Racehorses walk sideways because they’re full of nervous energy and physically primed to run, not walk. What you’re seeing is a behavior called “jigging,” where an excited horse steps laterally because it wants to move forward at speed but is being held back by the jockey or handler. The horse channels that pent-up energy into sideways movement as a compromise between what its body wants to do and what its rider is asking.
What Jigging Actually Looks Like
Jigging is a short, choppy, side-stepping movement where the horse drifts laterally instead of walking in a straight line. It’s different from the controlled lateral movements you see in dressage, where a horse performs a “half pass” (moving forward and sideways simultaneously) or a “full pass” (moving purely sideways). Those are trained, deliberate maneuvers. Jigging is involuntary and reactive. The horse isn’t choosing to go sideways so much as bouncing with tension that has nowhere else to go.
You’ll notice it most often in the post parade, when horses walk past the grandstand on their way to the starting gate. The crowd noise, the proximity of other horses, and the horse’s own anticipation of the race all contribute. Some horses jig so dramatically they appear to be dancing. Others only drift a few steps off their line before the jockey corrects them.
Why Racehorses Are Wired This Way
Thoroughbreds are bred for explosive speed and a high-strung temperament. That combination means they respond intensely to stimulation. On race day, everything ramps them up: the trailer ride to the track, the saddling paddock, the noise, and the sight and smell of other horses preparing to compete. Their bodies flood with adrenaline well before the gate opens.
Horses are also flight animals. Their instinct when stressed or excited is to move, and to move fast. When a jockey keeps a firm hold on the reins to maintain a walk, the horse has to put that energy somewhere. Sideways stepping is what happens when a horse is simultaneously trying to surge forward and being told to stay collected. It’s the equine equivalent of pacing back and forth before a big event.
Young or inexperienced horses tend to jig more than seasoned runners. A horse making its first few starts hasn’t learned to conserve energy before a race, and the entire environment is unfamiliar. Veteran racehorses often settle into a calmer walk during the post parade, though some remain jiggers throughout their careers. It’s partly temperament, partly training, and partly habit.
How Jockeys Manage It
Jockeys use a combination of rein pressure and leg position to guide a jigging horse. The basic principle is that a horse moves away from pressure. A jockey’s inside leg pressed against the horse’s side at the girth encourages forward movement, while a leg placed slightly behind the girth pushes the hindquarters over. The reins control the front end: a light pull on one rein tips the horse’s nose in that direction, and pressure from the opposite rein along the neck asks the horse to shift its shoulders.
When a horse starts drifting sideways, the jockey typically applies leg pressure on the side the horse is drifting toward, pushing it back onto a straight line. At the same time, they may give a slight release on the reins to encourage forward motion, since the sideways movement often comes from the horse feeling too restricted. It’s a balancing act. Too much rein and the horse jiggs harder. Too little and it might bolt forward or wheel into another horse.
Lead ponies, the calm older horses that escort racehorses to the gate, serve as a physical and psychological anchor. Walking alongside a relaxed companion gives the racehorse something steady to mirror, and the lead pony rider can help block sideways drifting by positioning their horse on the jigger’s open side.
Does Sideways Movement Affect Performance?
Excessive jigging before a race wastes energy. A horse that spends the entire post parade bouncing sideways is burning calories and spiking its heart rate before the race even starts, which can dull its finishing kick over longer distances. Trainers and jockeys pay close attention to how a horse behaves in the post parade. A horse that walks calmly is typically in a better mental and physical state to run its best.
There’s also a subtle injury concern. Horses already carry about 60% of their body weight on their front legs, and at a gallop, there are moments when a single foreleg bears the entire load. When a jockey is in racing position, that front-to-back weight distribution can shift to roughly 70:30. Lateral movement adds uneven loading on top of that imbalance. A horse that habitually twists and side-steps under tension isn’t at immediate risk of injury from the jigging itself, but chronic asymmetric movement patterns can contribute to wear on joints and tendons over time.
When Sideways Walking Signals Something Else
Not all lateral movement is just excitement. A horse that consistently drifts to one side may be compensating for pain or soreness. Back pain, foot bruises, or muscle tightness on one side can cause a horse to shift its weight laterally to avoid loading the affected area. If a horse that normally walks straight suddenly starts moving sideways, trainers will often check for physical causes before assuming it’s behavioral.
Dental problems can also play a role. If a horse has a sore spot in its mouth, it may resist rein pressure on that side by throwing its head and stepping away from the contact. This looks a lot like nervous jigging but has a completely different cause and requires veterinary attention rather than training adjustments.
Horses that jig chronically outside of race day, during routine training gallops or even walking back to the barn, may have developed the behavior as a fixed habit. Once jigging becomes ingrained, it’s difficult to retrain, especially in a Thoroughbred that’s constantly exposed to high-stimulation environments. Some trainers address it with longer warm-up routines, changes in tack, or pairing the horse with a calm companion during exercise.