Groundwork
Beginner
15 min
Yielding the Hindquarters
Focus: Respect, Responsiveness, Body Control
Equipment: Halter and leadrope
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Stand at your horse's left hip, facing the hindquarters. Hold the lead rope in your left hand.
- Apply pressure to the horse's hip with your right hand or a training stick.
- The horse should step its hind end away from you, crossing the hind legs.
- Release pressure the instant the horse moves one step. Praise.
- Build to 3-4 steps of hindquarter yield, maintaining the forehand position.
- Switch sides and practice yielding the hindquarters from the right.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The horse moving forward instead of yielding sideways. Use the lead rope to block forward motion.
- Not releasing pressure quickly enough to reward the correct response.
- The horse kicking out in response to hip pressure. Start with lighter pressure and build gradually.
- The whole horse moving sideways instead of pivoting on the forehand.
Variations & Progressions
- Yield the hindquarters in a full 360-degree turn around the forehand.
- Combine with forehand yield for a side-pass from the ground.
- Use hindquarter yield as a correction: horse pushes into your space? Yield the hindquarters away.
Tip: Controlling the hindquarters controls the engine. A horse that yields its hindquarters promptly is a horse that respects your space.
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