Lesson in Sidepassing

Our lesson last week was the sidepass.  Since I've entered me & G in our first competitve trail ride, I wanted to work on sidepassing to objects.  G, being the fearful horse that he is, is claustrophobic.  He will sidepass, but don't put something next to him or ask him  to stand while I try to unlock a gate or open the light box in the indoor arena.  I rode him in the dressage saddle which was great, as he can feel my leg cues better then in my western. 

At first he wasn't quite sure what I was asking.  Hmm, do I back up?  No she's not asking that.  Hmmm, maybe step forward one step?  No, not that either.  Okay I'll try moving away from the leg.  Hey, she told me I was a good boy, that must've been it!  We've worked so much the past few months on smooth backing, and G being the ancipating horse that he is, thinks if I'm keeping him from forward motion it must mean back.  We managed to get I'd say three really nice passes in either direction.  So we decided to work on canter transitions.  G was doing really well, but it was hot and buggy.  We gave him lots of breaks in between everything, but he was a sweaty boy in need of a cool shower. 

Last night I tacked him up in the western saddle figuring we need to practice in it since that's what we're using on Sunday.  Well.  He was great sidepassing to the right.  I was so excited as Val was giving a lesson in the arena and called over "that was really nice Kate".  G was actually moving his shoulders and hips at the same time, woohoo.  We've got this down I'm thinking to myself.  Now I ask with my right leg and outside rein to move to the left.  G steps back.  I shut down his movement.  Try again.  He steps forward.  I shut him down and ask again.  He starts backing and took about 5 steps before he would halt.  I feel like I'm using the same amount of pressure as with my left leg, but he's obviously not feeling it.  Trish mentioned that her horse isn't as responsive to leg aids in the western saddle either, and that he side passes in one direction better than the other.  So I decide that we'll stop asking for the sidepass to the left and head for the arena gate.  It took about 4 minutes, but I got G to stand while I unlatched the chain, walked through the gate (though I had to let go) and sidepass over the gate so I could relatch it.  I'd set up the stanchions and rope gate on the other side of the barn so we headed over and worked on that some.  G really dislikes having to walk up beside "things" but after the first five minutes of walking to it, positioning him parallel to the rope and standing still he then stood while I removed the rope loop.  I asked G to back up rather than go through the opening and asked him to stand.  I took the rope rubbed it all over his neck and shoulders and even flipped it back and forth over his head like a jump rope.  Nothing, stood perfectly still.  Okay we're ready to try again.  It took 3 attempts but we finally managed to open the gate, walk through the opening and closed the gate.  WOOHOO!!!  He's getting praised like the dickens.  I asked him to repeat the exercise and the second went smoother.  I praised him and walked him away. 

We headed to the other side of the barn where the plank bridge is.  It too took several attempts before he would even put one hoof on it.  Several more attempts and he half heartedly walked across it.  This is good, we're making progress.  What a good boy, let's go cool off and call it a day.  I put him in the cross ties and look at his hooves.  Oh crud, he's due for a trim.  Soooo, I pulled out all my equipment and went to work.  Since it was a cool night I decided to just get it over with and do all four hooves.  Boy was I pooped when I left last night!  But G's tootsies are done, and we're ready to try the gate again tonight or tomorrow if we get rained out.

The competive trail ride is Sunday, and they are also are predicting rain :(

We've also signed up for a centered riding clinic with Deb Moynihan that's being held at our old barn on the 28th.  It'll be fun to see our ex-boarding friends and I'm curious to see G's reaction in "coming home again" so to speak.  Hopefully he won't think he is home and decide not to reload to come back to his new home.