ASKHQ: TEACHING A HORSE TO SPIN

Q: How do you teach a horse to spin?

A: A spin is a forward trot manoeuvre. The best way to teach the spin is to decrease the size of a walk circle as much as possible, allow the horse to straighten out the body and then step across the inside front foot with the outside front foot. You then walk the horse out of the spin back into the circle. You slowly increase the number of strides in the spin before you walk out into the circle. Be sure to maintain the forward impulsion throughout the circle and the turnaround. Once the horse is comfortable at the walk and understands what is expected you will trot the exercise.