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front end separate your hands and through direct reining keep his head straight while continuing to apply your leg signal. If he leads with his back end, move the signaling leg back toward his rump and hold him in place with your hands until he straightens up. When your horse moves two or three steps straight sideways, crossing leg over leg, stop and release all pressure. By releasing pressure and stopping you are rewarding his correct response. This is a good time for a pat on the neck and some words of encouragement. End the lesson with success, no matter how small, and each day ask for a step more. Like backing, side-passing straight, leg over leg is an unnatural and initially awkward movement for a horse. This is a lesson better taught in small and successful increments. When your horse is moving to the left and right six to eight steps in a relaxed manner, you can begin to try the side-pass without the fence. It is always a good idea when teaching your horse any new movement to begin your ride each time by going back over the initial lessons. Don't ask him to produce the end result cold until it is fully understood and accepted.

Achieve the proper foundation, be patient, calm and clear in your communication with your horse and the side-pass will come quickly. Once your horse has mastered this movement you will be surprised how much it will add to the ease and enjoyment of your riding, in and out of the show ring. Good luck!

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