how do u........

[squid_is_ace]

hi all

i was wondering how do u do a half pass?

anyone know can you please help me out.

[Epona UK]

Hi Squid,
I think the movement you want to know about is the side pass. Half pass & side pass are very similar, but at the same time very different. In the half pass the horse is moving diagonally, with his body bent in the direction of travel, the side pass requires the horse to move directly sideways, with his body bent away from his direction of travel, as in a leg yield. In both movements the horse is required to travel on two tracks and cross both front and hind legs.
As you've probably gathered, it's quite a complicated movement, for both horse & rider. It takes a while to build up to a full side pass, you can make a start by trying to get your horse to bring his hindquarters off the track slightly whilst still going forward, I can never remember whether it's called renvers or travers, or try working on a 20m circle and making the circle smaller and bigger by using your legs.
You really do need someone on the ground for the latter stages, as it's all too easy for the horse to get confused, I know that you haven't got an instructor near to you (yet !) but if you can manage to get to some shows or clinics in the meantime I think you'll find it helpful for you.

[squid_is_ace]

thanks epona!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D :D :D :cool: :rolleyes:

[RoxR]

Roxy is learning to go sideways! She's doing quite well too...
I started by teaching her in hand - stand by her shoulder and touch her neck and her side, and say "Roxy, Side". If she stepped sideways with her front legs as well as her back, then she'd get a fuss. I only ask for one step at a time and she seemed to pick it up quite quickly.

Once on board, it was a bit more difficult - i had watched some of the riders at the western show so I could see how they were using their weight in the saddle. I shift my weight away from the direction I want her to go - I imagine that if I want her to move to her right, I have pressure on her left side right from my foot up to my seat, to push her away from me. I also sometimes touch her neck in the same place as when on the ground, and sometimes she feels enough from the rein on her neck. I say "Roxy, Side" and although she sometimes has to think about it for a second, she is doing it quite well!

It has helped by having her travel sideways along a pole on the ground - we start without a pole, then walk up to a pole and move sideways in front of it, then I have her with her front feet on one side of the pole and back feet on the other side. This shows how much she is moving forwards or backwards as well as sideways. I'm really pleased with how she is doing though!

Epona, please tell me I'm doing this right!! :D

[Epona UK]

Yes you're going along the right lines, but a couple of the details need to be changed slightly to make it a little better As you know, the side pass is actually a forward movement, the following leg has to pass in front, and not behind the leading leg. You will need someone on the ground to verify this. If she crosses behind, which is very common, there is a very real risk of her injuring herself either by hitting the inside of the cannon/splint bone, or treading on the coronary band. For this reason you should have her booted up both front and back to practice the side pass.
The weight part of the aid needs to be slightly changed, if you take all the weight down to your foot, you will, in effect lose the use of your leg, so to speak. Try instead to lengthen the side of your body from shoulder to hip, this means raising your shouder and not dropping it and collapsing at the waist, if you see what I mean.
You really do need someone on the ground to help you, as it is far too easy for the horse to get thoroughly confused with this movement, I usually describe it as being like trying to balance a ball bearing on a sheet of glass, as you have to make so many adjustments as you are riding it. Once everything clicks into place with both horse and rider, it's fairly straightforward, but getting there is extremely complicated.
The show and clinic season is very nearly upon us, if you can go to a few of these I'm sure it will help. Or, you could perhaps take yourself, and your horse over to my very good friend Scherie Dermody for a lesson.

[RoxR]

Well, we do use boots, but thanks for that - it is most useful to know what to look for and more importantly, why!!
I smiled when you said 'collapse at the waist' - 'cos I have a feeling I might just do that!!:rolleyes:

Scherie is actually holding a clinic on Feb 24th and I'm trying to get a place on that. Haven't manged to speak to her to book it yet though - I keep getting the answerphone!! She must be a busy lady!!

There are a couple of clinics at Spot Acre in Staffs which is too far for me to take Roxy but I can go to watch and hopefully learn from watching others. Then we have a clinic and training show at the end of March up here which i can go to, so hopefully we'll be able to progress a bit more over the next couple of months.

If the journey is OK to Scherie's place (and not too expensive in petrol!) I might see if I can go for the occasional lesson in between clinics.

One thing I would like to do is ride a western trained horse to see if I am doing the right things - at the moment with Roxy it's the blind leading the blind! I'm hoping as I get to know a few people I might get the opportunity. Do you think this is a good idea?

[Epona UK]

Hi Rox,
yes it would be a very good idea to ride a trained horse if you get the oppertunity, I just wish I was closer at the moment, my Old Lady is a great teacher.
Keep trying Scherie, and do leave a message, she will get back to you, and yes, she is a very busy lady. If you happen to be an Archers fan (Radio 4 soap) you're in !!

[RoxR]

YYAAYY!
Spoke to Scherie and I'm booked in for 11.00 on 24th!! Squid, I'll mail you - perhaps we can meet en route and you could come to watch?
It's a self help clinic so Scherie said we can have a bash at the obstacles and stuff - Roxy will love that!!!
She also has one of those saddles and thinks it's great.... hmmm, getting closer! She also said there was one in the CAM catalogue that she wouldn't mind seeing.

Does anyone else reading this have any opinion on that saddle?

(I must be coming across as obsessed with saddles!!!)

:D ;) :D

[Epona UK]

Glad you got in, you'll enjoy it, Scherie is not only a very good instructor, she's also an absolute scream :D