Leg Yield

[Sonia]

I'm trying to teach Ellie to move away from my leg (and not just faster). We've started with Leg Yields after some fairly successful Turn on the Forehands. She will move away from my right leg beautifully - I can really feel her stepping her legs across, but trying to move away from my leg left leaves her confused. She either doesn't manage it or else moves left! When on the ground she will move away from my hand pressure just fine.

She tends to get a bit panicky because she isn't able to either understand or do what I ask. Any tips?

Thanks
Sonia

[Heather]

Yep, get a friend (as long as Ellie is not prone to removing teeth with a hindleg!) to apply pressure with the swing of the belly from the ground with you on top. A lot of horses will move away fine on one side and resist and push into pressure on the other. Make sure that the friend uses a press, release not solid pressure which will make her lean into it even more.


Let me know how this works.You will probably have to repeat it for a few days.

Heather

[Sonia]

Thanks Heather
I will get someone to help, I'll let you know how we get on


Sonia

[Jo]

I too have a leg yield problem. my mare will do a couple of steps away from the right leg but not off the left side. She is also very prone to falling out with her shoulders rather than stepping across. She is a nervy creature and rushes away from both my instructors so they cannot help me by nudging her across. Any other suggestions? I am keen to leg yield as a way of getting her to respect the leg, which she ignores at the moment.

[Heather]

Is she also frightened of a dressage whip Jo?

Heather