Teaching your horse to sidepass over a pole can be a fantastic exercise for developing coordination, control, and confidence—but only if you break it down into clear, manageable steps. In this video, I show you how I introduced the movement to Mercurio, explaining each phase along the way.
If you want to dive deeper into lateral work, my Lateral Work Workshop covers foundational groundwork and ridden movements to help your horse become more supple, responsive, and focused. Click here to learn more about the workshop.
Why Break It Down?
Too often, we jump straight to the finished movement—asking our horse to sidepass over the pole without preparing them properly. This leads to confusion, frustration, or a lack of confidence. To avoid that, you want to develop each part of the movement individually before putting it all together.
Step 1: Confirm the Leg-Yield at the Walk
Start with leg-yields from the quarterline. Focus on:
- Forward and sideways movement
- Your Inside leg to push the horse over
- Outside rein for straightness and control
This gives your horse the tools they’ll need to understand the aids for sidepassing later.
Gradually, you can make the leg-yield more sideways—closer to a side pass—by using stronger half-halts with the outside rein while maintaining the push from the inside leg.
Step 2: Walk Over the Pole
Before asking for any lateral movement over the pole, make sure your horse is confident simply walking over it. If your horse is unsure, practice from the ground first.
Then, ask your horse to stand with the pole directly under their belly. Many horses find this awkward at first, so reward them for standing quietly and confidently.
Step 3: Sidepass Halfway
From the middle of the pole, ask your horse to sidepass to one edge. This is easier than starting at one end and trying to go the whole way across. Use:
- Inside leg to ask for the step over
- A steady outside rein to guide the shoulder and prevent forward movement
Reward every small effort, even a few steps, and take your time.
Step 4: Sidepass All the Way Across
Once your horse can confidently move halfway, you can try going the full length. Don’t expect perfection the first time. Mercurio made mistakes—stepping forward, getting a little tense—but we worked through it by staying calm and rewarding every try.
If your horse gets frustrated or starts to resist, take a break. Let them stretch in a forward trot or revisit groundwork. The goal is to keep the experience positive and pressure-free.
Keep Practicing
We didn’t get a flawless sidepass on the first try, but that’s okay. This kind of movement takes time and repetition. By breaking it down and building confidence, you’re helping your horse learn the right way—without stress or tension.
You might stop after a few good steps, or even just standing over the pole. That’s still a win. Hopefully, this helps you and your horse!
Happy Riding!
Amelia
P.S. If you want more help building up your lateral work, my Lateral Work Workshop includes a step-by-step system for teaching movements like leg yield, shoulder-in, and sidepass—starting from the ground and moving into the saddle. It’s all about building your horse’s understanding and strength one thoughtful step at a time.
