If you have ever worked with a young horse you know that at some point they will try to ignore you when you ask them to turn. How are you supposed to address that?
I stumbled across one way that works well with one of my young horses. I do this at a canter, because that's when I see her trying to go wherever she wants the most. You can do this at whatever speed you choose. I get her going on a loose rein, and when she starts to not listen I will politely ask her to keep going where I want her to. When she doesn't do it, I get her turned around somehow or another. Usually by kicking her hip out, but it doesn't really matter. And we trot energetically back towards the point she started not listening and we start cantering from there. She understands this really well.
Another way is to practice straight lines. Get your young horse to walk, trot, and canter in between two invisible lines. At first you are going to want these lines to be at least six feet apart. You'll start out in between those two lines, and when your horse tries going somewhere else you will take hold of your reins and bring him back in between your two invisible lines. Now the most important part of this is to let him make the mistake of going outside of your two invisible lines before you pick up your reins and bring him back. Eventually you will make your invisible lines narrower until the horse goes wherever you choose in a straight line.
You could also do this. When your horse won't turn, get him to turn a full circle in the direction you are pulling before going where you want. So you are going along, you ask him to turn to the left, and he doesn't. Now get him to go in a small 360 degree circle to the left and when you are in the direction you want to go let him go straight again. If you are asking for a turn to the right, you will make your circle to the right. Now the circle is just a circle. It's not a correction. Just a circle. If you think of it as a correction your hands will make the bit harsh, and the circle becomes a punishment.
One more. You can do patterns. Set out cones, or whatever obstacles you have and do patterns around them.
I lied. This is the last one. Teach them to do a spin on their hindquarters. It's shoulder control.
Get 'er goin'!!
Lydia Johnson
Information. That's what this is about. Where to find it, and what I have learned. I can not claim to be an expert in the area of training horses, but I will try my best to be helpful.
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