Leg-Yield: what’s the purpose?

Certain exercises in a horse’s athletic development serve as a foundational skill set and a remedial tool later on. Leg-yield is exactly this kind of exercise. It offers valuable physiological benefits that improve a novice horse’s balance while also resolving specific impediments to an advanced horse’s quality of movement. It is the kind of exercise that tunes up a number of short-comings in how a horse is carrying himself.

At its elementary level, leg-yield teaches a horse to move away from the rider’s rhythmic leg pressure. It forms the introduction to more advanced lateral movements to come later and normally follows the mastery of turn-on-the-forehand. When used further along in a horse’s development, it serves as a resolution when he has begun to stiffen or to brace through his body rather than carry weight on the hindquarters as we desire.

In order to lower and rotate his inside hip forward, as needed for correct leg-yield steps, the horse must relax through his ribcage and trunk muscles which, due to their interconnectedness with the horse's jaw and poll muscles, also means a softening of this important area. As he sets his inside foot down medially under his trunk while in this state, the hind joints flex more and his torso rotates in the direction of that limb.

In addition to weighting the hind limb, a positive chain reaction is set in motion by activating the horse’s trunk. As the deep abdominal and chest muscles shift from rigid to properly tensioned, so too does the state of the horse’s tongue and jaw. This explains why most rider’s experience a more consistent and elastic feeling of connection in their outside rein after riding leg-yield. They also notice their horse beginning to chew softly on the bit and release tension around his mouth. Put simply, the horse’s musculature has adopted a state wherein he can organize his posture better to establish this connection with the rider’s hands.

Many riders experience leg-yield at some point when preparing for a dressage test, but hopefully this post has underscored its importance well beyond a maneuver for competition. Used for its physiological effect, it can help horses find more comfort and ease of movement. Remember that its entire purpose is to help the horse. To that end, perform it in the manner that best suits you and your horse. Trot is often the chosen gait, due to the added benefit of impulsion and suspension in this gait, but if you find things more manageable at walk, then that is the best way for you and your horse to practice it. If you do opt to practice at the trot, decide how you most clearly administer your cues— posting or sitting trot? Ride the exercise in whatever way you are able to be clearest and most helpful.