Side stepping!?

Question

ok my mare backs really good and moves forward well!

but i now am at the level to train her to side step. Every time i ask she gets over antisapates and rears. Its nothing new but i was wondering if anyone has trained their horse to do so, and what they did.

thanks for your help!

Answer 1

If pushing from the ground doesn't help she might be stiff and that is her way of expressing pain.  You may want to consult a massage therapist.  If you want me to refer someone who is in your area let me know.  [e-mail]

Answer 2

I have started my horses on the side pass in the following way:  I start out by teaching the horse to give their rib cage while walking forward in a circle.  After they get the idea, I will walk them forward toward a fence.  Before we get there, I will start to ask for the rib cage to give, and the rest of the horse to follow it.  I continue to walk forward while they give until we reach the fence.  At the fence, I will try to get a step or two of sidepass, then pivot them out on the rail of the fence.  This keeps the forward momentum and is less stressful so hopefully the rearing will stop.  You can gradually ask for more and more, but as soon as the horse gets that worried feeling, just pivot out and walk forward.

Answer 3

OK lets train a horse to move sideways together here. First there is a "sidepass", which really doesn't exsist in classical riding, but in "western arenas" and Trail it does. In classical riding it is reffered to as a "Leg yeild", which is not the same. A side pass has the horse moving completely sideways with little or no forward movement, whilst a leg yeild has enough forward movement with the side ways that the rear left  foot (lets say were moving to the left) sets the ground in place of the right front foot. So now we have two different sideways movements here.

To get either one of these we should for the benifit of the horse teach it first in the ground. To do this we need to have certain things working for us 1, our horse needs to be able to read us when we are asking it to move 2, we need to be able to seperate the hind legs from the front by getting soft hindquarter dissengagements. 3, we need to be able to seperate the front feet of our horse from the rear by getting a soft turn on the haunches, and 4, we need to be able to put theses all back together at once.

What i am saying here is if your horse will move its rear fgor you and move its front for you then you can combine the two movement together, and cause them to move together.

I usuall start with my back against the rail, send the horse in a half circle, and just before the horse gets to the rail I step intoward the horses withers where I then focus over its withers, and either use a training stick or the end of my lead to create enough energy to cause the horse to move.

Make sure to keep the horses head tilted slightly toward you, and apply appropriate presure either to the front end or rear to keep them moving correctly.

Dont forget to reward your horse as soon as it even tries to do the right thing and it will soon be "side stepping" for you.

Once this is done you may mount your horse and proceed while mounted the same exercise's and it will soon be "side passing " under saddle.

As far as the rearing goes, that many times is due to your horse not understanding your cues. You teach it right so that it understands your request and see a big change in your horse.

Answer 4

Start on the ground and push your mares shoulder with your fist and rear with a whip (don't slap her - just push). When she gets this down try and get on her and hold your outside rein on her shoulder (the rein opposite of the direction you want her to move) and loosen you inside rein (the other rein) and then kick with you outside foot and 'open' your inside foot (sort of stick it out, so it isn't confusing her to go the other way) Make sure you hold her back though otherwise she will go forward. Sorry if this is really confusing!!! Its hard to write in words!! :P

A good way to practice is to try and side step her with a pole between her front feet and back feet (under her stomach on the ground) then you can see if she walks forward of backwards.

Hope this helps some!! Good luck!!

Answer 5

I start mine on the ground pushing with my fist on their side, where your heel would be if you where on her back, and a lead to stop forward movement. This is really hard to explain without a video or being there to show you, but start slow and every time she steps side ways reward her with a treat/rub/etc. When she gets one side down start on the other. then you can try again riding her. Always end on a good note and don't push her too hard or too fast.

edit: i guess i should have asked, western or English? side stepping in a English riding horse is totally different. I train western horses.

Answer 6

I have trained horses for a turn on the forehand, is this what you mean? Or a leg yield or half pass (at higher level ). With a leg yielding; you need the horse to be moving forwards, as well as sideways. The outside rein is your holding rein, the inside rein asks for a slight bend with the inside leg asking your horse to move sideways, with the inside hind leg crossing the outside hind. Your problem may be,because you are not allowing any forward movement and restricting a little too much through your outside rein.