Leg-yield

In response to the rider’s isolated leg action, the horse moves sideways, with legs crossing over, and whilst maintaining his back bone as straight as possible.

The movement is characterized by crossover and stronger engagement of the inside hind leg. There is not much bend, although there may be a slight bend of the neck in the opposite direction from the lateral movement, but it is not part of the definition of the exercise and not one of the aims.

For the rider

Leg yield is the first two track exercise to learn for lateral movement of the horse, whilst controlling at all times the pace, the horse’s attitude, and the direction to follow. The rider’s aids are dissociated, so this exercise also helps in coordination and independence of the aids.

For the horse

The exercise is educational, as it favors synchronization of movements, and physical as it supples the horse and improves hind leg engagement, rectitude, balance and rhythm.

Depending on the level of both horse and rider, start the session by a simple overall warm-up (straight lines, wide circles, serpentine in the three gaits), or include lateral movements in the warm-up, if the horse and rider are already familiar with these suppling exercises. Use multiple transitions to get the horse listening to the rider’s legs and ready to respond to the requests.

Stage 1 : Learning to respond to the opposite rein

Turn as if carrying out a half turn on the haunches

Stage 2 : Learning to respond to an isolated leg aid

Move along the track as if you wanted to carry out a haunches in

Once the movement is initiated, associate an action of the outside leg, as the inside leg comes beneath the horse’s weight, behind the girth to provoke a definite movement of the haunches. This reverse conditioning will teach the horse which aids are associated with the movement.

You can also execute this movement with the reins in one hand (left hand in the example) and use a dressage stick behind the saddle pad, in the other to reinforce the isolated leg action.

Half-turn around the shoulders facing the wall

The arena fence or the wall in the indoor school will help to channel the horse. As you are walking for example on a track to the left, ask the horse to execute a half turn by turning him towards the wall or fence using a right open rein.

Mobilize his haunches when the inside hind leg is in the air, using your right leg. If the horse is bent too far towards the inside, you will obtain a half turn on the circle but with no significant movement of the haunches. The left rein held against the withers is there to regulate, and prevent the shoulders from falling to the left and the neck from over-bending to the right.

If, despite this, the neck still remains over-bent, the left regulating rein can become a neck rein. If the horse is straight enough, as the wall or fence restricts shoulder movement, the horse will have to mobilize his haunches in order to carry out the half turn.

Stage 3: leg-yield on a circle

On a sm

Gradually make the circle smaller to increase the movement in the haunches, and the crossing over of the legs. You can take up both reins in the outside hand (inside rein slightly shorter) to better control the shoulders and avoid too much lateral flexion. The dressage stick will be in your inside hand to reinforce the indication given by the leg action.

Stage 4: Leg yield on a diagonal

In this exercise, the shoulders and haunches need to be controlled solely through your aids. Following a turn down the length of the arena, or a small half circle, move your horse sideways on a diagonal track to join the arena track, whilst keeping the horse’s back straight and parallel to the track.

Use of the aids for yielding to the left leg (sideways movement to the right)

• Direct torso and eyes to the right, unless the movement becomes hasty. Body weight remains centered on the horse, there is no need to shift your center of gravity in the direction of the movement, as this only adds weight and can create unbalance. Remember it’s the horse who is moving.
• Your hands  both move to the right (creating a corridor) to act on the shoulders. The left rein initiates shoulder movement  from the left towards the right, without crossing over to the other side of the neck. The right rein acts as a guard to prevent the shoulders from falling towards the right.
• The left leg is placed slightly behind the girth to push the haunches.
• The right leg is kept on at the girth to regulate impulsion.

The horse will only be able to move his haunches sideways if the neck and shoulders are controlled. The leg aid behind the girth can only be effective if the neck and shoulders are controlled by the riders hands, hence the importance of the outside rein.

To get the feel of these aids, try to keep your legs relaxed, falling naturally, and let the horse carry you without trying to help with your upper body. Simply look in the direction you want to go, and stretch upwards and forwards.

How to evolve in the leg-yield

When the exercise can be done correctly from a walk following an easy track, gradually increase the difficulty of the exercise:

• Make the track followed more complex by increasing the angle.
• Increase the demands by being more precise in executing the movement (regularity, rhythm, impulsion, rectitude , quality of contact…)
• Change the pace between movements, or within the movement

Overall movement

When carried out correctly, the horse is mobilized as a whole, i.e with shoulders and haunches aligned, working synchronously and in harmon-y. It is not just a question of moving sideways, but more of really “riding” the leg yield.

Engaging the hind leg

When the exercise is acquired, the inside hind leg should show marked engagement under the horse’s body. As this is what gives the necessary impulsion to carry out the movement correctly, it is the requisite condition for a successful leg-yield.

Reactivity of the horse

The horse has to be tuned in to his rider and responsive. Responding quickly to the rider’s aids is an important criteria of success, therefore not to be neglected.

Insufficient lateral movement, problems of impulsion

Problems of impulsion (either running away, or loss of activity) are often due to a lack of comprehension on the horse’s part. A horse that has not learned the difference between a driving leg, and a sideways pushing aid will run forward to escape the request. Give the horse time to understand what you want.

If on the other hand the horse loses activity, it can be due to lack of reactivity to the rider’s aids. Go back to the preparatory exercises, and to a rapid succession of transitions to obtain a reactive response to the driving leg. The exercise is only possible if the horse is on the rider’s legs.

Haunches in front of the shoulders

When the haunches precede the shoulders, the quarters are said to be “leading”. This means your pushing leg is too far back and/or your outside rein is blocking the shoulders. Cease acting with the inside leg, and move away in a straight line so as to favor forward movement.

Haunches trailing

On the contrary, if the haunches are trailing, the horse is over-bending his neck with no cross over on the diagonal. In this case, favor lateral movement by reinforcing your sideways pushing leg, and slowing the shoulders so the haunches can realign. Bring the shoulders back in line as if you wanted to walk in a straight line. For example, if you are moving sideways from left to right with a left neck rein, change to an open left rein.

Crooked rider, or pushing leg too far back

If your stirrups are too short, it will be detrimental to carrying out this exercise: the leg will move backwards from the knee, too far back and the torso is twisted towards the direction of the movement. This is due to a lack of relaxation. It can only lead to twisting, tightening up and inefficiency on the rider’s part, and therefore on the horse’s part! Lengthen your stirrups, use the warm up phase to improve your leg position by working with no stirrups. The movement starts from the hip on a vertical leg.