Leg-yield
Encyclopedia
The leg-yield is a lateral movement
performed on a horse, in which the horse travels both sideways and forward at the same time. The horse is fairly straight through his body in the leg-yield, although he may have a slight bend to the outside (away from the direction of travel). It is one of the "three initial movements leading up to true lateral work", the others being the turn on the forehand and the shoulder-fore.
are sometimes confused because they are both movements in which the horse goes forward and sideways. However, the half-pass is quite a bit more advanced, requiring greater balance, engagement, and collection from the horse. In the leg-yield, the horse is fairly straight or looking slightly away from the direction of travel. In the half-pass, the horse is bent towards the direction of travel, which is physically much more difficult for the horse.
and haunches-in
.
Many top trainers do not believe that the leg-yield is a particularly useful exercise after this concept has been taught, falling short when compared to such exercises as the shoulder-in
. However, the leg-yield is asked for in early dressage
tests.
The second great use of the leg-yield is in the rider's training, as it is a fairly basic move yet it can begin to teach the rider how to use the riding aids
independently and bring the horse properly into the outside rein and leg.
Over-use of the leg-yield can have a negative effect on a horse's training, causing them to lose the all-important forwardness, and may cause short, broken gaits. The Spanish Riding School
uses this exercise sparingly, only at the walk when first teaching the horse to move away from the leg, because the horse will be bent in the opposite direction when he learns the more difficult half-pass and so it is believed to be counter-productive to spend much time on the leg-yield.
The second way the leg-yield is commonly performed is with the horse's nose facing the rail, with his body at no more than a 30-degree angle to the wall. The horse may also be leg-yielded with his haunces to the wall. Unlike shoulder- or haunches-in, the horse does not have the same degree of bend. These are not' the same movements. The horse may also be leg-yielded on a diagonal, keeping his body straight.
The last form of leg-yielding is much more advanced, and is not commonly practised. In this movement, the horse is leg-yielded on a volte
, with his nose facing the center of the circle.
Lateral movement
Lateral movements or lateral flexions within equestrianism, have a specific meaning, used to refer to movements made by a horse where the animal is moving in a direction other than straight forward...
performed on a horse, in which the horse travels both sideways and forward at the same time. The horse is fairly straight through his body in the leg-yield, although he may have a slight bend to the outside (away from the direction of travel). It is one of the "three initial movements leading up to true lateral work", the others being the turn on the forehand and the shoulder-fore.
Difference between the leg-yield and half-pass
The leg-yield and half-passHalf-pass
The half-pass is a lateral movement seen in dressage, in which the horse moves forward and sideways at the same time. Unlike the easier leg-yield, the horse is bent in the direction of travel, slightly around the rider's inside leg. The outside hind and forelegs should cross over the inside legs,...
are sometimes confused because they are both movements in which the horse goes forward and sideways. However, the half-pass is quite a bit more advanced, requiring greater balance, engagement, and collection from the horse. In the leg-yield, the horse is fairly straight or looking slightly away from the direction of travel. In the half-pass, the horse is bent towards the direction of travel, which is physically much more difficult for the horse.
Uses and disadvantages of the leg-yield
The leg-yield is one of the first lateral exercises to be introduced to a horse, teaching him a simple yet valuable lesson: to move sideways away from leg pressure. This basic is later built upon in the shoulder-inShoulder-in
The shoulder-in is a lateral movement in dressage used to supple and balance the horse and encourage use of its hindquarters. It is performed on three tracks, where the horse is bent around the rider's inside leg so that the horse's inside hind leg and outside foreleg travel on the same line...
and haunches-in
Haunches-in
Haunches-in is a lateral movement used in the dressage discipline of horse training. It has a close cousin, haunches-out , that is slightly more difficult...
.
Many top trainers do not believe that the leg-yield is a particularly useful exercise after this concept has been taught, falling short when compared to such exercises as the shoulder-in
Shoulder-in
The shoulder-in is a lateral movement in dressage used to supple and balance the horse and encourage use of its hindquarters. It is performed on three tracks, where the horse is bent around the rider's inside leg so that the horse's inside hind leg and outside foreleg travel on the same line...
. However, the leg-yield is asked for in early dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
tests.
The second great use of the leg-yield is in the rider's training, as it is a fairly basic move yet it can begin to teach the rider how to use the riding aids
Riding aids
Riding aids are the cues a rider gives to a horse to communicate what they want the animal to do. Riding aids are broken into the natural aids and the artificial aids.-Natural aids:...
independently and bring the horse properly into the outside rein and leg.
Over-use of the leg-yield can have a negative effect on a horse's training, causing them to lose the all-important forwardness, and may cause short, broken gaits. The Spanish Riding School
Spanish Riding School
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, is a traditional riding school for Lipizzan horses, which perform in the Winter Riding School in the Hofburg...
uses this exercise sparingly, only at the walk when first teaching the horse to move away from the leg, because the horse will be bent in the opposite direction when he learns the more difficult half-pass and so it is believed to be counter-productive to spend much time on the leg-yield.
Different ways to leg-yield
The most common place the leg-yield is performed is from quarterline to rail, keeping the horse's body parallel to the wall. With more advanced horses, leg-yielding can be performed back to the quarterline.The second way the leg-yield is commonly performed is with the horse's nose facing the rail, with his body at no more than a 30-degree angle to the wall. The horse may also be leg-yielded with his haunces to the wall. Unlike shoulder- or haunches-in, the horse does not have the same degree of bend. These are not' the same movements. The horse may also be leg-yielded on a diagonal, keeping his body straight.
The last form of leg-yielding is much more advanced, and is not commonly practised. In this movement, the horse is leg-yielded on a volte
Volte
The volte is a very small circle that is used in the training of a horse. Of all the circles, it requires the most balance from the horse. Voltes are excellent training tools, encouraging engagement and power.-Size of the volte:...
, with his nose facing the center of the circle.
Sources
- Richard Davison, Dressage Priority Points, Howell Book House, New York 1995
- Jennie Loriston-Clarke, The Complete Guide to Dressage. How to Achieve Perfect Harmony between You and Your Horse. Principal Movements in Step-by-step Sequences Demonstrated by a World Medallist, Quarto Publishing plc, London 1987, reprinted 1993