Article by Jody Cunningham
Pictures by Susan Cunningham
Howdy folks, this month we will be taking a close look at maneuvers # 3 & 4 of the Cunningham Foundation Test. Controlling the ribs or as most of us in the western horse world call it the side-pass. To most of us this means moving your horse at a 90-degree angle away from the direction he is facing. In other disciplines this move may be called a leg yield. There are actually three different body positions that you can perform this move from and we will talk about that later on in this article.
First, let’s get back to basics. If you have been following this series then you already know that I am big on that idea. If you can move your horse’s hip then you should be able to move his rib as well. If you can side-pass your horse from the ground then it will be a lot easier when you try it mounted.
Photo #1 shows side-passing my horse from the right-hand side going to his left. He will move his legs in diagonal pairs, right front and left hind. Then left front and right hind will follow. I am driving the legs nearest me over and in front of the legs on the far side. Note the deep cross over in the front. The next step he will cross over in the back as well.
Photos # 2,3 & 4 show the places on my horse’s side that I cue him. First of all is right in front of my back cinch and that is to move his hips. Next is in the center of that window created by the front and back cinch, right where my leg would hang naturally. This is to move his ribs. Then, just behind the front cinch to move his shoulders. That is about a 12-inch space that I work in. I seldom reach behind my back cinch and when I do it is just to exaggerate this cue so that a green horse might better understand it. I never reach in front of the front cinch for any reason. Spurring a horse in the shoulder to get him to spin around is one of the least effective methods I know of. You will wind up with a horse that reacts out of fear rather than responding softly and confidently to your leg cue. Remember, keep it simple.
There are three different body positions form which to move your horse side ways. First, is the leg yield position. This is when your horse’s nose and ultimately his whole body are bent slightly away from the direction of travel. As shown in photo #5. This is the position most western riders side-pass from because it is the most simple and requires the least amount of bridle savvy. In photo #6 you see my horse side-passing form the straight position, the one we western riders should aspire to. Photo #7 you see him in the half-pass position. From his nose all the way through to his hip he is stepping into the bend. In other words, his nose is bent in the direction of travel. He is moving off of my left leg and going to the right. This position demonstrates the highest degree of control. Hip, rib, shoulder, neck and head in any place I want them.
