Stand at your horse's left shoulder, facing its body.
Place your right hand on the horse's shoulder and apply steady pressure.
The horse should step its front end (forehand) away from you, crossing the front legs.
Release pressure the instant the horse takes one step. Praise.
Build to 3-4 steps of forehand yield in one direction.
Switch sides and practice yielding the forehand to the right.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pushing too hard and the horse resisting or moving backward instead of sideways.
Not releasing pressure quickly enough when the horse responds.
The horse moving its hindquarters instead of its forehand.
Standing too close to the horse's front legs (safety risk).
Variations & Progressions
Yield the forehand around a cone or marker for a visual reference.
Combine forehand yield with hindquarter yield for a full body-control exercise.
Practice yielding the forehand while the horse is standing at a fence or wall.
Tip: Forehand yield is the groundwork version of the turn on the haunches. If the horse can do it from the ground, it'll understand the concept under saddle.
