Moving off the leg

[Flicker]

I am riding my friend's lovely 6-year old cob for her a couple of times a week. She is a real novice and has really only done hacking. She bought him from the trekking centre she used to ride at and he has only really done trekking, although it is very clear that whoever has broken him has done a very good job as he is well behaved and responsive. He is also very happy to move forward off the leg and is naturally very well balanced. We are taking things very slow in the school at the moment and keeping him doing stuff that he's happy with and that is easy for him to do. Problem is, I think he was only ever schooled to do trekking. He doesn't seem to understand that leg on can also mean 'sideways' or 'bend' and doesn't always mean 'forwards'. It is quite strange, because he can rein back, so whoever broke him must have had to do lots of gates on their trek but obviously no bending

!!
Does anyone have any advice for encouraging him to move sideways off my leg, without discouraging his forward momentum?

 

[horsegirl]

To begin with use the leg really far back so he knows it means something different to go forward then hold the front end a little and reward the slightest movement in the right direction. Once he has learnt it means go sideways you can make it less of an exaggerated movement

 

[K27]

I'd introduce leg yielding into the schooling routine but keep it simple- start with just a small amount of steps by turning down the 3/4 line and keep the steps forward but small (and slower if need be whilst he's learning so he can't run thru the bridle) also keeping the outside connection so that the shoulders don't drift.

I'd take the inside leg back just very slightly (as they are most sensitive just behind the girth area) and keep it on until he moves over, you can also use a small flick with the schooling whip to encourage- as soon as he is moving over from the leg I would take the leg off and let him carry on going sideways-this way he will learn what the '' sideways'' aid is.

You can just ask for a few steps then ride forwards and straight , then ask again.

Hope this helps!!......- gd luck.

 

[spider]

get him moving over from the ground first, then get someone to help you do turn on the forehand when mounted. You give the aids they can encourage him to move over.