Shoulder In and Leg Yield - Tips please?

[Flicker]

Anyone got any tips for knowing when your horse is doing these properly, without having an instructor. What are you looking for / feeling for?
I want to start practising these but am not yet experienced enough to know from in the saddle whether all the legs are doing what they should be.

 

[Ezme]

I big mirror is your best option. Only real way you can connect what your legs are doing with what his is. for a shoulder in your looking for the legs to be on 3 tracks i.e. inside fore visible, outside fore inside hind together, outside hind. Although might be easier to start with shoulder fore which is shoulder in but with less angle.

Leg yeild, legs crossing nicely, ideally at the knees depending on angle of travel.

 

[trendybraincell]

Shoulder-in, essentially shoulders move in off track while hinds remain on track. You want bend right through the horses body (not just in the neck) as if you are on a circle...just going forwards! And the inside hind should come underneath the horse.

Leg-yield, ideally you increase pressure with outside leg behind the girth together with more weight on your inside hip (this encourages them to step under, almost they are are catching you from falling off the side). There is bend from the shoulder with the rest of his body straight.

That basically covers it...but only basically.

I find it very hard to know exactly what your feeling for, so an instructor, or knowledgeable friend on the ground is invaluable! We're lucky enough to have mirrors on one wall so you can see whats going on underneath you. Maybe watch someone else doing the movements, then get the to video you doing it so you can see it all for yourself.

Hope that helps

 

[carthorse]

Also , may I say get your horse really forward first then it is so much easier .Someone on the ground ,even if not horsey can tell you what they see from in front.