Lesson 5: Where Do I Go From Here?

How to reverse direction

There are a number of acceptable ways to change direction. Here, we will learn only the two easiest, a simple change of direction on the rail and a change across the middle of the arena.

Simple change of direction.

To accomplish this, you will need the same skills you worked on for cornering. The aim is to turn the horse in the other direction in the same gait at the same speed he is using now, in this case, a good, forward walk.

Proceed up the long side. When you are more than halfway down the side, and your see quite a lot of open space without jumps, begin your turn. If you are traveling to the left, which means your left hand is toward the open space to the inside of the arena, glance back over your left shoulder, letting your left hand move back toward your hip. Let your hip turn slightly also. Push against your horse with the inside leg. Let the outside leg drift forward to help his front end around the turn. Because that’s all you’re doing; you’re ‘cornering’ without a corner. It is almost a full circle you’ll make, though, to get back to the rail in the other direction, so all the movements you practiced in cornering are increased in size and pressure at this point.

The horse should now be beginning to move in an arc away from the rail. If you don’t want him to go straight across the arena, you’ll need to look hard at a spot on the rail about 30 feet from where you are now. Using your inside hand by pulling it back toward your hips more, and your outside leg to push a little toward the front of the saddle, work the horse around the arc, and then straighten out gradually so that he walks a diagonal path back to the fence, where you will once again get everything square and walk on.

In brief:

· Choose an open space about 2/3 of the way along the long side of the arena. · Glance over your inside shoulder (left shoulder if you are walking left and want to change to right, and vice versa) · Let your inside arm come back with your shoulder, keeping your hands closed on the reins so the horse will feel the direction you want him to go · Press into him with your inside leg. · Move your outside hip and leg forward slightly to help the horse bring his front end around. · Walk at the end of the shallow half-circle you have created, walk him forward at an angle toward the fence, adjusting with both legs and hands to keep him straight. · When you are at the track you’ve been using along the fence, square everything up again.

Again, practice in both directions, don’t bore your horse just because you’re seeking perfection in a single session (it may take quite a few), relax, and BREATHE. As physically, mentally and emotionally demanding as learning to ride is—albeit fun!—it ‘ain’t brain surgery.’

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