sideways.............

[wonkeywoody]

Hi
In the vids etc I've seen, once you've established sideways away from you (amongst other moves) the progression is to get them to move sideways toward you.
The demo shows the handler reaching over the horses back and rhythmically tapping the horses' side. The free hand gives an encouraging signal.
Thats all very well, but HOW do you do it when your horse is so tall compared to you that the stick is actually tapping his back rather than his side, thus giving him a forward signal as in driving games - I cannot manage to wear stilts too!!!
I thought about putting a rope around him and getting him to yield to that?
Has anybody else had a similar prob and how did you overcome it?

[Sexy Sietske]

You can flick the rope/string over the back so it hits the flanks/quarters on the opposite side...progress just doesnt seem so quick though as its harder to re-prepare yourself.

You could try standing on a fence/bench and teaching your horse to move his quarters towards you until he is moving off very little pressure, then get him to move his quarters towards from the ground. The progress to bring it all together so you get him to move is whole body towards you.

The horse needs to be 101% confident or you could end up getting squished!!!

[Est]

I've seen a YouTube video where it is totally done from "encouraging signals" if that helps?

*Est goes off to hunt for old posts*

Here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3sr_KEcDAg

All of her videos are pretty cool actually! :D

[jinglejoys]

Ah---I see you've discovered the TRUE secret of NH...They all can see over their horses withers and mount easily from the ground:D

[titch_]

i don't get what you mean??

[Alyth Long]

I do several things. I stand on a high object and use my cs to drive quarters to me so he is standing sideways to me. This is to enable me to mount!!
And I put my lead around his tummy and use porcupine to bring him sideways as I move backwards.

[Spoof]

Ah---I see you've discovered the TRUE secret of NH...They all can see over their horses withers and mount easily from the ground

Too funny! :p

I'd been doing the pulling body parts with the 22' line and the tapping the opposite side for a year now. I'd never progressed beyond that.

We picked it up from an epic battle next to a fence. The key is to be good enough with your stick/string you can pop them with the popper on the body part furthest away.

What made the difference was me using the string itself - not the stick tapping. When he threw his fit, I couldn't reach him with the stick - he got all popping string. It rocked his world.

Now I have a horse that comes towards by setting the string over the part and moving back. One of these days I'll work on advancing it. The lady in the video with the arab is doing some great work. :)

[wonkeywoody]

Hi
Looked thro my level 3 pack and the start is a rope loose around the flank. I suppose rather than associate that with a stick aid (I really dont want to confuse it with the driving aid) also I want to be able to work at liberty doing it, I will add a hand aid as per Kim's video.
He wasnt bothered at all about the rope around his middle and 'thought' about what I was asking before he moved, so good start.

[Alyth Long]

No, the flank rope is something quite different. It takes a lot of feel and timing to use it correctly. Use the rope around his middle, feel so the pressure is on the far side from you, hold it and release at the slightest try. It does work, and works well. As it sounds you have already done!!! Alyth

[wonkeywoody]

Hi
Prob miss named it 'flank' rope - I did have the rope more where my leg would be!
Yes, did release / praise at slightest try, and very pleased with the results.