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Yielding is a very useful exercise when done well. It is the first stage in creating sideways steps with a horse and a precursor to riding shoulder-in. Although this is a simple exercise, it is not easy to ride and can create more problems than it solves when ridden poorly.
In a correct yield, the horse moves laterally from your inside leg, with a soft ribcage whilst maintaining his balance by crossing his inside legs over his outside legs.
One of the main problems with this exercise is that many horses push their weight to their outside shoulder. This can be caused by the rider sitting behind the movement, leaning away from the direction of travel, by the rider pulling the inside rein or by the horse being unbalanced.
A basic yield begins on a straight line on the inner track. The horse should have a soft rib cage around the riders inside leg. The horse then moves on a diagonal from line towards the track, moving both forehand and haunches at the same rate, ideally crossing the inside foreleg over the outside foreleg and the inside hind crossing the outside hind.
Keep your hips and shoulder facing forward and move your waist slightly towards your elbow in the direction you want to go, keeping your seat balanced.
Within the exercise, your inside leg has several functions; it creates softness in the rib cage of the horse, maintains impulsion if required and directs the quarters to step sideways.
Stepping sideways needs a touch with the inside leg to create the sidestep. The outside leg releases to allow the horse to step over and then gathers the outside of the horse. All aids are given only as necessary. If the horse is performing the movement in balance, sit quietly and don’t disrupt them.
Throughout the exercise the horse should remain in balance, stepping across as a whole horse, not dropping into his outside shoulder.
If you feel your horse move weight into their shoulder, ride out of the movement by lightly closing you outside rein towards their neck (not pulling backwards) and touching lightly with you outside leg. Check that your position remains balanced and straight.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
In a correct yield, the horse moves laterally from your inside leg, with a soft ribcage whilst maintaining his balance by crossing his inside legs over his outside legs.
One of the main problems with this exercise is that many horses push their weight to their outside shoulder. This can be caused by the rider sitting behind the movement, leaning away from the direction of travel, by the rider pulling the inside rein or by the horse being unbalanced.
A basic yield begins on a straight line on the inner track. The horse should have a soft rib cage around the riders inside leg. The horse then moves on a diagonal from line towards the track, moving both forehand and haunches at the same rate, ideally crossing the inside foreleg over the outside foreleg and the inside hind crossing the outside hind.
Keep your hips and shoulder facing forward and move your waist slightly towards your elbow in the direction you want to go, keeping your seat balanced.
Within the exercise, your inside leg has several functions; it creates softness in the rib cage of the horse, maintains impulsion if required and directs the quarters to step sideways.
Stepping sideways needs a touch with the inside leg to create the sidestep. The outside leg releases to allow the horse to step over and then gathers the outside of the horse. All aids are given only as necessary. If the horse is performing the movement in balance, sit quietly and don’t disrupt them.
Throughout the exercise the horse should remain in balance, stepping across as a whole horse, not dropping into his outside shoulder.
If you feel your horse move weight into their shoulder, ride out of the movement by lightly closing you outside rein towards their neck (not pulling backwards) and touching lightly with you outside leg. Check that your position remains balanced and straight.
© Diane Followell - Training Riders, Transforming Horses
