How do I train a horse to accept side walkers on both sides simultaneously?

Most horses are accustomed to being handled from one side at a time, but the therapeutic riding horse must accept the presence of side walkers on both sides simultaneously, often moving in close proximity to the horse's barrel and hindquarters at the same time. Preparing the horse for bilateral side walker presence requires deliberate, progressive training that builds comfort with this unusual configuration before it is introduced in a session. Begin by confirming that the horse is comfortable with a single handler walking alongside it at various positions — beside the shoulder, beside the barrel, beside the hip — on both sides. A horse that is comfortable on the left but tense when someone walks alongside its right barrel has an asymmetry in its training that must be resolved before both sides can be staffed simultaneously. Once the horse accepts individual handlers at all positions on both sides, introduce two handlers simultaneously — one on each side — beginning at a walk in a quiet environment. The initial sessions with bilateral handlers should be at a relaxed walk without a rider, allowing the horse to experience the spatial configuration without the additional demand of carrying and responding to a rider simultaneously. When the horse accepts bilateral handlers without any tension or reactive behavior, the configuration can be introduced with a rider — first a light, experienced rider, and gradually with riders who require more physical support from the side walkers.