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Now I would like to walk you thorough this maneuver one time. In the beginning I will ask for one step sideways out of a one rein stop. I will walk
my horse on a
direct bend circle just as in last month’s article. Then I will shorten up on my inside rein and bring my hand to my belt buckle. At
the same time I will lay my inside
leg on him right in front of the back cinch and ask him to move his hip over. Once that hip starts to move I will shift
my leg forward to the center spot on his side
and slide him a little inside rein and allow him to straighten his neck slightly. Take up the slack in
my outside rein and with it block his forward motion.
Now, the only door open to him is sideways away from the bend. I will hold this position while
he looks around for a way out. He cannot go into the bend because I am
blocking him with my inside leg and rein. He cannot go forward because
I have blocked him with my outside rein. The pressure of my inside leg is still there, he may
try to go backward but I will just reach back and start
that hip moving again. Finally he will find that open door away from the bend and step through it and when
he does all the pressure will go away.
Remember to keep your outside leg off of him and leave him an open door to step through. Photo #8 shows this clearly. One
step at a time from
both sides is all I am looking for at first. Any little try must be rewarded with a release of pressure. I promise you that if you will get him
really soft
in the hip you can have him side-passing in no time.
What I have tried to explain here is the most effective way I have found to teach this move. Thinking back many, many years I can recall putting
a horse’s
head up against a fence and working him over with a spur until he finally took a step sideways. This is a way of doing it but not the best
way. All reaction, no
response. By getting his hip to move his rib just naturally wants to follow. The two parts are connected. Learn to use that
fact to your best advantage. Think in
turns of open and closed doors. Close all of the ones you don’t want him to go through with pressure from
your seat, legs, hands and reins. Leave the one open you
do want him to step through by making sure there is no pressure. Give him time he will
find it. That is what horses do best. He will go to the place that is
pressure free and when he does, release him. Rest him. Rub him and Relax him.
Give him time to think about it before you try again. Remember to always quit on a good
try. You are going to find him tomorrow just like you left
him today. A little bit at a time, day after day, goes a long way.
Stay hooked and we will start on those shoulders next month.
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