Movement Spotlight: Turn on the Haunches

I know, I know. I am behind. Its been a very busy couple of weeks. I decided I would start a new section of this blog named the "Movement Spotlight." This section of the blog will consist of discussion, training advice, and video of a particular movement and common mistakes that may occur when teaching and performing the movement. 
So we will start with the Turn on the Haunches:
Definition: “This movement is a schooling exercise which can be executed from a halt or walk, and is preparatory for the pirouette which is executed out of a collected gait. The horse’s forehand moves in even, quiet and regular steps around the horse’s inner hind leg while maintaining the rhythm of the walk. In the half turn on the haunches the horse is not required to step with its inside hind leg in the same spot each time it leaves the ground but may move slightly forward. This movement may be executed through 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 360 degrees.” [USEF Rule Book DR112]
This movement is introduced at USDF 2nd level and performed at 3rd level. It is in preparation for the pirouette(executed at both walk and canter) which comes at 4th level and the FEI levels. In the pirouette the inside hind leg becomes expected to step primarily on the "same" spot as it leaves the ground but continue in correct articulation (not becoming "Stuck"). In many tests both the turn on the haunch and the pirouette (specifically walk) are double coefficients, which means they count more significantly. For all intents and purposes this movement is a training focus-- meaning it does not require a freak mover to score well. 
So how to you train this movement? 
Well first, your horse must understand the leg-yield, traver, and shoulder-in movements at least at the walk. I typically introduce the beginning of the turn on the haunch like I do the pirouette. We ride a 10m(approx) circle in traver; this means we ride the shoulder alone the circle and the haunch comes to the inside. This ensures my control over the haunch and the horses willingness to bend the ribcage. I then gradually ask the horse to turn a smaller circle at which time you begin to bring your outside leg aid slightly more forward to begin asking the shoulder to begin turning. This is typically the tricky part as the horse becomes most like to swap its haunch out. You have to play with you control of the haunch being in while beginning to ask the horse to turn its shoulder. You turn the shoulder not just with the outside leg, but also by turn your upper body slightly and using both reins to turn the horse. If you take too much inside rein then the horse will become stuck in its body and too crooked. Additionally, while performing this exercise it is important to encourage the horse to keep marching in the walk to ensure no slowing and pivoting. You can see this maneuver in Exercise #1 video. 
Once you have adequate control over the turning and maintaining control of the haunch you can begin asking for more turning. A good exercise for this is to ride the horse along the long side and then as you approach the corner you turn the horse back to the second track before walking forward again and then turning toward the track and walking along the track again. This begins to make the horse consider a smaller turn. This can be seen in Exercise #2 videos. Another favorite exercise of mine for this movement is to ride a square with quarter turns-- making a quarter turn ensures the horse is on the aids and is able to turn and walk and turn and walk in a flow. Demonstrated in Exercise #3 video in addition to turn on the haunch in 180 degrees. 
All these exercises carry directly over to training the canter pirouette, and like anything else, if you can't perform them well at the walk first then it will likely be very difficult to perform them in the canter. It is great to introduce them at the walk around 1st and 2nd levels because once I have a solid 3rd/4th level horse I can use a familiar exercise to teach them the pirouette turning and balance. This generally will bring greater confidence when learning for the horse. 
I chose Melman to demonstrate these maneuvers because he is my horse who has the most difficulty with these movements. Understandably-- he has EPM and is also about as large and long as they come. He requires the rider to be tactful when controlling the haunch and ribcage in order to stay on a tight area. Obviously, he has been working this maneuver for at least 2 years, so he knows the aid and just need continual work to improve its quality. I frequently use these exercises on my horses from 1st level (and learning the maneuver) to FEI to encourage proper bending, maneuverability of the shoulder, and weight taking of the haunch. 

Exercise #1

Exercise #2

Exercise #2

Exercise #3