Getting started. 1 o'clock and 11 o'clock mark the beginning of learning the movement. It may take quite a few repetitions until you're confident about what you're asking and your horse really understands how he should respond. You're definitely guiding him with his shoulders and working on greater control. He's also doing a diagonal motion to the right and doing a reverse arc circle.
When he steps on 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock, he's doing more definite diagonals. You're essentially walking him on his left and right leads as his left foot steps in front of his right foot at 2 o'clock and his right foot steps in front of his left foot at 10 o'clock. These become perfect preparations for picking up true leads at the lope or canter. You've slowed his forward motion even more without stiffening up his front end. He's now moving in a smaller reverse arc circle with more softness and giving in the shoulder.
At 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, the front of your horse is doing a full sidepass. He has stopped all forward motion, but hasn't stiffened.
At 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock, he's starting to pivot on his hindquarters. He's making an even smaller reverse arc circle and you have much more shoulder control. He not only stops all forward motion, but is starting to reverse.
Moving to 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock is more of an angle and more of an effort.
At 6 o'clock, he's backing up beautifully.
At 12 o'clock, he's going forward lightly, under control and in good balance.
Every time you stepped on the clock's numbers and got the spot to move in that direction, you slowed your horse's forward motion. He softened and lowered his neck and softened the muscles at the base of his neck as well. He softened his shoulders. He learned to break at the poll. He has begun to raise his front end by shifting his weight onto his hindquarters. This activity strengthens all those muscles and puts him in better balance.
You're now about two hours into training and are working with a much different, more responsive and much happier horse. In fact, he's almost perfect!
