[GaLaHaD001]

I can't turn Galahad, no matter how tight I make the rein I'm turning with and use my legs he just bends his neck only and not his body. How can I get him to turn his whole body and not just his neck?

[luvs2ride79]

Then you're not using your legs properly, or he doesn't understand leg pressure. Go back to basics and work him on the ground. Make sure he'll move away from pressure while in a halter. Push on his sides, hips, flank area, girth area, shoulder, etc. Give a little "cluck" when pushing. Keep at it until he shifts over. If he's being stubborn, use a whip along with the "push" with your hand. Do whatever it takes to get him to step away from pressure. Then praise like crazy and give him a pat or food reward for his effort. Keep it up until he moves off very light pressure with little encouragement. Then get back in the saddle and try again.

~Barbara

[BornToRide]

i would say your giving mixed cues in there. he is not sure weather to turn or go straight. take him back to ground work and get him to respond to pressure. good luck

[cutandslide]

If you are turning him to the right say and you are use a right direct rein what leg are you using? I hope you said your left. Bump him with your leg until he move his should to the right. If this still doesn't work go back to the ground and don't ground drive him because sometimes that makes it worse. Your leg may not be strong enough to get the response you are looking for and he may be confused.

[Cara]

i don't really know what you're currently doing...but remember to use your outside leg, don't turn his head a ton 'cause his shoulder will just pop out to the outside and he'll walk with his head turned to the side. remember your outside leg & rein... also, you need to be sitting correctly, look where you want to go, pretend your eyes are by your belly-button...

[cd_horton]

First is the horse moving when you ask for the turn? If not keep him moving while you ask. If he is moving and he simply giving you lateral flexion, ask with your outside leg, use your leg as lite as possible but as frim as needed.

[Chevmama]

If he is giving when you try to turn him using a direct rein, and just turning his head in and going straight then make sure you apply outer leg pressure. Build up by applying pressure, then bumping with your leg and finally if he still isnt turning kick him. When he turns IMMEDIATLY release all pressure and reward the proper movement.

I totally agree that your horse needs more ground work. I'm betting he's pushy on the ground to you. He needs to learn some respect and how to give to pressure. Remember horses are physical animals and so you can bump, slap, and poke them if needed. As long as you give a horse a chance to understand what you're asking them to do, give them warnings to do it or else, then follow thru with the or else and immediately reward by stopping all pressure when they do what you want (after all that was the easiest route and horses love the easiest route) then to use physical means to get your point across is okay.

For instance when I am teaching a yearling to adult horse some ground manners, I want them to learn to step away from me when I step towards them. Before I can teach them that, I have to teach them where to stand when I'm leading, how to stay there when I step away from them and how to back up with as little pressure as possible. The ideal is to have a horse that leads with a big loop in the lead. Anyhow, I prepare the horse by turning towards him and then step into his space. At that point he should move away from me and if he doesn't I shake my finger at him. If he still doesn't move I wave my arm at him, if he still doesn't move he gets a smack on the neck. In the mean time I'm stepping into and crowding his space. When he moves he gets a release from pressure and a rub on the shoulder. Then I rinse and repeat until the horse moves willingly away when I step towards him. See how sometimes you have to be physical to get it to the point where you don't even have to touch them, just apply a light pressure.

Horses in a herd do it. They lay their ears, lift their leg, back up, maybe hump up then let loose if the other horse isn't getting the picture to get out of the way or to leave them alone.

[honey]

yeah chevmama will have to try your method of getting them out of your space. as when we lead our coloured two year old she is constantly leaning on you and she won't move away. though may be difficult as this filly when in a herd would rather stand there and get kicked to pieces than move very stubbern!!

[honey]

as turning has he had his teeth checked recently maybe hes sore on the left hand side of the mouth so when your asking hes refusing to move cause the bits hitting also check for wolf teeth. Put you inside leg on behind the girth to encourage him to bend his body round it but also put your outside leg on the girth to stop him falling threw and if needed using the stick on the inside give him a tap with the stick behind the saddle to encourage him to step through and swing the rump away from the rump. and do it in walk and then practice everytime your warming up and cooling down on legs alone with reins slack and only use reigns when hes not listening to the legs for turning and eventually you will have a horse that will steer by legs alone.

[Chevmama]

Originally Posted by honey

yeah chevmama will have to try your method of getting them out of your space. as when we lead our coloured two year old she is constantly leaning on you and she won't move away. though may be difficult as this filly when in a herd would rather stand there and get kicked to pieces than move very stubbern!!

Some horses are. The first step in the process is to step away from your colt in a backwards diagonal line, they should then move to be at the proper spot (with their throatlatch at your shoulder. If they don't move take a step back and pull them over to you. This is the reason for the backwards diagonal line. You can pull a horse to the side and back a bit a lot easier because they're off balance. After a few times they figure out... hey this is an easy spot to be so when you step away they want to be there.

Next you teach them to back up. You may need a dressage whip, a lunge whip or just use the end of your lead. The horse should remember the proper position right now so you can either turn and back up or just back up like I do. Then you jiggle the line backwards, then jerk it then finally if they still don't back up even a step you tap their chest or upper forelegs with the line or whip. Basically you make it uncomfortable for them not to back up, and you stop as soon as they give you a step or partial step and praise. You have to master these two steps before you can do the step away/into step. This is because often when horses are stepping away from you they can get ahead of you, so you back them up a step and keep going. This is not a showmanship class so they do not need to have a pivot foot but if thats something you want to do, its good to incorporate it.

Lastly you teach a horse to go forward. This one is last because they finally know where to be and how to get out of your space if you need them to.

If I have a horse that is crowding me, I go thru all of the steps with them. I love a horse that will lead beside me, no matter what I'm doing with little to no line pressure. If you feel the need to use a chain over the nose or a rope halter for some added pressure points then by all means go ahead if they're not doing well after a week with a regular halter. But remember the point is to have a light horse so eventually going back to a regular halter is ideal (unless you always use a rope one.)

I hope that helps.

To the OP I also suggest checking the horse's teeth. Make sure the wolf teeth are out and a bit seat is done as well as a floating if they need it. Loads can be improved by a simple floating.