How to Train a Horse to Leg Yield

The leg yield is the simplest lateral movement that a rider can perform on horseback, and is often an introduction to advanced dressage movement. In the leg yield, the horse moves both forward and to the side, normally from the centerline of the arena to the rail. The front and back legs cross over each other, while the horse remains bent in the opposite direction of that which is he traveling. Read on to learn how to train a horse to leg yield.

Instructions

1. Warm up the horse at the walk, trot and canter, bringing him slowly on to the bit. Work on circles at the trot and canter to increase flexibility in the neck and top line, and practice using your legs to maintain forward impulsion at the regular posting trot and at the extended trot.

2. Trot your horse around the small end of the dressage arena, then turn up the center line, approximately 10 meters from the outside rail. If you don't have access to a dressage arena, you can use a regular indoor or outdoor arena, but keep the distance approximately the same for an accurate leg yield.

3. Use your inside rein and inside leg to bend your horse to the inside, maintaining forward impulsion about halfway down the arena. Don't ask him to cross over until you reach this midpoint, and maintain contact with your outside leg to keep his outside shoulder from "falling out."

4. Shift your weight to your inside seat bone, then use your inside leg to encourage your horse to move toward the outside rail. He should not stop forward momentum at all, but should instead continue his forward motion while crossing over laterally. If he does this successfully, you've completed a leg yield.

5. Maintain a forward body position, with your shoulders and head facing forward at all times. At the end of the arena, maintain the inside bend and execute your corner as normal.

6. Try the leg yield going the opposite direction, from the rail to the 10-meter point of the inside of the arena. This will ensure that the horse develops equal muscle development for performing the leg yield.

7. Ask the horse to perform a leg yield at the walk if the trot proves too difficult for him. Lateral movement requires a great deal of muscle and balance, and he may not be ready.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid over-bending by looking for visual cues. You should just be able to see the horse's eyelashes when he is bent correctly for the leg yield.