Leg-yeild

The leg-yeild is a 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-yeild, although he may have a slight bend to the outside (away from the direction of travel).

Difference between the leg-yeild and half-pass

The leg-yeild and half-pass are sometimes confused due to the fact that the are both movements in which the horse goes forward and sideways. However, the half-pass is quite a bit more advanced, requiring greated 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-yeild

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 build upon in the shoulder-in and haunches-in.

Many top trainers do not believe that the leg-yield is a particularily useful exercise after this concept has been taught, falling short when compared to such exercises as 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 her aids independently and bring the horse propery into the outside rein and leg.

Over-use of the leg-yield can have a terrible effect on a horse's training, causing them to lose the all-important forwardness, and may cause short, broken gaits.

Different ways to leg-yeild

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-yeilding 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 aunces 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. Note, this angle should not be too steep.

The last form of leg-yielding is much more advanced, and is not commonly practiced. In this movement, the horse is leg-yielded on a volte, with his nose facing the center of the circle.