To leg yield or not to leg yield?

[pboy]

I don't often venture on the Sylvia Loch group on Facebook as it tends to be a bit scary (anyone riding a horse with a nose slightly behind the vertical should be hung, drawn and quartered apparently) but this is an interesting video that was posted. Apparently it's only public for a couple of days, the password is no4tracks, I guess it must normally be a video you have to pay for?!



Essentially Manolo Mendez is very anti-leg yield and he explains why in the video. I've always been told that LY is useful to teach the horse to move away from the leg, but certainly not for teaching bend or engagement. I do notice that it can have the opposite effect and end up with an unengaged horse, unlike shoulder-in, though I had assumed that was down to my bad riding!

Any other views? Anyone here find LY a useful exercise?

[zara]

I'm of the same opinion as you pboy regarding the Sylvia Loch FB page, it's a seriously scary place! Re: leg yield I was always led to believe that it taught your horse to move away from the leg. I'm now totally confused as many of the CRC think it is nothing short of dangerous and then there's Paul Cossi what not saying how good it can be. Who knows the right answer but I for one won't change my schooling lol

[brigadier]

This debate has gone on for years. When I was training it was anathema to some instructors and essential to others. There is also differences regarding the aids, ie leg back or on the girth with the consensus now being on the girth. I feel it is far easier to teach a young horse leg yield without confusion than it is to teach shoulder in. So as an exercise to teach rudimentary yielding it is invaluable. It also helps keep the horses spine supple and is an essential yoga exercise but it is an exercise that should be used as a bridge to other achievements and not in isolation ie to acieve a correct canter strike off or to prevent falling in etc. After all the half halt is used to achieve other movements but is not a pure movement in itself. No one questions the half halt and it's benefits.