Leg yielding

[abi]

any tips for teaching this?

being an ex- riding school pony sox has never been taught anything except go, slow down and turn.

now we're getting to grips with bending, changing legs over fences and shortening/extending strides ive been trying to move onto leg yield, but cant seem to get there

she will do a couple of steps with me on the ground in her field with lots of encouragement, but she just doesnt seem to understand when ridden!

obviously we're never going to be an Olympic dressage couple, but I'm hoping it could help her move better under herself and it seems to be one of the basics for most horses and riders!

any tips appreciated x

[Blonde Donkey]

i would start teacing it from the ground to begin with getting her to side step and using your hand where your leg would usually be

[bobalong]

work on a 20m circle, get your horse beding around you, then decrease circle to 10m then ask for leg yeild back out to 20m.,

the aim is to get your horse stepping under itself and pushing its self back out. the circles give u the advantage as you should have the bend, and hind engaging before you ask.

hope that makes sence!

[aimee]

start from ground. the only and best way! while lunging or whatever stop and stand next to him and tap his side where you would use your leg if you was asking for a yeild...every minor step needs lots of praise...eventually he will get the idea!

[brigadier]

Hi Abi
Leg yield is to get the horse moving equally forwards and sidewards at the same time with a slight bend away from the direction of the movement. Do the prectice from the ground first so the horse understands then move onto mounted work. The aids are
inside leg on the girth
outside leg behind the girth
inside rein open and lead
outside rein neck and support.

To try this you could do it first whilst out hacking- on the way home when the horse is going forward on a quiet bridleway, walk the horse to the right side of the track.
Your right leg then places distinct on off pressure on the girth, try to keep your leg long- dont draw it back
- your right hand opens a tiny bit to keep the bend to the right,
the left hand stops the horse bending too much to the right- keep the horse as straight as possible, the left leg remains fairly passive unless the horse shoots across the track.

Ask the horse to leg yeild back to the left part of the track, making sure you can feel the legs moving underneath you. Dont let the horse lead with the shoulder- it has to come from the legs!

Lots of praise then repeat. Next time out practice from the left to the right- just reverse these aids. Its a confusing one but lef yield to the left means the horse is moving to the right and visa versa. the movement gets its name from the direction of the bend not the direction it moves in.
let us know how you get on- once youve got this then I suggest you try bobalongs suggestion but dont go down to 10m- try 15m, 10m is a bit tight a circle and you may get too much bend if the horse is unbalanced and lead with the shoulder instead of using the hind legs to step under and forward.
good luck and let us know how you get on.

ps its ok to try everything in walk first- everyone says to do it in trot as it echoes the two time movement- which is fine but not if you are learning yourself as its too quick- give yourself time to learn the aids first!!!
brig

[haffyfan]

First make sure your horse will move away from you on the ground...then

I find the western way easiest all round. It works on the priniciple that if you want to step to the right you have to place your weight to the left to free up the movement (try it!), basically you apply this principle to the horse while asking it to 'side' or what ever voice aid you have used on the ground to get it to move over. Slide your weight to the opposite side to the direction you want the leg yield while freeing the rein to enable the movement and they will (should) find it very easy to move in the correct direction.