Yielding to outside leg aides - turn on the haunches on a square

This exercise is designed to help supple your young horse to your leg and work on yielding. It is helpful to do after a brief warmup before working on leg yields or other lateral work. I do this especially with my less reactive horse who needs to get a bit more "snappy" in her responsiveness to my leg. Create a square in your arena (mentally). 1. Trot in straight line maintaining forward and consistent rhythm. Walk a couple of steps 2. The first time you do this exercise, stop and do a turn on the haunches. After the horse understands the concept do NOT stop, and maintain some forward movement in the turn on the haunches (think pirouette). Turn 90 degrees to go straight toward the other side. Focus on using your legs, NOT your reins to get the turn on the haunches. Your hips and shoulders should point where you want to go, and outside rein helps keep horse from just turning his whole body. 3. Walk a couple of steps and transition to trot. Do the same thing at the next corner. 4. Every now and then do a full 180 to change directions or yield the other direction.