Lateral Walk – Learning

 Goal(s) :

Teach the horse to yield away from pressure (physical or visual).

Improve his suppleness and focus.

Achieve true crossing of the limbs (the feet stepping one over the other).

 Process :

The request: Stand level with his shoulder. Using your schooling whip or stick, apply pressure towards his hindquarters so that he moves his quarters over.

Using the wall as an aid: Position his nose facing a wall. Since he cannot go forward, his only option will be to step sideways.

The movement: Walk parallel to the wall and ask him to follow you while staying straight through his body.

The reward: As soon as he takes ONE sideways step with a clear crossing of his legs, stop everything and reward him generously.

 Difficulties :

1. Running through the hand / rushing forward

This is difficulty no. 1. Instead of stepping sideways, your pony may try to walk faster or overtake you.

Why: Moving forward is more natural for him than crossing his legs laterally.

The solution: This is where the arena wall, a low wall or a hedge becomes your best ally. By putting his nose directly in front of an obstacle, you physically block the way ahead, which encourages him to search for the answer by moving sideways.