At 15:38:50 on 06.01.10, Flicka wrote:
A member on troton on once told me she had been told that horses react differently to things depending on whether they are looking at it from their right or left eye! This intrigued me so I did a bit of digging on the net and found there had been some research by a Uni in Austria which confirmed the same thing. They found that it didn't matter how the horse was handled, the horse still favoured looking with the left eye. The left eye apparently has a faster flight reaction so a horse naturally prefers us on the left. We therefore to help a horse become confident need to work equally from both sides. I just thought it was interesting and wondered if anyone else had thoughts or experiences of this.

At 21:07:31 on 08.01.10, La Palma wrote:
Nelly who is not used to be handled gets more unsure when I'm on her right side. On the left side she is always more calm. I have wondering about this, so its interesting that you write about this. Kim

At 22:33:01 on 09.01.10, Em28 wrote:
That's really interesting I havent heard that before. I knew that you had to work equally on each side when training. The horses cerebral cortex is split into left and right as in humans, but the horse only has limited ability to cross refer between the 2 sides. Hence, every lesson needs to be taught on both sides, both when working in the school using both reins and when handling near and off sides on ground. This is important for mental balance in the horse, as well as physical development.

At 10:40:52 on 18.01.10, YasandCrystal wrote:
Hi yes that is interesting. My pony Barney hates you being on his right side - he positively runs away from you on this side. I always thought it was one of those things that because you naturally favour the left side you unconsciously make the pony better on the one side. Like fsvouring reins - it's easier to work on the better rein so you need to be really careful to actually do less on that one and more on the poor tougher rein!

At 19:19:51 on 18.01.10, Bossey101 wrote:
My girlfriend that has helped me train my 2 year old has always said to me " always train both side so you have a more balanced horse". My 2 year old can be troted out both sides, lead from both sides and he is not stiffer on one side. So in effect when he gets broken in at the end of this year I should have a well balanced pony (once he gets use to the weight on his back). I hear alot of people saying their horses are stiff on one side and it all makes sense since I have been training my youngster. Alot of horses only get worked one side so they feel confident on the side that is worked.

At 13:10:30 on 19.01.10, YasandCrystal wrote:
Hi yes Bossey101 well done ensuring you have worked both sides - it will be interesting when you break your horse. I still think you will find the horse will go better on one rein because horses are 'right' or left sided like humans are different handed. Joni Bentley has a lot to say if you google her about the sidedness of horses. You should also alternate the side you mount your horse from. Good riding stables enforce this practice.

At 19:19:38 on 20.01.10, Bossey101 wrote:
It will be interesting when we break him in...I wish he was 3 already...lol But hes not until november, so have to wait until then. Hes only a pony, was suppose to be my sons second pony...lol but he out grew Bart and Barts not your first ridden type.