In this week’s video, I will be covering everything you need to know about the leg-yield! The leg-yield is a two-track movement without bend. Your horse will cross their legs in diagonal pairs, with just a slight bit of flexion to the inside. In this movement, your horse will move forward and sideways at the same time. Leg-yields are a wonderful movement to improve suppleness.
The aids for the leg-yield are:
- Inside leg at the girth to push the inside hind leg
- Outside rein to control the outside shoulder
- Slightly more weight on the inside seat bone
- Inside rein creating flexion
- Outside leg behind the girth
If you are having trouble with the leg -yield, ride straight and make sure your horse is round, in front of the leg, and on the bit. These are all prerequisites to a successful leg-yield.
As you are practicing your leg-yields, make sure that you aren’t over bending your horse. This will cause your horse to fall through the outside shoulder and prevent them from crossing over. Often, your horse might want to speed up or slow down going into the leg-yield, so use your leg and half-halts to maintain a steady tempo. Also, make sure to check in with your rider position. Often, riders want to lean in the leg-yield, but remember, this movement is a leg-yield, not a body yield!
Leg-yields are a great exercise to work on suppleness, get your horse using their topline, and improve your horse’s gaits! You can ride many variations of this movement including leg-yields on a diagonal and circle!
I hope these tips help you with your leg-yield! Let me know in the comments below if one direction is easier than the other!
Happy Riding!
Amelia
P.S. Need more help with your leg-yields? Check out this workshop all about leg yields! You will learn how to teach them to your horse from the ground and how to improve them under saddle!
