Side Passing

[Max]

does anyone have any tips on teaching a horse to sidepass without spurrs (or however you spell it.)

[Manda]

I put Wes on the long lines, and he was side passing, I wasn't trying to teach him how, but when I gave short tugs on both lines, he would start doing it. Maybe you could try that, as it'll be easier to teach them on the ground rather than on their back, I would think so atleast. Other than that, I have no idea.

[alliekk]

It really depends on the horse how long it will take to teach them to side pass. some pick it up right away, others just plain old won't do it. I trained two of my horses the exact same way in side passing: with the lead rope in your left hand, hold your horses head straight out so his neck isn't flexing to either side. Use your right thumb on his barrel where your leg is when riding and push until he moves away. After he has taken ONE step stop him and let him settle and praise him. Do this on both sides until he doesn't even think twice about it before getting on and asking him to do it. Once he is ready to do it on board, try passing to the right first(it seems horses tend to be right handed so doing it on his good side will give him confidence to do it on his off side.) Hold your left rein straight, keeping contact at all times and hold your right rein out and gently tug while asking him with your heel to move away from it. Do not ask for more than two steps until he is comfortable and understands what is being asked of him so it won't confuse him and make him upset. In 4-H, one of the trail obstacles (there's always one) is to side pass over a pole. I can almost guarantee your horse will not do it the first time. Do your ground exercise over a pole, exactly how you taught him in the first place. ~Teaching him this way will build his confidence and is not at all harmful. My own experience is it works, whether quickly or slowly. I HOPE IT HELPS!!!
P.S. It shouldn't take more than 2 weeks of consistent work.

[Max]

thanks I'll try that :)

[kckatt]

My horse side passes in the field (by himself) all the time. When I ride him I just turn his head to one side and use the oposit leg cue.
When I'm on the ground I pull his head around with the lead and touch his belly, he has gotten really good at it. :p Sorry, I like to brag about my baby!!

[silverleprichuan]

Are you talking about true side passing or leg-yielding because everything described so far sounds like leg-yielding.

[jayeloveschloe]

Use a 10m circle to get the appropriate bend first, then coming out of the circle and onto the track move your horse with your outside hip each time the outside hind reaches sideways. Outside rein lessens forward movement and inside rein / inside leg at the girth maintains correct bend. Outside leg is slightly behind the girth to push the hindquarters out as the hind reaches.

If your horse knows the proper meaning of leg and seat aids, spurs should not be needed (unless you're refining or adding on to already established movement). :)

"Dressage is simple, it's just not easy." :rolleyes:

I don't claim to be an expert, but every good Dressage book I've read will suggest something along those lines. Good luck, hope that helped atleast a bit!

[silverleprichuan]

Everybody is describing a leg yield. A leg yield is where a horse moves forward while crossing over, the neck is straight or bent slightly away from the direction the horse is traveling. A sidepass is much much more difficult because the crossing over is more pronounced with less forward motion and the horse is bent towards the direction they are traveling.

[jayeloveschloe]

...except for you and I. Haha.

[alliekk]

Everybody is describing a leg yield. A leg yield is where a horse moves forward while crossing over, the neck is straight or bent slightly away from the direction the horse is traveling. A sidepass is much much more difficult because the crossing over is more pronounced with less forward motion and the horse is bent towards the direction they are traveling.

I agree that almost every one is describing a leg yield, but if that is the simpler way to start then by all means, begin that way... most of these tactics will work eventually, it's just a matter of which one's will work quickly and more effectively for MAX... I still believe my advise to be the most effective and stupid-proof, only because there is no room for your horse to find a loop hole in your training and it is a TRUE side-pass... 8 years of 4-H will tell anyone that...

[bethfornow]

If a horse can leg yield then he can side pass, it just may take a while for him to figure out the diffrence. To help him put his nose a foot from the rail and then ask him to side pass, the rail is the help you and he from moving forward untill you "figure out" each others "buttons"