Can the shape of your legs effect your riding ability?

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Carolina24

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Strange question I know but last night I was having my lesson on my horse with two other ladies riding aswell. My instructor keeps picking me up on the fact that I have my toes pointing out not in towards the horses girth, no matter how hard I try when I put my heels down my toes don't go in. The other two ladies who we're riding have been doing it for years whereas I'm 28 and have only been riding since April. when we got off the horses we noticed that there legs when stood straight bow out slightly at the knees whereas mine do the opposite and touch slightly at the knees when my feet are together. I walk fine and straight but I wondered what peoples thoughts are on this and if anyone else has noticed ther leg shape and if it effects there riding? My legs are killing today as I was made to ride most the lesson without stirrups to stretch them but I am concerned that my legs aren't gripping my horse because of this....
 
When you have ridden for a long time, you will naturally have a looser leg and will be more able to wrap your leg around the horse. Lots of "older" riders will have ridden their ponies bareback, which gives you a more relaxed feel for the horse. Starting to ride from scratch as an adult is always difficult.

Your problem is due to inexperience, not because you have odd shaped legs. I'd probably think of a different trainer because it's not meant to be torture.
 
Hmm I hope your right ! It's really weird everyone who rides now I've started analysising it seem to have knees that don't touch, I'm just odd or maybe in a minority...
I'm trying to do extra stretches and lunges etc to help my legs but there in so much pain from trying to get my technique right:mad:
 
It is true that different horse shapes and different leg lengths can make you feel better or worse, but I knew a really short, REALLY fat lady who competed at Advanced, very successfully, her legs were a less than perfect length and shape for riding.
 
I also had a prob with pokey toes! I have seen a chiro and have found tightness and twisting in my pelvis which I have had treatment for and exercises to loosen the muscles in this area - bingo, happy feet! I have also had the same prob prev with saddles that don't suit me. Try as I might it was simply not possible for me to make a shape with my leg in some saddles that would be considered 'correct'. Worth checking both out.

For some reason also the phrase 'heels down' in my head seems to be computed to 'stick toes out'. Your heals don't actually need to be down, they just need to be not up, if that makes sense! Try to sit on your horse next time and just relax your legs by his side - ignore ideas of right/wrong. Have a peer over and see what your feet are doing while they just hang there, and if your toes are poking then just try to gently turn your toe in (very hard to do if you are holding tension in your hips/thigh/knee) and let it rest there. If you do bring your heels up, then have a fiddle with the length of your stirrup leathers. A hole shorter might really help while you get a feel for what to aim for.

Def don't cause yourself pain from it, but stretches will prob help loads and the old 'easier said than done' advice - just relax!! (Have to admit I prob wouldn't be all that chuffed with an instructor pointing out errors I'm trying hard to correct, rather than trying different exercises to help with it!)
 
I have come to the conclusion that I'm not built to ride at all! I am 5ft4 with short, stumpy legs so I never look elegant on a horse and given my horse is a 17hh IDx, I'm also not particularly effective...!

I am incredibly envious of tall DR riders with lovely long legs who ride effortlessly!
 
Yes and no. Your conformation...like a horse, will affect the way you ride. But your job as a rider is to know your conformation faults and work to correct them, or find a work around.

I have a proportionally longer thigh compared to my lower leg which means it's too easy for me to sit in a chair seat, so I've worked bloody hard to make sure my hip heel alignment is good. Not saying it's perfect, but it's better than it should be, considering my conformation, and I'm constantly awRe of it so always work on it.
 
I hope not ! There's no hope for me if it does :D

Its just practice. See if your instructor can teach you some stretchs to open up your hips.
Ive found doing pilates has helped my riding.
Kx
 
When I stand straight my knees touch and I have no problem wrapping my leggs around the horse or keeping my toes from pointing outwards. However, I have noticed that some riders do poke their feet out even when they have been riding for many years.
 
I wish there was a leg extension operation as I would have one. Trying to wrap my little legs (I'm 5ft5) round a large 17.2 warmblood is hard bladdy work!
 
I'm K legged with a long thigh and little short calves so that's my reason for not being able to use inner leg very well.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! :D
 
You can do a little to help by lifting you leg up and out to the side, then grab your thigh and and pull it out then put your leg down. This should loosen up your thighs and let your legs "drape" down beside your horse. Do it a few times in your lesson as you will tense up while riding.
 
There is an excellent book by Lesley Bayley called The Less than perfect Rider, which has a section on how your shape affects your riding. Made me feel better about my crap riding, its not my fault, its the way Im built !
 
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