Turn-on-the-forehand is a simple lateral movement that is very handy for all horses and riders to be able to do and not just those who enjoy doing dressage. Turn-on-the-forehand will improve your horses suppleness and acceptance of the contact. It is a useful way to teach a horse to move off each leg, and it will make opening and closing gates out hacking a lot simpler too.You may also sometimes hear this movement called turn about the forehand. Its the same thing. When a horse turns on the forehand, their hindquarters move in an arc around their front legs, which remain virtually still.The inside hindleg moves across in front of the outside hindleg. The other hooves will step up, straighten and put down again. A true turn-on-the-forehand will keep the rhythm and footfalls of the walk while its happening.International Grand Prix Rider Elizabeth Allen from Collective Equestrian explains how to start working towards a turn-on-the-forehand in the following video:How to ride turn on the forehandElizabeth explains:To ride a turn-on-the-forehand, close the inside leg that you want them to move away from as you half-halt a little with the outside rein.Its a balancing act between your inside leg and your outside rein, so its a great test of rider coordination. Only ask for a couple of steps to start with, so the horse doesnt get anxious about it.You want them to keep thinking and moving forwards, and not take a backwards step into it. Always ride forwards out of a turn-on-the-forehand to finish.You can use your voice in training and a couple of clicks is a good way of activating them without causing any tension that putting your leg on might cause. Think about keeping the walk relaxed and soft with a clear four beats.Although its not an exercise we ride in a test, its a useful schooling exercise for young horses. The horse Im riding in the video above is more experienced, but even more advanced horses benefit from doing turn-on-the-forehand because it reminds them to stay soft and keep moving away from the leg.Turn on the forehand: the benefits1 Introduces lateral workTurn-on-the-forehand can be used as an introduction to lateral work in particular, leg yield as it teaches your horse the concept of yielding to leg pressure.2 Improves the walkIt helps if your horse has a tendency to tense up and their walk becomes two-beat (the walk should be four-beat), because it makes them think about where their feet are. Turn-on-the-forehand also gives you more control of the rhythm of the walk and over each individual step.3 Encourages acceptance of the contactIt improves your horses acceptance of the contact. Youre using both your legs and the reins and your horse learns to accept them.4 Enhances a horses outlineIt encourages your horse to become rounder in their outline. The flexion and asking them to step across with their hindlegs encourages the horse to let go and become softer over their back, too.Turn on the forehand: the riders roleBalance and coordination of aids plays a big part in being able to ride a turn-on-the-forehand successfully, says Elizabeth.You ask for flexion with your inside hand and put a little more weight onto your inside seat bone. Watch you dont collapse your inside shoulder, as this causes your weight to shift to the outside and is likely to unbalance your horse.Your inside leg asks your horse to move away. Then you use the outside rein to balance that movement. Your outside leg controls how quickly your horse moves around.Exercise 1: Check your horse is straightThis simple exercise from Elizabeth checks how well you can coordinate your aids. It takes practise and may take a few repetitions for your horse to understand what youre asking them to do.How to ride it:Ride up the centre line in trot.Ask your horse to flex their neck to the left while keeping their body straight.After a few strides, straighten their neck and then ask for flexion to the right.Exercise 2: Turn on the forehandAs you ride this movement, your horses back should remain straight. Only ask for a couple of steps to begin with, explains Elizabeth, so your horse doesnt get anxious. Once theyre happy, build up the number of steps.How to ride it:On the left rein, riding off the track, ask for halt.Ask for a little flexion to the left.Use your left leg to ask the horse to move their hindquarters to the right.Half-halts on your outside rein prevent your horse from walking off.Throughout the movement, maintain a slight flexion at the poll to the inside.Once youve completed the movement, walk forwards in a straight line.Exercise 3: Turn about the forehandNext, you can play with the movement and, rather than halting, make an obvious half-halt before you start. Youll turn about the forehand from walk.How to ride it:In a walk, ride off the track a little.Shorten the stride until your horse almost halts.At this point, ask for slight flexion to the inside.Have your inside leg at the girth and your outside leg a little behind the girth.Use your inside leg to ask your horse to move their inside hindleg so that it steps under their body. They can now pivot around the inner front leg, which steps ever so slightly forwards, and move the quarters around their front end.Look up where you want to go.Your inside rein gently leads, balanced by your outside rein to avoid too much bend in the neck.Once youve completed the movement, ride your horse forwards in walk.Related contentWhat are the Scales of Training horses in dressage and flatwork?Why riding on the correct diagonal is important for keeping a horse soundStop hollowing in transitions with this advice from Emile FaurieFour ways to improve your halt on the centre lineThe post How to ride turn on the forehand *VIDEO* appeared first on Your Horse.