basic beginner turnaround
Al Dunning had us walk a circle in a corner. The corner has two fence rails to help keep contained. Not that you are going to spill out anywhere at the walk, LOL. Another clinic we rode into the circle with a spiral down circle, and step around (turnaround ) then trot or canter forward. Run out because the turnaround is a forward motion exercise. Spiral down, turn around - then forward.
A third exercise is the figure 8. The head or top is little and the bottom or body is big. Trot the bottom or big part and turnaround at the head or small part- one step at at time. A forth turnaround exercise involves foot control. With the left rein ask the right front foot to step on one o’clock. Then turnaround to the left. One step right, turnaround left. Why ? We saw at that clinic how much more flashy the step right then turnaround left was. Wow. What a difference. Amazing. I need to put this on video on U-tube; but I have not yet.
When do you add the turnaround exercise to your training program? LesVogt is going to begin trot and canter turnarounds at the end of the first 6 months. He puts a solid foundation on his colts before he begins the turnaround. I might wait a year in my program. 1) I get my colt going good on trails. This is kindergarden. I am mostly stuck in kindergarden, by the way. 2) Boone’s Secret, my elementary school- stuff learned mostly from a Larry Carsen clinic, with other stuff thrown in. 3) Third School- Here I begin canter work and baby turnarounds. At the end of Boone’ s Secret I am cantering some.
Boone was a crazy difficult Morgan Horse that I could not ride on trails, becuse I could not control his feet. So we did arena work exercises which became Boone’s Secret. Boone ended up in a 4 - H home near Seattle, with a six month return guarentee; because he was after all a difficult horse. I have never had a colt I trained returned, and I was afraid Boone would break my record. But they kept him. So that means he was wanted and loved, in his new home. And that is all that matters, or counts. Making dreams come true for someone looking for a good horse. Its all in the foundation. I believe the first 30 days lasts a lifetime, so get it right. My horses always go back to the first 30 days, when given a break or rest.
I dont want any buck or resist in the first 30 days in my program. This is the first 30 days under saddle I’m talking about, which you can begin when the ground work is done. I did 4 years of ground work with my Kieger mustang- he broke my groundwork record for sure, LOL. Difficult horse are great teachers. I learned the most from my Kiy.