Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Learning the basics from scratch
• Part 2 of 2: Learning the Side Step in the Saddle
• Tips

Teaching the horse to walk sideways can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, whether it is expanding his basic skills, being able to open the gate while sitting on the horse, or preparing for a dressage session. Fortunately, training a horse to walk in lateral strides involves learning to turn from the hip and from the shoulder, which are useful fundamentals of riding. By following our steps, you can improve not only your riding skills, but also the obedience and performance of your horse.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Learning the basics from scratch

1. 1 Test your horse's ability to keep clear of pressure. The horse must have an innate instinct to keep away from pressure (similar to that found in humans). Test this reaction by placing an open hand (and pushing it down) in the girth area where the horse's body usually touches the calf. She should recoil from her hand, probably already at once with a side step.
   • If the horse doesn't respond, keep pushing even harder. As soon as the horse moves aside, remove your hand and reward the animal.
   • Practice until the horse only needs a single push or none at all (just a vigorous movement of the arm towards the girth is enough) to get the horse back from you.
2. 2 Learn to turn from the hip. Get the horse on the leash and, if necessary, take the whip. Stand slightly behind the horse's body and point to the horse's shoulder with a hand or whip gesture. If the horse doesn't respond, put pressure on his shoulder. The goal is to get her to move away from your pressure by twisting her body around her hind legs.
   • If the horse turns away or just walks away in the opposite direction rather than crossing its front legs in a turn, take the rein and hold it.
   • As soon as the horse crosses his front legs in the turn from the hip, release the pressure, lower his gaze and reward the animal for doing what you asked him to do.
   • Continue to work on the basics of the hip-turn so that the horse responds to the same signals while riding.
3. 3 Examine the pivot from the shoulder. Similar to the hip pivot, the shoulder pivot is performed when the horse turns his body around his forelegs while crossing his hind legs. Perform this by standing at the horse's shoulder (to block shoulder or forward movement) and pointing at the horse's thigh with a whip or open hand. If the horse does not respond without putting pressure on it, push the thigh slightly with the open hand or tap it with the whip.
   • Do not relieve the pressure if the horse simply steps aside or turns to the side. If necessary, straighten the horse and continue pushing on the hip until he takes at least one cross-legged step.
   • As soon as the horse takes one step away from the shoulder in the turn, release the pressure and reward him for following the command.
   • Practice consistently until the horse requires minimal pressure to complete the shoulder pivot.
4. 4 Combine the above two basics to achieve a side step. Stand next to the horse's body (use a whip if necessary). Push the horse in the girth area to get it out of the way, if it doesn’t move the way you want it, give it hip and shoulder pivot signals. Continue signaling until the horse has taken at least one successful side step.
   • Reward your horse and release your pressure as soon as he takes one correct side step.
   • Continue working on this until the horse requires pivot commands from the hip and shoulder to complete the side stride. In the end, you can only push her in the girth area.

Part 2 of 2: Learning the Side Step in the Saddle

1. 1 Place your horse in the starting position. When beginning to learn to perform a side step from the saddle, it is best to use a location where the horse does not mistake a one-sided kick as a signal to move forward. Therefore, place the horse with its muzzle against the fence or against the wall. This will allow her to move only to one side or the other.
2. 2 Open your body to establish proper lines of communication. Your body language will tell the horse what you ask of it, so you will have to train yourself to get what you want from the horse. If you are learning lateral steps to the left, lift your left leg to relieve pressure, and lift the bit on the left up and slightly outward to open the way for movement to the left. You will exert pressure from the right side.
   • To take side steps to the right, mirror all signals by opening the right side of the body and applying pressure to the left.
3. 3 Give a signal for a side step. With one side of your body open, push your opposite leg forward and slap your calf in the girth area. Be sure to keep the other side of your body open when doing this. If necessary, continue pushing with increasing pressure, stop as soon as the horse has completed at least one side step. Reward the horse right away.
4. 4 Practice side steps from a standing position in an open space. Continue to use the same cues that were taught to the horse for the side stride. Serve them against a wall or fence first, when the horse has mastered them, move to an open area and practice again. Practice until the horse starts walking sideways a few meters in both directions in an open area.
5. 5 Perform a sideways movement at a walking pace. The lateral stride movement is, in theory, the same as the lateral stride from a standing position, with the only exception that the rider has a great deal of effort to signal correctly. Follow the directions above, but understand that when the horse walks and steps sideways at the signal of the push, at the same time the body moves in the direction of the step. When moving, the body sways from side to side, so there will be breaks between the shocks and there will be no constant pressure.
   • Performing a sideways movement at a stride pace requires more attention as the horse may go in the wrong direction simply by turning instead of sideways.
   • Have a friend or instructor stand by and comment on your body language and the horse's reaction.
6. 6 Carry out a lateral movement at a higher speed. When you think you have mastered your lateral movement well enough in both directions, move to trot (and then canter) and signal lateral movement. This will be even more difficult for the rider, but the horse must react in the same way. Just remember to push in the girth area in a timely manner in accordance with the swing of the horse's body.
   • It may be helpful to practice a half halt before transitioning to a sideways trot or canter.

Tips

• Practice the side stride in both directions equally so that the horse does not become one-sided.