Introducing Leg Yield to a Young Horse
I love riding and working with young horses. It is a lot of fun to teach them new things and to see the progress they make. In this video, I am teaching Victor, a green five year old that I have in training, how to do a leg yield for the first time. Victor can be a little tight in the back and he is not symmetrical left and right so the leg yield will help to make him more supple and rideable.
Start with Leg-Yield on Serpentine Lines
To introduce the leg yield, start by riding a serpentine line. Since the serpentine is an exercise that Victor already knows I use this line to help him start to grasp the concept of moving sideways.
- Warm-Up with Serpentines: Begin by warming up with serpentine lines, focusing on bending and turning.
- Leg Yield on Serpentine: As you navigate the serpentine, use your inside leg to encourage the horse to move sideways out and away from your inside leg. So you are basically doing a leg-yield on a serpentine line
This method helps the horse understand the concept of moving laterally without rushing.
Transition to Traditional Leg Yields
Once Victor understands the concept of moving of my inside leg on the serpentine line, I transition to a more traditional approach of riding the leg-yield from the quarter line to the rail.
- Quarter Line to Leg Yield: Ride up the quarter line and then ask for a few steps of leg yield. When teaching this to a new horse, only ask for a few steps at a time and remember to reward your horse.
- Monitor Balance and Softness: Ensure the horse remains balanced and soft in the contact. If the horse becomes braced, soften them by going straight for a few steps or making a small circle before asking for leg yield again.
Final Tips
Training the leg yield requires patience and consistency. Here are some additional tips:
- Identify the Easier Direction: Determine which direction the horse finds easier. This will help you know which side to start on so that you can build on successful leg yields at the start of each session. Victor, for example, tends to be stiffer to the right.
- Work Both Sides: Practice leg yields in both directions to ensure even development. Pay attention to any tendencies to bulge through the shoulders and adjust your aids accordingly.
- Regular Practice: Integrate leg yields into your regular training routine to reinforce the exercise.
- Monitor Focus: Young horses often have short attention spans. It’s ok to give them breaks or to do shorter sessions. The importance should be on using consistent aids and routine to help them develop discipline and focus.
Working with young horses can be incredibly rewarding. They tend to make quick progress but also require careful management due to their inexperience and energy. Enjoy the journey, and remember that each session is a step toward building a balanced and responsive horse.
For a detailed walkthrough and to see these tips in action, watch the full video. Don’t forget to get your free PDF with five training patterns to help you train your horse to be more supple and on the aids.
Stay tuned for more videos every Wednesday, and happy training!
