By Eliza Sydnor
Head to Wall Leg Yield is a very helpful exercise for teaching your horse better coordination in crossing their hind legs. It can be done in walk, trot, and canter. It is one of the only leg yields we do where we also bend the horse quite a lot, so it can be a very good suppling exercise.
In walk and trot, I like to allow the horse to slow down and go with less power. This allows them more time to cross the hind legs and makes them really listen to your sideways-driving leg and not too much forward driving leg.
The horse travels straight down the wall, is bent to the outside, and then the outside leg of the rider pushes the haunches to the inside of the arena. The rider must be careful to stay tall in the upper body and not lean one way or the other. The horse should be bent to the outside, but the rider should not hang on either rein, but tend towards letting go now and then, so the horse can allow the neck to drop down a little.
Always straighten the horse before the corner, so that you don’t go into the corner crooked. Listen to the video for more tips on riding this in the canter.
About the Certified Instructor
Eliza Sydnor Romm is an FEI rider and trainer based in Snow Camp, NC. She is a USDF Certified Instructor Training-Fourth Level, successful competitor through Grand Prix and popular clinician. Eliza, and her assistant trainer, Kate Tackett, work with horses and riders of all levels and specialize in starting young horses under saddle. Visit www.elizasydnordressage.com for more information, find her on Facebook @ElizaSydnorDressage, and subscribe to her YouTube channel for some great instructional videos!
