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Flexing
and Laterals
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Teaching
A Sidepass
This page builds from a HipAround, which in turn builds from flexing.
Be sure to look those pages up, if you or your horse don't have a clue
where to start with a sidepass. Lateral work is important for the well trained horse. You’ll learn to use your legs in a more knowledgeable manner. You’ll learn to separate your hands. Your horse will learn to recognize different leg cues. Your horse will learn to give his nose and balance his body. |
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Flexing - HipArounds - Sidepassing |
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now Julia gets confusing...
When I talk about the inside, I'm not talking about the inside of the arena. I'm talking about the inside of the horse's bend. For example, in these steps, the inside of the arena will be to the right. But Pony is flexed/bent to the left. So the inside of the horse's bend will be to the left. The reason for that is that I'm just dislexic enough to make my life good and miserable. So you'll have to put up with me. Sorry! |
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You give all the aids for a HipAround, till
your horse's nose is still
on the fence, and his hindend is a couple of steps away from it.
Stop and pet him. 1. Leg pressure behind the cinch. 2. The other leg well away from Pony, giving him room to move that way. 3. Inside rein giving just enough pressure to keep the nose headed for the fence. I usually also start introducing the rein aid for moving the shoulder over here, so I lay it across the mane, while bending Pony's face into the correct direction. 4. The outside rein in a very clear leading rein into the direction you want Pony to take. A very willing, sensitive horse will guess what you want, and step his frontend over a little. 5. This is probly the most important aid. Curve your back into the same shape that you want Pony's back to have. (For more information regarding back aids, read this) Once he's away from the fence, let him stop and settle for a second or two. |
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Now we'll want to get the step sequence right.
1. Ask him to go forward, but keep that same inside bend. When you ask him to go forward, the fence will block straight forward motion. The only place for Pony to go will be to one side or the other. 2. So your rein action should guide him to give his shoulder to the outside. This is actually easier than it sounds. 3. Give room to the outside, so the shoulder can come forward. But it wouldn't hurt to move that outside rein out into the direction of travel. 4. Make sure your back is still shaped the way you want Pony's back to be shaped. He might make a mistake and try to put his hindend back towards the fence. Just use your HipAround cues to bring him right back out, and try again. |
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As soon as he takes one step out with the
shoulder, start giving the Sidepass
cues.
1. Inside leg right on the cinch (slightly forward from the HipAround position), pressure coming from the knee down to the foot. 2. Outside leg giving room. 3. Inside rein keeping the bend that is needed for the sidepass. This will hold Pony squarely on the fence, so that you don't have to worry about controlling the forward motion. From here, Pony can't speed up and he can't really turn. The only thing he can do is move to the side. Which is what we want. 4. Outside rein in a leading rein, guiding the direction you want Pony to take. Basically, what all your aids are saying is "You are about to make the mistake I want you to make." 5. The most important cue... The back curved into the correct shape. If you learn to make your back influence your horse, you will learn more about how to use your seat than most dressage riders. And your horse will get very intuitive about what you want him to do. Especially as you teach him more stuff. Those are the cues you want to give to your horse. |
Be sure to make your shoulder-over cues clear, seeins that is what we are trying to teach here.
As Pony goes, he'll start recognizing the cue and move several steps sideways.
What a good Boy!!!
Eventually, you'll want to get away from the fence.
Stay on the fence for the first couple of days. Your horse will learn to recognize the cues, and pretty soon, he'll easily sidepass along the fence as long as you ask him.
Then you'll ask him in the middle of the arena, and you won't have the fence to stop the forward motion.
That means that you'll have to work your reins a little. You'll give the cue for a sidepass, and instead of moving sideways, he'll speed up. Just pull him back to a walk, and give the cue again. Do this as often as it takes, till he starts moving sideways.
Fairly soon, probly the same day that you get away from the fence, you'll want to give the sidepass cues and instead of stopping the forward motion separately, you'll want to give the cues for moving over While you are stopping the forward motion.
At the early stages, I'm not real worried about how Pony obeys my request. He can look like a camel if he wants. I'm just happy he's learning the step sequence.
But eventually, I'll want him to flex nicely while sidepassing. So while stopping the forward motion, I'll already start working on the beginnings of flexing.
Do it right... Laterals are crucial building blocks for neck reining, flying lead changes and whole body control. Let me guide you thru the foundations to advanced training by joining the Online Clinic. Check it out... click here.