Leg-yielding and shoulder in both have a place in individual training routines. It is prudent to evaluate each one’s merits in order to put them in their proper place, and to utilize their benefits meaningfully.
Leg yielding is an elementary exercise used mainly to teach the horse to move away from the rider’s leg pressure. Many riders and trainers feel that it supples the hindquarters. In a small measure this may be true, but it is at the expense of the knees and shoulders. It is a movement that needs to be taught on a circle. It is easy for the horse; he is not required to maintain this bend and can easily ‘fall out’. He can, in fact, perform this exercise with his weight primarily on his forehand, in effect pushing himself through the movement instead of carrying it.
Shoulder in benefits the horse in many ways. The correct execution of this movement will increase the flexion of the hind legs, thereby enabling the hindquarters to carry more weight. This, in turn, allows freer movement of the shoulders, suppling them. It increases the horse’s ability to collect and extend paces, and will help to improve the canter departs (again, because the movement develops the hindquarters and lightens the forehand).
The sustained use of leg yielding does not benefit the horse’s physical development in the way that shoulder in does, and ironically delays the proper development of strength and balance.
I believe leg yielding has become too popular, for two reasons. First, it is required in some lower level dressage tests, so too much emphasis is placed on “schooling” for this movement. Second, it is much easier to produce than shoulder in.
When these exercises are analyzed, shoulder in is clearly more beneficial, from the fundamental physical development of the horse and his eventual progress to higher levels. Leg yielding should be used minimally, with knowledge and care. It does have benefits in a careful training plan as an introductory exercise.
I encourage anyone concerned with the correct development of the sport horse to consider this important issue.
