Introducing the Turn on the Haunches (aka. walk pirouette)

Visit my website: Check us out on Patreon: Sign up for my e-mail list: #dressagetraining #equestrian #horse If you are moving up from First Level to Second Level this year, one of the new movements on your test will be the turn on the haunches. First introduced at Second Level, the turn on the haunches will later be seen as the walk pirouette in higher levels, where the movement is required to be more collected. In this video, I’m working with a horse who is newer to Dressage and is learning the turn on the haunches for the first time. The turn on the haunches is an engaging and collecting exercise. When you are first introducing the turn on the haunches, it is important to give your horse breaks and change direction often. It is a difficult movement that requires a lot of coordination from your horse. To introduce the turn on the haunches, I like to ride a square with a quarter turn on the haunches at each corner. For each quarter turn, really think about using your half halts and turning the outside shoulder around the haunches. Make sure that your outside leg is behind the girth to keep your horse from swinging their haunches out during the turn. You want to see the front legs cross and move out and around with the hind legs staying in one spot while still maintaining the walk rhythm. As you work on this exercise, keep in mind that it is hard for your horse. Change directions frequently and give them a break by doing something different like posting trot. Once your horse understands the quarter turn fairly well, then you can try the half turn on the haunches like you will see in the Second Level tests. Watch the video where I talk you through my schooling session, and let me know in the comments below how this goes with your horse! Happy Riding! Amelia