Around the Octagon

The leg-yield is essentially no bend suppling exercise.
It makes the horse loose and free in its lateral and longitudinal movement and provides the basis for future lateral work. Leg-yielding teaches the horse to be more responsive to the rider’s leg aids, and helps to develop the rider’s ‘feel’ and coordination.
In the leg yield, the horse is looking away from the direction of travel, with the spine straight, the inner nostril and eye just visible, and the inner legs crossing in front of the outer legs. The leg-yield is a lateral movement in which a horse travels both forward and sideways at the same time.