leg yielding

[jUmPingIsLifE]

could anyone tell me the exact aids for leg yielding. i did it once before, i thought about doing it today and i can't remember what im doing! haha

[vjwuk]

I'll have a go but any one please feel free to correct me, being a "do anything in trot and walk" but complete confidence failure regarding canter I get to do a lot or this sort of stuff.

Turn in at the 3/4 line, get 3 or 4 paces going dead straight then keeping outside leg on, nudge the inside behind the girth, keep the reins level and the horses head straight. Remember Heathers comment in her books that if you push against a horse it pushes back so I nudge it. It works for me but I have to be careful not ot collapse on one hip.

It's lovely feeling when it goes right and a real a shame you can't see it when it happens. get it video'd if you can.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

thanks!

actully, for christmas last year my whole family pulled together and bought me a video camera for just these purposes, i have had all my lessons taped since xmas (thanks to my mom) and i love being able to see what im doing right or wrong on the video.

[sazzle10]

Leg yeilding...!

To Yield to the left:

•Bring right leg behind the girth.
•Keep Left leg on Girth (To encourage horse to move forwards)
•Open right hand on reins a few inches
•Keep contact with bit with your right hand so not to turn completely
•Push with right leg (Behind Girth.)

To Yield to the right, do the same instructions backwards.

•Bring left Leg behind Girth
•Keep the right leg on the Girth
•Open Left hand on reins.
•Keep contact wit left hand
•Push with left leg (Behind girth)

There you are, I hope that helps!
Sazzle :D

[jUmPingIsLifE]

thanks so much for the advice, and for putting it so clearly :) i have been practicing the aids sitting in my computer chair:D

and one more question just to make sure, what do i do with the left rein (if im going to the right) and what do i do with the right rein if im going to the left. do i just have light contact? or what?

[Dressage addict]

Hi jUmPingIsLifE

I am afraid that my aids for leg yield are a bit diff to the others!

I do not take the leg back to ask. If you do this you are likely to push the quarters over first and so the horse goes crooked.

I do this, leg yielding to the left:
Right leg stays on the girth to ask for forwards/sideways
Left leg on the outside a bit behind girth to stop quarters leading
Right rein - asks for a slight flexion at the poll joint away from direction of travel - NOT neck bend, neck should be straight
Left rein - stays close to the withers to stop the horse falling out through their shoulder and to control how much they go forwards.

Rider stays upright and sits in the middle of saddle without collapsing. Reins never pull back but can stop horse pulling through forwards. Leg asks for a step ata time, not gripping up or clamping with leg - just makes horse switch off! Ask for a few steps and then ride on - start with a little and build on that.

dressage addict

[CityGirl]

Dressage Addict -
I learned the exact same aids you did to leg yeild to the left- actually was wondering if I had been taught incorrectly after reading the earlier responses.
Just last week, I had a lesson w/a Grand Prix level Dresage Rider who reprimanded me b/c I was asking a)too much flexion in the right rein & caused the horse to bend his neck instead of just his poll and b) was collapsing my inside (left) hip, instead of sitting straight. As far as I can tell - everything you're saying meshes perfectly with her instructions.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

thanks for your responce, i will try that :)

i havn't done any leg yeilding because i took two days off from riding because of my injured foot/ankle. i am going out tomorrow though and will try :D

[FreedomStar]

I do leg yields how Dressage Addict explained.