In this video, we are helping Jill with her off the track thoroughbred to improve the leg-yields!
Most horses have a weaker right hind leg – they avoid taking weight on the right hind by keeping the right hind leg to the right. This makes the leg-yield off of the right leg more difficult as the horse will fall with the left shoulder over but not want to cross over the right hind leg. Do you have this issue with your horse?
It is essential that in dressage training, we work to get our horses more straight, supple, and symmetrical. The more supple and straight our horses, the less likely they are to injure themselves and the longer they last as Dressage horses!
The leg yield is a wonderful exercise for suppleness and to work towards getting the horse straight! Here are some tips to improve your leg yields:
- If the leg-yield gets wonky and you lose the shoulder, go straight for a few strides, and then resume the leg-yield
- If you’re having trouble getting the hind leg to cross over, go back to do a turn on the forehand. This will help to really get access to the inside hind leg!
- Practice both the “easy” and the “hard” side for the leg yield so that you and your horse don’t get frustrated.
- Be sure not to over bend the horse in the neck – a leg-yield should have flexion but not bend
- Keep your alignment and posture: do not to lean over to the side in the leg-yield.
Hopefully these tips are helpful! Happy leg-yielding!
