Warming Up at the Walk, Leg Yield Left to Half Pass Left

Counter Pattern, Leg Yield (head to wall) Left to Half Pass (head to wall) Left.

From your 10m circle near K on the left rein go large and as you go around the blue cone in the corner by F – change the bend to the right and continue down the longside in a shoulder out / leg yield / head to wall like position.

Remember, try to maintain a 30-35 degree angle, 45 is too much and less than 30 degrees really doesn’t do anything constructive.

Warming up walk part 1 – Leg Yield Left to Half Pass Left 2

At B change the bend to the left and continue in a haunches in / half pass head to wall like position. Since we are changing the bend, we are also swapping our inside and outside aids. The old inside leg (right) stays in position behind the girth. The new inside leg (left) moves forward towards the girth. Our seat should also change with the new inside seat (left) advancing and becoming deeper. Softly change the rein as well so that the right rein becomes the outside rein and the left, the inside rein.

Again, try not to get the angle too deep, think more like a shallow bend of the horse, make it easy for the horse to do.

Leg Yield Left to Half Pass Left, from the centerline back to the track.

Now do a 10m half circle and turn up the centerline, straighten for a stride or two. Change the bend, bend slightly right and ask for leg yield left staying parallel to the longside. About half way back to the track, try counterbending a little and change your seat and leg aids to half pass right. Try and get all the way back to the track at the letter F.

Once back to the track straighten and ride a 10m circle in the blue cone corner by F.

If you are able to complete this exercise on both reins then it is time to move on to the next stage, “Leg Yield In, Half Pass Back” exercise.

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