Flatwork / Dressage
Intermediate
25 min
Leg Yield Zigzag at the Collected Trot
Focus: Lateral Work, Responsiveness, Adjustability
Equipment: 6 cones or markers
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place cones at the quarter line and three-quarter line on both long sides to mark your targets.
- Starting on the center line at the working collected trot, leg yield to the right toward the three-quarter line.
- When you reach the three-quarter line, change the flexion and leg yield back to the left, crossing the center line to the quarter line.
- Continue zigzagging: quarter line to three-quarter line and back.
- Each leg yield segment should cover equal distance both forward and sideways.
- Focus on smooth transitions between directions. The change of flexion should happen in 2-3 straight strides.
- Complete 4-6 zigzag segments, then collected collected trot and stretch.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The segments becoming uneven — more sideways in one direction than the other.
- Not allowing enough straight strides between direction changes.
- The horse becoming tense or resistant from the constant directional changes.
- Losing forward energy as the zigzag progresses.
Variations & Progressions
- Start with just 2 direction changes (one zigzag) and build up to 6.
- Ride the zigzag on the center line instead of the quarter lines for more room.
- Progress to half-pass zigzag at the collected trot for upper-level work.
Tip: Quality over quantity. Two clean direction changes are better than six sloppy ones.
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