are confirmed I might hold the halter rope or have it tied and ask, at first you look for one step, go to the other side repeat.
I don’t usually ask for more than a few steps until I am working with a 2yr old, then I combine it with some yielding to the bit as well as this is very good to know under saddle.
I also ask for as much as a 1/4 turn around the front from the ground, don’t think I typically ask for more than that on the ground.

Caution if you are going to ride English don’t ask for a lot of yielding to the bit as later asking for contact will be confusing, ask me how I know…

[Huntin_Pony]

I agree with Arlomine and colorfan - your youngster is confused and it is your responsibility to rethink and refine your cues to help him. Remember - horses do not transfer what they learn on one side to the other side. So the fact that he can go left with his right hind does not mean that he understands going right with his left hind.

All-in-all, even if there is no veterinary issue, remember that this is a BABY and his growth spurts will make a big difference in his physical capabilities over time. His mind is immature. I would do very little during his yearling and two-year-old year other than go for walks and expose him to natural obstacles and day-to-day activities.

That said, I can think of many possibilities but one that I will offer is to try a different exercise to work on his weakness. For example, stand with his head towards (not in) a corner and his left side by the wall. You are near his right shoulder. Using a dressage whip, reach over his back and gently tap his left hip until he moves his hindquarters away from the wall one step. Immediately stop tapping and release/ go for a little walk.

Another option for you would be using a fenceline or a wall, teach him a head-to-wall leg yield in hand, tracking right. Coming off the short side fifteen feet or so from the wall, walk a straight line on a shallow angle towards the long side wall. Before reaching the wall, position yourself near his shoulder with a dressage whip in your right hand pointing back. Guide his head and shoulders on a very shallow angle and ask him to keep his hindquarters to the inside of the track, tapping gently if needed. If you get one or two steps, straighten and try again on the next long side.

Reiterating - I would do very little of this sort of exercise with a yearling or even two-year-old. Less is more.

[LilRanger]

@Bloopie

He’s always struggled more with his left side.

I personally would check to see if the confusion is coming from me before blaming the horse.

Keep a journal, video you work with him and see if you’re not doing something different without realizing. A person’s handedness can absolutely change how one moves when switching sides. I can mount from the off side, but hoo, boy! is that awkward and strange.

Edited to remove my own directional dyslexia!

[Caol_Ila]

He’s a yearling. He’s got the attention span of a gnat. I would not be teaching turn on the forehand or anything like that to a yearling. Take him on walks, keep up his basic handling, and turn him out in a group so he learns how to hore. If the field is on a hill, even better. That should help him develop evenly and strongly.

[PamnReba]

It sounds like you’re looking for him to cross over in front with his left hind, more than a pivot on the forehand. Try leaving his front end alone until you get one good crossover step - then stop. Once he “gets” and is comfortable crossing over behind (work up to several steps in a row), then worry about stopping his front end. His circles will get smaller as he is able to step under himself better.