Teaching side pass tips

[smurk03]

I'm planning on competing in the trail classes at an upcoming Morgan show at the end of August. The class is English or Western tack, but uses many rules from the USEF Western section. My horse is very bombproof and reliable, I have no worries about most of the possible obstacles, with the exception of the 2' (max) jump and the sidepass over 24" max poles. I am teaching my boy to sidepass, and I would to know if any of you have tips for teaching him to sidepass OVER things. Right now he just kind of drags his feet, coz he doesn't quite get what I'm asking lol. I don't know how likely it is that I'll actually see a sidepass that high, but I'd like to be prepared!

[gabz]

The only things I've ever side-passed "over" were ground poles.

Put your horse's head against a rail or fence to prevent forward movement. Dip hip to push, open hip to "open" that side to movement towards it. ask for front feet first (cue towards the shoulder) then hind feet (cue behind the girth).

Some other work to do, from the ground or saddle, is to work your horse in ever tightening circles - to get them to cross outside front foot past the inside front foot.
Reward EVERY tiny step the horse does that is correct. Once you get front feet moving across one another, move your cue leg back farther to get the hind end so that it is crossing outside leg across inside leg. (Turn on the forehand kinda thing).

Then, work on moving both parts sideways.

I worked with my QH on this, from the ground, poking him with my finger and saying "Over" ... then, LOL, when I got under saddle, I used the word "over". Except, he thought that meant to move to the LEFT. No matter how I poked him, he had associated OVER with sidepass LEFT. DOH... Had to teach the other side of his brain (and mine!!).

[smurk03]

I'm actually working him the ground the same way you described. Guess I should make sure to say "over" equally on both sides lol! I don't know for sure that I would have to sidepass over anything at all, but the USEF rules state that the max height of poles to be sidepassed over is 24". I don't even know how that's physically possible! My instructor says not to worry about it for Morgan shows, they won't do it because most Morgans aren't big enough to step over something that high (sideways anyway). I'm just not so convinced. I want to be completely ready for any craziness they might throw at us!

[Sithly]

Well, as long as your horse's belly is more than 24" from the ground, you'll be fine. :lol:

In the trail classes I've seen, they usually have you walk up to the end of the pole and then sidepass over it. So you don't actually have to step over it; you just move the horse sideways so that the pole passes under his belly. It's actually pretty easy once your horse knows how to sidepass. I've sidepassed over a 2' x 2' x 2' mounting block before, just for the heck of it.

Then again, the procedure might be a little different in a Morgan show. I've only done trail classes in the open shows.

[GallopingGrape]

I was thinking the same thing... side passing parallel to the pole with the pole under the belly, are you sure this isn't what they mean? I would think sidepassing and stepping OVER 2' poles could be dangerous?

[smurk03]

In the trail classes I've seen, they usually have you walk up to the end of the pole and then sidepass over it. So you don't actually have to step over it; you just move the horse sideways so that the pole passes under his belly. It's actually pretty easy once your horse knows how to sidepass.


THAT makes much more sense than stepping over a 24" pole lol. I shouldn't have a problem with that once he understands the sidepass, he's definitely tall enough to clear it lol.

Another question about trail class rules: The USEF states under the Conduct section that:

"2. Horses shall be penalized for any unnecessary delay while approaching or negotiating
the obstacles. Horses with artificial appearance over obstacles should be penalized."

Artificial appearance? WTF does that mean? LOL

[Sithly]

No idea what the artificial appearance thing means. :shrug: I've never actually read the rulebook, so I haven't a clue.

In my understanding, the trail class is judged on style. It's sort of like hunters. They want to see you and your horse negotiate the obstacles smoothly and deliberately, with subtle, invisible cues from the rider. You don't get extra points for speed, but you'll get penalties for dithering around, especially if it's because your horse is disobedient or slow to respond. You want your horse to move smoothly from one obstacle to the next, as if it were his own idea.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y3T_QWK9Qf4
I'm not a huge fan of this type of horse, but their trail finals are COOL.

[gabz]

I'm not sure about "artificial appearance" either; however, I recall reading somewhere that SOME guidelines call for the horse to show some inquisitiveness rather than a mechanical moving through the motions as though it's been trained TO DEATH.

Trail is about encountering sometimes new obstacles and the horse's behaviour and rider control, to ME, are more important than a horse that brainlessly goes through the motions.

As a 4H and high school team leader/coach, and having witnessed many QH shows, I've seen some horses that will place in the top 3 over and over in the trail class - but if you take them out of the ring and try to actually RIDE them - they fall apart. In fact, one child, who was leasing a top show horse, had that same horse take off for home one day whenout riding the plowed fields less than a mile from the barn when it saw a deer. Of course, I had to yell at the rider to "Pull Back on the reins". The kid only knew "draped reins" UGHHHHHHH.... horse did stop once she told it to. uggghghhhhghhgghgh....

