Sideways or Forward? Which Way Do You Want to Ride?

“A horse that travels sideways isn’t trained…”*

Capt. Etienne Beaudant, FRANCE

So what about the fascination with “leg-yield” ?

What makes a horse clever and easy to guide?

This brief blog post is meant to accompany the 3 minute video at the end of it.

In its original, unadulterated form, this exercise (formerly called Two-Tracks by the armies of the world), is less about sideways than it is about the forward desire.  It’s like changing lanes on a highway, not about crossing legs.

The exercise sequence you’ll see in the video is simple: go straight, change lanes to a new parallel line, and continue forward on the new line. Repetition here is key, not just for mastering the ‘lane change’, but for proving the straight.  The straight part is the most important feature and the point of the whole thing. 

I don’t consider it ‘sideways’ or ‘yielding’. Instead, I displace his forehand—his body in front of the girth—to a new line. In sending him to the new forward spot – to the new line – he maintains the essential element of being “in front of my leg”—he’s automatic instant responsive, and follows his bit wholeheartedly. 

So it’s not moving away from anything.  He’s going to the new spot.

This is the reason I hate the commonly used term “leg-yield.” That implies pushing the horse sideways as if he’s avoiding or escaping pressure, which is not what’s happening (and it’s also an abhorrent idea for forward riding.) I’m riding him forward to a new line—what military riders called “Two-Track”.  Will you take the time to research this in the Saumur and Ft. Riley instructions?  It’s Section 44.   It’s what I’m riding verbatim in the video that’s here in this post.   I’m yielding nothing; I am, in fact, riding forward to a new line that’s parallel to my original line. Just as a car at speed on a highway changes lanes. When you start to get the hang of it, then think Formula One cars.  The video example is in slow motion. 

With a forehand that’s finely and properly tuned to be displaced, the result occurs without losing power. The horse remains fully engaged and ready on both sides.

The exercise makes an interesting  and unusual interplay in his joints. When it’s practiced in brief super correct doses, it’s fun and useful.

I can place him on any line and he’s always keen in his mind to carry forward on his own. This quality – that the horse is always thinking forward on his own—is the only correct way-of-going there is. Remember: “Ride your horse forward and set him straight,” are the 2 golden rules - click to hear! of riding.

So to reiterate: in this example, I initiate the lane change not by pushing with my right leg but by opening my left rein – which is always preceded by vanishing the right rein…the one ‘which does not act’. (see Saumur Section 17). He’s educated and keen so he follows the opening rein.  It leads him automatically near instantly to the new track. No force, no resistance—just an automatic response to a clear indication.

At the end of the day, these guiding principles (that most of you say you love but that you don’t actually want to conform to) are what distinguish effective, classical riding. They’re the difference between good riding and bad riding. And it’s here that every rider should ask themselves:

"Which way do you want to ride?"

For more immersion into these basic principles, visit www.BasicMilitaryRiding.com.

Here's the video demo of this exercise: