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Yielding The Hindquarters

Teaching the horse to yield his hindquarters when you ask is the foundation exercise of many ground work and riding lessons. This lesson teaches the horse to face you, bend his body, and cross his legs in response to pressure. By teaching him to yield on the ground first, it will be easier for the horse to understand once you start asking him under saddle.

 

Move the Hindquarters With the Whip or Stick

  1. Stand parallel to your horse’s shoulder facing his hindquarters.
  2. Hold your lead rope in the hand closest to your horse.
  3. Hold your whip in your other hand, farthest away from the horse. Place your whip on the horse’s hip.
  4. Focus on his hindquarters and bend slightly at the waist.
  5. Take a step forward toward his hind end.
  6. Start tapping lightly with the whip on his hip.
  7. Tap three times with a light pressure before increasing the pressure. Increase it after every count of three until the horse moves his leg closest to you and crosses his outside hind leg.
  8. When he moves correctly, stop tapping and stand up straight. The change in body language is important as it tells the horse when you are wanting him to move (bending at the waist) and when you don’t want him to move (standing straight up).
  9. Rub his hindquarters with the whip until he stops moving and stands still.
  10. Repeat this process, making sure that you begin at his shoulder each time you yield him. Doing this also desensitizes the horse to your approach.
  11. When the horse can take one good step across three times in a row change sides.
  12. Start from the beginning on the other side.
  13. The next day ask the horse to take two steps. Slowly ask for one more step every day until you can make a full 360 degree turn.

Instead of the whip, you can also swing the end of your rope toward his hind end after you take a step toward him. Let the rope get closer until you smack him on the hindquarters, keep tapping until he moves. When he moves over, stop swing the rope and rub him with your hand on his hip until he stops moving. The rope can be easier to use then the whip and is also handy when you don’t have the whip with you.

Problem Solving

Moves the Front Feet Toward You– It is ok if the horse moves his front feet around a bit. They should move forward a little. However, make sure that he doesn’t try to walk into your space with his front feet when you ask his hind end to move. If he does, back him up immediately.

Leans a Shoulder Into You– Watch if he tries to push his shoulder into you while yielding. If he does, use your whip or rope to tap him on his shoulder or rib cage until he moves over.

Won’t Yield– Increasingly tap the horse harder with your rope or whip until he takes a correct step. Don’t release the pressure if he takes a step behind his other hind leg or next to it without crossing (unless the horse is new to the exercise, then let him step over until he learns the lesson, but don’t reward him for stepping backwards). Wait until he takes a step across then release and rub him.

Yield the Hindquarters From Hand Pressure

  1. Stand next to the horse’s hindquarters or belly facing him (you can ask for the hips over from either position).
  2. Press your hand into the horse’s side.
  3. Hold the pressure until the horse shifts his weight away from you.
  4. When he moves away stop pressing and rub him.
  5. Ask for a full step by holding the pressure with your hand until he steps his hind leg closest to you over his outside hind leg.
  6. When he does this, stop pressing and rub him until he stops moving.
  7. When he steps over in response to pressure three times correctly, teach the lesson on the other side.
  8. Gradually add steps one at a time until the horse can move all the way around his forehand whenever you ask.

This exercise is great for moving your horse in the wash rack, in cross ties, or while grooming. Having your horse move when doing these everyday tasks keeps him paying attention to you and easier to handle.

Problem Solving

Pins His Ears– Keep the pressure on, even if he is stepping correctly, until his ears come up and he steps over at the same time. It doesn’t matter why his ears come up. Try to reward every time his ears come, up so you will have to pay close attention to his body language and your timing.

Swishes His Tail– Again, just like above keep the pressure on until the horse stops swishing his tail. Be careful if the horse is threatening you with his ears back and his tail swishing, as he is probably thinking about kicking. It is best if you keep your distance and use your whip or use a longer length of rope to tap him with so you stay out of his reach until he is not swishing his tail during this lesson.

Won’t Move Over– Increase the pressure and keep it on until he takes the correct step over. Don’t release too soon and make sure to release right after he takes a good step so he understands whens he does that he gets the pressure taken off.

Kicks Out– Go back to yielding the horse with the whip or rope. When you use your hand you put yourself too close to him where you could be kicked. Don’t try this lesson until he will step over nicely in response to the whip or rope.