Leg yields and bend to encourage inside hind to step under and push

Once the exercise flows well at the walk, you can ride it at the trot. During the leg yield on the diagonal from K to X the horse is bent against the direction of travel. The left hind leg is brought more under the body and the weight is transferred to the right hind leg. I would sit with my own weight in the direction of travel to be able to flex the outside hind leg more effectively with the weight of the horse and rider. The deeper the flexion of the outside hind leg, the more uphill the horse will canter. The weight distribution towards the right side of the body can be enhanced through a stirrup stepping sequence of right front - right rear - right rear, i.e. you apply a slight pressure with your toes into the right stirrup when the right front leg is on the ground, then again during the next two strides when the right hind leg is on the ground. The stepping can be supported by half halts on one of the reins. You can find a detailed discussion of stirrup stepping as a weight aid in my book “Dressage Principles Based On Biomechanics”. You can ride the leg yield on a shallower diagonal, arriving on the center line sometime after X, which makes the exercise easier for the horse without compromising its effectiveness.As soon as the leg yield ends, you apply two half halts to the outside hind leg and ask for the canter depart. The sidestepping as well as the half halts flex the outside hind leg, creating a posture in which it is easy for the horse to transition into the canter. Since the distance between X and E is only 10m, the horse will be motivated to canter uphill because in a flat, fastdownhill canter he wouldn’t be able to make the turn in the available space.During the walk and trot stage of the exercise (before adding the canter depart) you could add a counter shoulder-in or haunches-in along the long side after E, as you can see in the graphic. This way, both hind legs are engaged in the same exercise. This exercise is suitable also for introducing the horse to the haunches-in with the bend in the direction of travel.