There's an incredibly talented and famous trail designer. Tim somebody. If you can find his website - it's pretty cool. I "borrowed" one of his obstacles for high school events. I call it the chute. Pretty tricky but fun.
(walk/trot into a set of parallel rails to the end, then back into another pair or rails, parallel to the first, then canter out on a specified lead. There is a 4' gap between one set of rails and the ones next to them.)

[saddleup]

It's Tim Kimura. He designs amazing and challenging trail courses.

[gabz]

It's Tim Kimura. He designs amazing and challenging trail courses.

Thanks. I went to his current website and it's not at all like the "old" one.
There was much more info provided on the old one - more tips and how-tos.

[Sithly]

That chute thing sounds cool. Might have to steal that idea for our next fun show. :yes:

Interesting point about the horse showing inquisitiveness. I once got second place in a trail class with 22 riders even though my horse spooked at the bridge. He jumped when he saw it, but was obedient to the aids and went over it (neck arched, snorting the whole way :lol:). And that was at an open show with 99% stock horses!

[smurk03]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y3T_QWK9Qf4
I'm not a huge fan of this type of horse, but their trail finals are COOL.


Thanks for the link! I watched that video, and then I found someone's video form the Morgan Grand Nationals trail class. Pretty cool stuff. Lots of trotting and cantering over ground poles. That we can handle lol. My horse is very bombproof, he'll stare something down and blow a little, but I've only every had him spook on me 2 times, and both were because of loud, sudden noises...and even then he only took off all of about 20 feet and then realized that he wasn't being attacked.

Anyway, I worked on his serpentines and some gymnastics tonight and he really seemed to enjoy the change of pace. I think we're going to have a lot of fun doing trail classes instead of boring old Hunter Pleasure lol.

[Huntertwo]

That video is absolutely amazing!! :eek: I couldn't even begin to imagine doing a course like that on a loose rein. Never mind, I'd also need a cheat sheet taped to my horn. :yes: I also couldn't imagine memorizing that course!!! Holy moly...

[smurk03]

I'll say, one fo the two videos I watched was 16 minutes long! It started when the rider came in the ring and ended when she leaves!! I dunno if I can remember 16 minutes worth of course. I might have to write it down on my arm or something lol.

[CanterQueen]

I'm not a life-long horse owner, but started late in life. I'm still trying to learn all the nuances. Please don't flame me, but doesn't that slow canter make the horse look off? There's just something about that cadence that looks wierd to me. Anyone else???

[smurk03]

I'm not a life-long horse owner, but started late in life. I'm still trying to learn all the nuances. Please don't flame me, but doesn't that slow canter make the horse look off? There's just something about that cadence that looks wierd to me. Anyone else???


I'm not a QH person, rather a Morgan person, so our canters, even the lope in WP, is bit faster and much fancier, so I personally hate how that lope looks lol. In the video it looks like it is 3 beats most of the time, but there are spots when it's definitely 4 beats, so it is off. Plus that horse's poll is waaayyyy down.... but I digress. Still a cool course lol.

[gabz]

I'm not a life-long horse owner, but started late in life. I'm still trying to learn all the nuances. Please don't flame me, but doesn't that slow canter make the horse look off? There's just something about that cadence that looks wierd to me. Anyone else???

In QH pleasure - there is a LOPE whereas in English disciplines it's a canter. The lope is a slower form of the canter BUT - the wretchedness of the QH (and Paint) show circuits have turned the Lope into some strange new gait. Hence - those of us who disdain that false lope call it the 'Lame Duck Lope' or the 'Trope' (part trot, part lope) ... AQHA is working on teaching the judges to NOT use/pin those horses with their heads super low... it's a mess - it's where the term "peanut roller" came from.

Now, to go watch... I LOVE trail classes.

[katarine]

I start with making sure they are at least sort of ok with sidepassing over nothing
Then we go to a 4' long, square-sided pole on the ground. I don't cheat by putting it parallel to the rail and using it to keep the horse from walking forward. I put it out in the open and deal with it.
RIDERS- don't LEAN forward! Sit square, and push down with your R hip to enourage them to step left..., bump/squeeze with R leg, steady with seat/ voice/reins to balance their desire to walk/reverse, easy easy....when they take a step or two L and stop, stop! reward, rub, sit even, count to 10, ask for a little more. Get that 4' long pole down pat. commit to the length of the pole, and in stages, do it. hence the 4' pole. or even 2' - whatever- just short, ok? LOL

Don't get wiggy. Ever. Over time you can/should graduate to longer poles but I would suggest mastering the short pole first. Whoa at the end and rest/reward. Do NOT encourage/let them do a few steps and quit/walk over it/off it. Don't let 'em get to the end and instantly walk off.

I practice on my made horse with a piece of black plastic drain pipe, it's a foot tall and round, about 9' long. Great test of their sidepass and helps reinforce you gotta keep going sideways, son. but don't go there til the normal poles are a snap ;)