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Horse Behavior and Training

Stepping sideways

By:

Wendy and Lola

Date:

2014-Jun-24 at 10:30PM

Is there a lesson I can watch on how to teach my youngster to move her back end over, when I'm grooming her and want to do the other side or if I want to move her bottom over she doesn't understand what I'm asking her to do , I apply pressure on her hip to gently push her bottom round but she just pushes back into me and I have to then push with a lot of pressure before she will move her back feet round is there a better way of doing this she is not being nasty or pushy when she pushes back she just doesn't seem to understand what she needs to do?

beryl 2014-Jun-25 at 07:55AM

She's not being nasty or difficult, no. She's just reacting normally as horses are "into pressure " animals, which means they push into you rather than move away from you as we do.
I would suggest you start by moving to the other side of her at her head, turn her head slightly towards you & then ask her to move her bottom over with a light hand pressure & give her a rub with that hand when she's taken a step.
By turning her head to you, that helps to make it easier for her to shift her weight in the direction you want her to move.
You are right, she doesn't understand what you want her to do, so you need to teach her from the front first, before you can transfer the instruction to the back, in that way, you'll built her trust in you if you are very quick to praise her & release the pressure as soon as she's taken one step. After that, you can gradually build up the steps, so she'll have more idea what you're asking in a week or so when you give the same instruction from behind. Do remember to keep safe as you are putting yourself in the kick zone.
Let us know how it goes.

Wendy and Lola 2014-Jun-25 at 12:54PM

Ok thank you I will give it a try x

Mel - Ramsgate UK 2014-Jun-25 at 10:23PM

The into pressure lesson will help too Wendy.

http://www.montyrobertsuniversity.com/training/2031188464

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia 2014-Jun-25 at 10:39PM

Plus check out the videos on "Into Pressure" and " intrinsic horse training with F. B.". Most horses respond fairly quickly when they understand what you are asking and the dually halter will help. Do just as Beryl suggests. Do a bit of dually training first to prepare her. Walking, stopping, turning in the sweet spot then stop her beside you turn into her, holding her head towards you move along her side so you can place your hand on her - I usually place my hand just in front of the flank at about the centre of the body. Stay out of the kick zone. With her head towards you and your hand in position now increase the pressure if you get movement away from you immediately remove the pressure but if she is still pushing into your hand then make a claw of your hand and push with your finger tips and say ' move over' . You may need to push quite hard. As soon as you get the slightest movement release the pressure, good girl, pats. Then try again. Won't be long until you can just place your hand there gently and say move over. Then do the same on the other side. Once you have her moving side ways to your hand pressure then you can try moving her backwards, hand on chest, and forwards, hand on rump too - keep out of the kick zone! Hand or rump is very helpful when trailer loading and you wish them to move in that little bit to close the tail gate. Have fun and let us know how it goes.

vicci - UK (North Wales) 2014-Jun-26 at 04:08PM