Scales of training and the less than perfect horse

Do I think it's possible to train horses without the LY yes .
But I do use it every day it's part of my standard warm up in each pace in the stretching forward way I start mine off in.
 
Leg yield, yes I think its essential, without a very basic leg yield I dont think you can ride a good circle, and then it sets up the concept for all the lateral work that can follow it. I use leg yield in every schooling session I do on my horses (novice, psg and gp) depending on the horse it will vary as to what pace I use it in, which way etc, but I do use it pretty much every time.
 
From my background lengthing is much more important than lateral work- driven young horses and pre novice tests have lengthening but it's not until advanced that you get very basic lateral work. An element of lateral work is required to do a decent corner and they tend to have to learn to do it in multiple formations naturally too, but that is not judged as an individual element. As such that's the order I tend to go with, lengthening before basic sideways. Mine all show some understanding of the transition for (baby) lengthening from the voice on the lunge before even going near a rider or carriage. Pip bowed out of BD at elem as we simply couldn't get our minds around the more 'proper' (not SI/LY) lateral work whilst carrying on the driving, but his collection and extension were fully developed for a much higher level. I'm sure it's possible to get all the laterals and drive single but not with a green rider too!
 
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