Last issue, Les wrapped up our section on turnarounds. Here are some points to recap.

Mechanics
• The horse’s neck must be soft both laterally and vertically before you start
• The horse should plant his inside hind foot – it bears the weight
• The outside hind leg pushes, providing the power
• The front legs are like a wheel and control direction
• The shoulders are like a wagon axis, they should have just enough tilt in the direction of the turn to allow the outside front leg to reach across the inside one

Beginning
• Sit deep in the saddle and ride the back of the horse up to the front
• Keep your hands apart—no neck rein
• Start in a small circle, using both legs actively
• Ask your horse for a step or two, then release and go back to your circle
• Push with your legs instead of pulling with your hands. If you feel backward motion, you know you’re pulling too hard
• Reward the thought: When you feel the slightest try, give him the benefit of the doubt and reward him
• Be consistent
• The first few steps will dictate the quality of the spin, if they are bad, don’t continue. You don’t want your horse to learn to do a bad spin, hold out for a better one
• Speed comes later

Remember
• Always start from the front; get the neck right, followed by the shoulders, ribs, and hindquarters
• Make sure the horse does not twist in the poll. The spine will also twist and the horse’s weight will shift to the outside hind foot and throw off the balance of the spin
• Allow the horse to find his own way and be comfortable
• It’s all in the neck! Neck resistance is a speed limit

Les Vogt has won more than 15 World Championships, including two wins at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity. Today Les focuses is giving clinics around the world and developing products for the performance horseman. To learn more about Les and to see his clinic schedule, visit www.lesvogt.com.