by Trainer Tuesday: What is a Basic Exercise That You Think Every Showing Rider and Horse Should Be Able To Do?
As a showing rider, there are certain basic exercises that every rider and horse should be able to do in order to excel in the show ring. These exercises not only help improve the overall performance and athleticism of the horse, but also help the rider to develop better balance, coordination, and communication with their mount. In this article, we will discuss one basic exercise that every showing rider and horse should be able to do – the leg yield.
The leg yield is a fundamental exercise in dressage that helps improve the horse’s lateral movement, balance, and flexibility. It involves the horse moving diagonally across the arena, with his body slightly bent away from the direction of travel. The rider uses his or her legs and seat aids to ask the horse to move laterally, while maintaining impulsion and straightness. The leg yield is a valuable exercise for showing riders, as it helps to improve the horse’s overall suppleness, balance, and responsiveness to the rider’s aids.
One of the main reasons why the leg yield is such a valuable exercise for showing riders is because it helps to improve the horse’s overall athleticism and movement. When a horse is able to perform a leg yield correctly, it demonstrates that the horse is supple and flexible enough to move laterally, while maintaining impulsion and balance. This is essential in the show ring, where the horse is required to perform a variety of different movements and transitions with precision and control. By developing the horse’s ability to perform a leg yield, a showing rider can ensure that their horse is better prepared for the physical demands of the show ring, and is able to perform at its best.
In addition to improving the horse’s overall athleticism, the leg yield also helps to improve the rider’s balance, coordination, and communication with the horse. In order to perform a leg yield correctly, the rider must use their legs and seat aids effectively to ask the horse to move laterally, while maintaining impulsion and straightness. This requires the rider to have good balance and coordination, as well as a strong understanding of how to communicate with their horse using their aids. By practicing the leg yield, a showing rider can improve their overall riding skills and become a more effective and confident rider in the show ring.
Another benefit of the leg yield is that it helps to improve the horse’s overall responsiveness to the rider’s aids. When a horse is able to perform a leg yield correctly, it demonstrates that the horse is listening to the rider’s aids and responding in a timely and obedient manner. This is crucial in the show ring, where the horse must be responsive to the rider’s aids in order to perform the required movements and transitions with precision and control. By developing the horse’s ability to perform a leg yield, a showing rider can ensure that their horse is better prepared to respond to their aids in the show ring, and can perform at its best.
Overall, the leg yield is a fundamental exercise that every showing rider and horse should be able to do. It helps to improve the horse’s overall athleticism, balance, and responsiveness to the rider’s aids, while also helping the rider to develop better balance, coordination, and communication with their mount. By practicing the leg yield, a showing rider can ensure that their horse is better prepared for the physical demands of the show ring, and can perform at its best. The leg yield is an exercise that every showing rider and horse should strive to master, as it is essential for success in the show ring.
