Yield the Forehand (Physical Pressure)
Goal: To have the horse move his front end out of your space by stepping one front leg in front of the other when you place pressure with your hands.
Instructions: Stand at your horse's shoulder with the lead rope draped in the crook of your arm, so that both your hands are free. Place one hand on the side of your horse's face and one hand on his shoulder. Begin by rubbing your horse in these two hand positions, until your horse is relaxed about your rub. The hand on the face bends the horse's head and neck around, while the pressure on the shoulder encourages the shoulder to come forward and around. Use the same level of pressure in both hands. Begin with just a light touch, then a small press, then a harder press, and continue until it ultimately feels as if you are pushing into your horse's muscle. If at any point the horse yields his forehand one step away from you, release all pressure and rub the horse with your hands in the same two spots. Remember, we want the front leg to cross in front of (not behind) the other.
If your horse is resistant to moving away from the pressure, you may use your stick to support this maneuver. Maintain the position and pressure of your hand on your horse's face and with your other hand hold the stick. Using the same rhythmic, pulsating motion you did when yielding the hindquarters, begin with a small motion and progressively work up to a bigger motion with the stick parallel to your horse's neck. Let your rhythmic motion get as large as necessary, even if it means bumping your stick against his neck. Only when he has taken one step away, crossing his front feet in front of one another, may you release pressure of your hand and stick. Remember to end by rubbing your horse in those same locations, until he can stand still and relax to your touch.
Practice this on both sides, until your horse has the concept of moving away from the physical pressure. With time and patience on your part, your horse will get increasingly lighter to yielding his front end from the slightest request.
Time and patience will pay off in all these exercises. Your horse will be most successful through quality teachings, rather than quantity. Get to where your horse consistently and willingly offers one quality step in these exercises, before progressing to two steps. Be sure your horse understands taking two steps, before asking for three, and so on. In offering your horse this kind of patient support he will be able to yield in a full circle before you know it.
About the author: Emily Johnson, owner of Mountain Rose Horsemanship Training, LLC, located in Broomfield, Colorado, is an accomplished horse professional with a passion for bringing horses and humans together through credible and approachable instruction.
Emily studied Equine Science at Colorado State University before spending the following years traveling, mentoring under many accomplished trainers nationwide, as she developed her own natural horsemanship style. Her training methods utilize a direct approach the horse naturally understands, which she combines with her knowledge of human learning to create the most effective environment for both.
Emily specializes in areas that include young or troubled horses, as well as horsemanship that emphasize the mind and behavior of the horse. Her instruction reflects her passion for equipping both horses and humans for success on their journey toward partnership. She may be contacted at mountainrosetraining@gmail.com.
