Post by Casper on Feb 19, 2007 16:38:14 GMT -5
#6 The Sideways Game
The better your horse goes backwards and sideways, the better he'll do everything else. Sideways not only helps a horse get more physically athletic, it helps him calm down emotionally and start using his mental abilities to learn. Horses have a very hard time staying upset when they are going sideways.
To play The Sideways Game in the early stages you will need a fence. The fence will help your horse not go forwards while he figures out whatyou want. A 12-foot line and Carrot Stick are ideal to start with. Sideways is nothing more than using The Driving Game (or The Porcupine Game) to send your horse's nose, then his hindquarters, then his nose, then hindquarters, nose, hindquarters, and so on down the fence. Soon, your horse will get the picture and starts moving his nose and hindquarters at the same time to go sideways.
Make sure you don't pull his head back towards you if he tips his nose away. If you feel like his head is going too far, that probably means his hindquarters need to be chased to catch up. Keep practicing until you get sideways, left and right, equal and smooth. Horses are often easier on one side than the other.
The better your horse goes backwards and sideways, the better he'll do everything else. Sideways not only helps a horse get more physically athletic, it helps him calm down emotionally and start using his mental abilities to learn. Horses have a very hard time staying upset when they are going sideways.
To play The Sideways Game in the early stages you will need a fence. The fence will help your horse not go forwards while he figures out whatyou want. A 12-foot line and Carrot Stick are ideal to start with. Sideways is nothing more than using The Driving Game (or The Porcupine Game) to send your horse's nose, then his hindquarters, then his nose, then hindquarters, nose, hindquarters, and so on down the fence. Soon, your horse will get the picture and starts moving his nose and hindquarters at the same time to go sideways.
Make sure you don't pull his head back towards you if he tips his nose away. If you feel like his head is going too far, that probably means his hindquarters need to be chased to catch up. Keep practicing until you get sideways, left and right, equal and smooth. Horses are often easier on one side than the other.