Teaching a horse to walk sideways is useful for multiple purposes, whether it is to improve the fundamentals, or since it can allow you to open a gate without getting off the saddle, or to prepare for dressage. Fortunately, the system for teaching the horse the lateral step includes the exercise of the turn around the hind and front legs, two other very useful preparatory and riding techniques. Follow these steps, and you will improve not only your riding but also your horse's responsiveness and performance.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Teach from the Ground
Step 1. Check your horse's ability to move when you touch it
Your horse's natural instinct should be to move away from where the pressure is applied - the same instinct that humans have too. Test your horse for this responsiveness by touching it with your open palm on its side, close to where you would press it with your calf when in the saddle. It should move away from your hand, perhaps already taking a side step.
- If the horse does not respond to the stimulus, continue pressing on the side with greater force. As soon as he takes a step, release the pressure and reward him with something.
- Continue with this exercise to get the horse out of the way until it just takes a little tap, or even without hitting it (just touching its side with your hand).
Step 2. Train the horse to ride around its hind legs
Put a rope on the horse, and if necessary hold a whip. Position yourself so that your body is slightly back from the horse's body, and move your arm or whip towards its front shoulders. If it doesn't move, apply some pressure. The aim is to get him away from the pressure by rotating the body around the hind legs.
- If instead of crossing the front legs your horse is simply turning or stepping in the opposite direction, pull the rope and hold it forward.
- As soon as he crosses his forelegs to turn around those powers, release the pressure, look down, and reward him for doing what you asked him to do.
- Continue to do this type of exercise from the ground, so that the horse responds to the same stimuli even when you are in the saddle.
Step 3. Train the horse to ride around the front legs
As for the ride on the hind legs, the one on the front legs is done by making the whole body of the horse rotate around them by crossing the hind legs. You do this by standing close to the horse's front shoulders (to lock them and prevent the horse from moving forward) and moving the whip or open hand towards the rear hips. If he doesn't respond to the command without applying pressure, do some with your open hand, or tap him lightly with the whip.
- If the horse simply moves backwards or turns to one side, don't release the pressure. Have him straighten if necessary, but keep pushing him until he takes at least one step crossing his paws.
- As soon as the horse takes a step on its front legs, release the pressure and reward it for following your command.
- Keep doing this until the horse just needs a little pressure to make the turn on its front legs.
Step 4. Combine these preparatory jobs to reach the basic side step
Stand close to the horse's torso, and use a riding crop if necessary. Touch it on the body to make it understand to move away; if he doesn't move as you told him, order him one turn on his hips and one on his hind legs. Continue to alternate the orders back and forth until the horse understands and takes at least one side step.
- As soon as the horse takes a side step, release the pressure and reward him.
- Continue with these exercises until the horse needs no commands to turn on its front or rear legs to take a side step. At the very least it might just need a little touch.
Method 2 of 2: Practice the Side Step While in the Saddle
Step 1. Put the horse in position
When you start teaching side step while in the saddle, it is best to get into a place where the horse cannot confuse your side pressure with a command to walk forward. Then put the horse in front of a fence or wall. So he can only make lateral or backward movements.
Step 2. Open your body to create the proper communication
Your body language is what tells the horse what you are asking of it, so to get what you want you need to practice with it. If you want to take a side step to the left, lift your left leg to release the pressure and lift the left bridle outward to open the movement in this direction. You will then need to apply some pressure to the right.
To take a side step to the right reverse these commands, open the right and press from the left
Step 3. Command the horse to take a side step
With your body open to one side, move the opposite leg forward and touch the horse with the whip on its side. Remember as you do this that your body must be open to the opposite side. If necessary continue to press with increasing pressure, and stop as soon as the horse takes at least the first side step. As soon as he does, reward him.
Step 4. Practice standing sideways step
Continue using the same command system you taught your horse to get him to step sideways. Until the horse has mastered it, continue practicing in front of a fence or wall, then move to an open area and repeat it. Practice until the horse takes several side steps in both directions in this open space.
Step 5. Take a side step as you walk
The lateral step in motion is in theory the same as that from standing, with the only difference that it takes more pressure from the rider to give the right orders. Follow the same directions as before, but as your horse walks, order him to step sideways by touching his side at the same pace with which he moves his body in the direction of the side step. The horse's body rocks back and forth as it walks, so there must be a break between the touches in place of continuous pressure.
- Taking a side step while walking requires more attention, as the horse may simply turn around instead of taking the side step.
- Ask a friend or trainer to observe you from the ground and give you feedback on your body language and the horse's reactions.
Step 6. Step sideways at faster speed
Once you have perfected the side step moving in both directions, order the horse to trot or take a short canter, and then order him to step sideways. For the rider it is more and more difficult, but the horse always responds in the same way. Just remember to rhythm the touch of the leg with the rocking of the horse's body.
