Stop Leaning and Start Turning Smoothly in the Saddle

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So many horses and riders really struggle in turns. It can be tricky to coordinate the aids and your body to have the right effect on your horse. If you need help turning, then this video is for you.

Common Rider Mistakes in the Turn
When we, as riders, are crooked, we send confusing signals to our horses—and they don't turn.
Here are two common problems I see:

Leaning and collapsing: If you drop a shoulder and steer like you’re turning a wheel, your horse loses balance, overbends and the turn becomes a struggle.
Twisting your shoulders the wrong way: This causes your horse to counter-bend and stiffen. If your shoulders are turning to the outside of the circle, your horse can't bend correctly.

A Helpful Visualization: The Camera on a Tripod
Imagine your shoulders are like a camera mounted on a tripod. You want to rotate the camera (your shoulders) slightly in the direction of travel—without tilting. Your shoulders should mirror your horse’s shoulders while your hips stay centered and following the motion.

Try this off the horse: extend your arms out like airplane wings and slowly rotate from side to side, keeping your arms level and your hips facing forward. Notice which direction feels harder—and how easy it is to over- or under-rotate.

Riding the Correct Turn
When you're riding a circle to the left:

Look ahead in the direction you're going.
Gently bring your inside (left) shoulder back and let your outside (right) shoulder come forward.
Keep your shoulders level and your seat straight.

This subtle adjustment positions your hands and body in the right place, without oversteering or collapsing. It’s amazing how much easier turning becomes when your shoulders lead the way correctly!

If you're really crooked in one direction, it could be due to tightness, an old injury, or muscle imbalance. That’s why I also recommend off-the-horse stretching and strengthening to support your symmetry in the saddle.

I hope this helps you and your horse!

Happy riding!
Amelia

0:00 Intro/Rider Position & Turning
0:58 Incorrect Position
2:20 Turning Visualization
4:18 Turning Correctly
7:02 Final Tips/End of Video