Denni

Hey Kevin, Loved the videos thank you very much. You are right, the leg yielding looks easy when they are doing it... but the rider also needs to know the rein and leg technique. I need to do more ground work with respect to moving the hind legs too. She knows how to side pass but I think I get her confused sometimes and so she just starts backing up. I don't have the rein and leg pressure down yet. She's had good training but is a little rusty along with a rider that was never taught how to use these techniques. This time around has been a real learning experience for me. I'm taking in and learning all that I can. Back in the day, I just got on and rode.... my dad fed etc... I was just having fun. Now I'm actually being an active horse owner and trying to learn the proper way to ride, train and ride trail. Again, I appreciate you taking the time to help explain these techniques. I look forward to reading your posts and learning more everyday.

Leg yielding is when you move the horses front or hind legs to the side using pressure. Two tracking is riding the horse with a bend in it's body so that the hindlegs aren't following directly behind the front legs making two sets of tracks. Both of these manuevers take a little more effort and concentration on the horses part.



These videos should make it clear as mud!!

As far as the laying down thing. You have to watch some horses when they get in the sand. If you yield the hindqaurters then he likely won't lay down and that will give you some time to get his mind off of laying down. If he does manage to lay down on you again I'd get off and make him think I was going to beat him to death. I wouldn't hesitate to kick him in the ribs or the butt or even smack him upside the head. It's too easy to get hurt when a horse lays down on you like that to put up with it.

I never like to get off a horse when they are misbehaving if I can stay on safely. If the problem starts when I'm in the saddle I'll probably have to solve it in the saddle. Both of your problems can be helped by getting control of your horses hindquarters. When your horse starts to dink around keep those hindqaurters yielding to one side or the other as you continue to walk down the trail. Do some two tracking and leg-yielding to get his mind back on you. As soon as he's focused back on you then you can let him walk out until he starts dinking off again. The same will help your girlfriends horse. Just remember you're not punishing your horse your just moving his body around and getting him back to thinking about you.