side stepping

Question
I have a 11 year old horse that I bought from a man in Montana, my horses are my life, i am trying to teach my horse to side step, he knows how to side step when hes by a gate because he knows how to open and close them by pushing it with his head and his side, however i can not figure out how to teach him to side step on command just anywhere, this is not his issue its mine :( . I need to know how to do this if you could PLEASE give me an answer that would be very much appreciated.

thanks
ashley

Answer
Hi Ashley.  I am so sorry it has taken me forever to answer you.  It is horse show season and I am extremely busy right now.  Can you make you horse sidestep from the ground?  Push his shoulders and his butt over while giving a command like "over, over, over".  Once you have him doing it from on the ground and he is using his front legs and properly crossing them.....move up to his back.

Most of the time horses will try to back up when teaching them to side step.  Put his butt againt the wall or fence.  Then do not allow him to take any steps forward.  Touch his left shoulder with your toe and keep saying "over, over".  While touching his shoulder pull on the right rein...you don't want his head to turn to the right though so also have some tension on the left rein to make sure he can't turn his head.  Once his front end has moved over even one step to the right, move your foot back towards his butt and tap and tap until he moves his butt over to match the front.

One step at a time.  It takes time for them to get it.  The key is to not let them move forward or back even one step.  Keep clucking to the horse while you ask him to move over....To go to the left switch everything and tap on his right shoulder and then right hind end.  Again, keep some tension on the right rein while applying just a bit more pressure to the left rein.  Don't let him go forward and don't let him turn his head.  One step at a time and praise him big when he gets even one step.

Eventually when you start applying pressure with your leg and clucking while holding the horse back, he'll get the idea and start to side pass.  He'll understand what you have been asking of him.  If you have to get a freind to help you.  You can signal from up in the saddle and your friend can help move the horse over from the ground.  Horses that are well leg trained usually pick it up very fast.  If your horse has not been properly leg trained and doesn't know to move away from leg pressure you will have some difficulty teaching him to side pass.  You can not use the reins to teach side passing..you have to use leg pressure.  Remember this......THERE ARE 3 PARTS OF THE HORSE.  THE REINS CONTROL THE HEAD.  THE KNEE CONTROLS THE SHOULDER...  AND THE HEEL CONTROLS THE HIND END.  YOU MUST HAVE CONTROL OF THE WHOLE HORSE IN ORDER TO PERFORM WELL.

Good luck and be patient.  Once he gets it he'll know it...but it takes some horses a while to understand what you are asking.  Don't get angry or frustrated just stay persistant.  Cheri