The leg-yield is a fundamental exercise for building your horse’s suppleness, straightness, and responsiveness to aids. Recently, one of my viewers from the Netherlands shared a video of her practicing leg-yields with her horse, and I was so excited to offer some guidance. Seeing riders from around the world working on these foundational movements is so uplifting!
Common Leg-Yield Challenges
From the submitted video, the horse displayed a good understanding of leg-yields but showed a few typical issues:
- Over-bending in the Neck: The horse’s neck bent too much, which caused the outside shoulder to drift.
- Lack of Straightness: The horse lost alignment and wasn’t parallel to the rail.
- Speeding Up: The trot tempo increased, making the movement less controlled.
These are common problems when introducing or refining leg-yields, but with targeted exercises, they can be improved.
Exercise 1: Head-to-the-Wall Leg-Yield
This is a great way to help your horse maintain straightness while yielding because it is clearer for you to see it happening. (Note in this exercise that inside and outside refers to how the horse is bent, not direction of travel)
- Begin by riding at a 45-degree angle toward the rail.
- Use your inside leg to ask for lateral movement and your outside rein to control the shoulder.
- Ensure the horse stays straight from poll to tail, with no excessive neck bend.
- Repeat this exercise at the walk and progress to the trot as the horse becomes more confident.
The wall acts as a boundary and reinforces the correct alignment.
Exercise 2: Quarter-Line Leg-Yield
Another exercise is leg-yields starting from the quarter line with moments of straightness when needed
- Turn onto the quarter line and straighten your horse before asking for the leg-yield.
- Maintain a steady trot tempo, using half-halts to prevent rushing as you ask them to step over.
- Focus on moving the hind legs across while keeping the horse parallel to the rail using your outside aids.
- If your horse begins to lose balance or alignment, ride straight for a few strides before resuming the leg-yield.
Tips for Success
- Straight first: Always ensure the horse is straight before starting the leg-yield.
- Control the Shoulders: Use the outside rein to prevent the shoulders from leading too much.
- Mix it Up: Practice leg-yields in different patterns (e.g., quarter line to rail, rail to centerline) to avoid anticipation.
Final Thoughts
I’m incredibly grateful to this rider for sharing her journey and allowing us to learn alongside her. Remember, every horse and rider pair is unique, and challenges are just opportunities for growth. Keep practicing, stay patient, and most importantly, enjoy the ride!
Happy Riding!
Amelia
