All posts by Jennifer Klitzke

"Dressage is more than trot...and the saddle you ride in." -Jennifer KlitzkeSome traditional dressage riders believe that dressage is ONLY for horses that trot. While many gaited horse owners believe that dressage will MAKE their gaited horse trot. Others believe that teaching their gaited horse to trot on cue will ruin their horse's natural gait.I challenge these notions and here's why...Dressage improves the quality of natural movement in a horse whether it trots or has a smooth four-beat gait.Dressage is a French term for training the horse and rider. Whether a horse is ridden in an english or western saddle; whether the horse trots or gaits, it doesn't matter. Dressage brings about the best natural movement whether the horse walks, trots, flat walks, fox trots, or canters.Why? When a rider grows in knowledge, awareness, and application of a balanced riding position with the horse's center of gravity and applies effective use and timing of leg, rein, seat, and weight aids to communicate with the horse, dressage improves relaxation, balance, rhythm, connection, harmony, engagement, straightness, and collection. These elements improve the quality of movement and the full range of motion. For the naturally gaited horse, this means, smoother gaits, deeper strides, and a sounder horse for longer.Enjoy the journey!
Dressage Exercises for the Gaited Horse

Leg Yield for the Gaited Horse

Video: Leg Yield at a Walk

Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse performing the leg yield at a walk.

The leg yield is a great exercise for pacey gaited horses. The diagonal footfall of the leg yield break ups the lateral sequence of the pace for smooth gait. 

Leg yield along the fence
A great way to introduce the leg yield is along the fence or wall of the arena.

In 1988, I was riding an off-the-track thoroughbred who knew nothing about dressage. Same as me. It was my first dressage lesson. Green rider, green horse is not usually the best combination. At least I was committed to regular dressage lessons.

Anyhow, during this first dressage lesson is when I was introduced to the leg yield. It is a great introductory exercise for horses and riders. It teaches the use and timing of the rein, leg, and seat aids of the rider to direct the horse in a forward, slightly angled direction in a rather straight position. For a green horse, it is an introduction to what the rider aids mean.

Introducing the leg yield along the fence

The leg yield is not a sideways movement, but a forward angled movement. A great way to introduce the leg yield is along the fence or wall of the arena at a slow walk. In a leg yield, the horse moves away from the leg cue and steps its hind leg under its belly towards the opposite front leg. Once the horse understands moving away from the rider’s lower leg alongside the fence, the leg yield can be introduced from the quarter line to the fence.

Rider cues to leg yield

  1. Start by positioning the horse along the quarter line between your rein, seat and leg aids; encourage the horse to walk straight a few steps
  2. Then apply and release the lower leg along the girth just as the horse’s hind leg is about to step forward. The timing of the rider’s leg cue is important to urge the horse’s hind leg to step forward under the belly toward the opposite forefoot.
  3. Since horses tend to over bend the neck or lead with their shoulders as they learn the leg yield. Help the horse remain fairly straight from the bridle, shoulders and hips. Maintain contact with the outside rein to keep the head, neck and shoulder straight. If the horse gets stiff in the jaw, use your inside fingers and massage the rein to encourage a soft contact.

After the horse understands leg yield at a walk along the fence and from the quarter line to the fence with relaxation, rhythm, and balance, then introduce leg yield at a flat walk. Begin with a couple steps of leg yield at a flat walk and then proceed in a straight line. Increase the number of leg yield steps until the horse is able to travel gradually from the quarter line to the fence (or arena wall).

Video: Leg Yield at a Flat Walk

Naturally Gaited Tennessee Walking Horse performing the leg yield at a flat walk.

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