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Volunteer Team Talks

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Turn and Face

1. Preparation
1. Handler
1. Mindset of confidence, expectation of horse's compliance vs. catching
2. Safety clothing for leading
1. protective boots
2. gloves
3. comfortable clothing
4. halter and lead rope in good condition
2. Horse
1. Prior round pen training for the turn and face cue
1. Danada mustangs
1. Stall - yes
2. Paddocks - yes
2. Danada drafts
1. Stall - yes
2. Paddocks - no, for safety reasons
3. Danada donated horses
1. Stall - yes
2. Paddocks - yes
2. Temperament and timing
1. Some horses more compliant
2. Can be difficult during feeding time in paddocks
2. Reasons for turn and face
1. Sets foundation of respect between horse and handler
2. Goal for elimination of bullying and ignoring by horse
3. Reduces rudeness by horse - back turned toward handler
4. Initiates climate of trust and confidence for handler, calmness for horse
5. Expectation that horse will be more manageable and predictable
6. Puts horse into the listening state
7. SAFETY for handler and horse
3. Procedure
1. Handler is holding the halter in the left hand, buckles together, excess lead rope in right hand
2. Approach horse at his/her left side, squarely facing the barrel, just behind the left shoulder
1. Handler has tall, confident posture
2. Handler's eyes are soft
3. Leave approximately 4-5 feet between handler and horse so horse has enough room to turn their front half to face the handler
4. Make sure there is room behind the horse's hindquarters for freedom of movement and avoidance of injury from inanimate objects and other horses
3. Handler uses least pressure, then increases as needed
1. Eyes and body posture
2. Call horses name, then kissing sound
3. Handler rotates their body to face horse's hindquarters, calls their name, kisses, hardens his/her eyes
4. Points to the hindquarters with taut finger
5. Swing lead rope at hindquarters, no contact
6. Swing lead rope at hindquarters, make contact
4. As horse moves front end toward handler, handler can assist by moving toward the hindquarters
5. If horse is avoiding the handler, the handler can do their initial approach from the right side or can make the horse move by swinging the lead rope until the horse stops and listens to the handler
4. Completion
1. After horse has turned and faced, slowly and gently put the lead rope over their neck
2. Handler faces forward, right shoulder to the horse's neck, just behind the left eye
3. With both hands on either buckle, handler goes under the horse's neck with the halter
4. Lift halter into place, being sure to avoid injuring the eyes
5. Secure halter latch
6. Adjust lead rope to carry excess in left hand
7. Handler's right hand is on the lead rope next to the horse's mouth, with a loop between the halter and the right hand to avoid pulling on the horse

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