Horse Riding Training

Introduction of the Leg for Lateral Movement

Here at Najorka Performance Horses, www.centralflareiner.com, www.horse-riding-training.com, Najorka Horsemanship.  This a great place to learn about Natural Horsemanship, Reining, and Just Good Horsemanship, Ken is the coach of University of Central Florida Western Equestrian Team, Najorka Performance Horse High School Team, Reis Ranch Universal Horsemanship Instructor as seen on RFDTV and we now have the American Ranch Horse Association of Florida

Lateral movements are those maneuvers designed to supple the horse, bend him, teach him to move sideways from the rider’s leg, and eventually, straighten him. Lateral movement contains varying degrees of sideways movement. If you think of the most forward way of traveling as walking in a straight line, then the most lateral way of moving is moving directly sideways, as in a side pass or full pass. In between, there are variations such as western two – track, leg – yielding, and a half passes. Lateral movements also include exercises such as the shoulder – in where the horse holds his body in a bent position while moving forward, which causes him to cross one hind leg over the other and one front leg over the other as he moves forward. The turn on the forehand and the turn on the hindquarters can be thought of as variations of lateral movements.

Although every lateral maneuver has different standards for the angle and bend of the horse’s body, neck, and through latch, and the degree of collection and engagement, they do have one major characteristic in common.  To make yielding to the leg clearest, teach the horse the turn on the forehand sequence first. As the horse gains confidence and balance, you can move forward in your training. Practice and side of the horse several times before changing directions and working on the other side.

The horse will essentially walk around his relatively stationary left front leg.  This means you will no longer allow him to step to the right with his right front leg. He must step slightly forward with it; you will regulate this with a more strongly supporting right rein which will prevent the horse from over bending to the left and popping out his right shoulder.  In essence, you will be holding the horse straight. You need to maintain a forward energy at all times. (Even a mild form of energy)