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Training
~ Lateral
Movement
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These movements really aren’t that advanced, but most trainers would like you to think that you can’t possibly do this without their help. Your bending practice becomes critical when you start. Whether you are riding western or english, this is the same movement. Most people know
how to bend their horse, but do you know the difference between a leg yield
and a half pass? When you see someone doing these movements you may not be able
to distinguish one from the other. We are going to discuss half pass and leg
yields.
Well, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The way to teach these movements to the horse is on the ground using your rope halter and lead rope. This is an exercise that requires a fence, or arena wall to accomplish. We approach this in stages, on the rail, in the open, and in the saddle. In the first two steps, we don’t worry about the bend in the horse. Step 1: On the Rail – Introducing Lateral Movement
Look for the front
and rear feet to cross over while the horse is moving sideways down the rail.
Reward immediately when the horse begins to move sideways. Lower your posture
and reward the horse. It’s important to watch the feet and make sure that
they cross over while the horse is moving sideways. Don’t ask for too much
at first, get one good step, then two, etc. You need to be able to do this from
both sides of the horse. This will look
a little rough at first, but with time and practice you will get the horse to
yield to pressure correctly and you can move off the rail and work without the
wall to restrict movement. Step 2:
In the Open – Lateral Movement with Forward Motion Move out into the center of an arena, round pen, or open area. You will approach this the same as you did on the rail. You have an added dimension of no support from the rail to keep the horse contained. The horse needs to move forward with as much movement as they move sideways. This is how you teach a leg yield from the ground. Bend your horse slightly towards you and ask the horse to move off pressure as you did in step 1. Don’t let the horse walk backwards. Begin by ground driving your horse forward while walking near the horse’s mid-section. Use the lead rope to move the horse sideways – twirl the rope at the horse’s mid-section. This is the same as your leg being on the horse. When you get in the saddle, the horse can relate the energy of the rope to your leg asking for lateral movement. Once your horse understands energy from the lead rope, use your hand in a chop chop motion at the horse’s midsection – this is energy too. At first, your horse is probably going to disengage and move their hindquarters away from you. Keep with it and watch for signs of forward and lateral movement together. Reward this behavior immediately. Look for the front and rear feet to cross over while the horse is moving laterally. Reward immediately when the horse begins to move sideways. If you can introduce this in steps, the horse will learn much quicker. You need to be able to do this from both sides of the horse too. Step 3: In the Saddle We are assuming that you have been successful with the previous two steps and your horse is under saddle. We are also assuming that you have control of your body and can move with the horse and understand weight distribution of your body on the horse; forward, backwards, and side to side. You need to be a rider, not a bag of potatoes. We are going to introduce your leg to the horse to ask for direction.
And when you get real good at this, don’t get too smug, your can teach your horse to do these exercises with backward movement too. |
Face
your horse into the rail. Move your horse off of pressure away from you. Don’t
let your horse back up. Use your lead rope to move the horse sideways. Direct
the energy of the tail of the lead rope at the mid-section of the horse. Don’t
make a big deal about this. 
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