This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Basic Riding Skills » Training Questions on school movements »
  Discussion on Sidepass
Author Message

Posted on Monday, Mar 12, 2001 - 3:37 am:

Having only had one lesson from an instructor and many many many hours on a retired lesson horse, I'm basically self and horse taught. My old gelding was far from your top level dressage horse though. More "Old Reliable" that anyone could ride. As he's getting old and I'm more confident, I purchased a bit younger ex-reining horse. Boy is he a blast to ride. But I have two questions.

1. What is the common cue for a side pass? I was told to "hold him back a bit and use leg pressure" that he would move away from. Sometimes he will side pass when I do this. Most of the time he acts confused and tries to back up or turn and move into a trot (see below).

2. Is there any way to desensitize a horse's sides? I don't know for sure, but this horse seems to have been spurred or ridden very hard. The slightest of leg pressure will set him off into a fast trot. Using your heels on this horse is just asking him to rocket out from under you. Maybe he's just trying to live up to his name, Doc's Lil Pistol! :) But in any case, I've learned to be very careful not to lose my stirrups because that can make for an even MORE interesting ride. And I've been using verbal cues when I want a little more speed.

Thanks in advance!
~Sharon

Posted on Monday, Mar 12, 2001 - 7:36 pm:

teach the movement on the ground first with rear pressure and control of the head , work both directions , they usually are better in one or the other ,i found it helps to give the cue a bit towards the rear and use a rub with the foot , the key is the reining after they learn to move away form the pressure , with my arab it requires a cue then release and i have found that verbal is very important here , once they make a positive move reinforce it and urge it on with clucking or whatever works , work against fences to begin with then begin to move away further and further , my arab was parelli trained , and no offense intended but he had about 2000 too many cues , we simpified , he got used to me and it worked out .
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC