Does a certain phase help your position more than another.

~Howrse~Mad~

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I'm still yet undecided what to do after i have had my schooling lessons of the basics, however eager that i am, i am going to make sure the basics are decent before i rush into anything else, so i may continue with schooling after, begin dressage or jumping...But after the basics i proper want to focus on my position i just feel it isn't right, my leg position especially is never underneath me, i either want a lovely more forward leg position like this (below) or a more underneath you leg position like this (above), so does it matter which phase i choose to pick, will any or all help me with my position, one more so than the other? Or does it just come in time.


sitting-trot-255.jpg
Applied-Posture-Riding-Photos-Floor-and-riding-145.jpg

http://images6.alphacoders.com/345/345446.jpg
sorry for photooverload haha :D
 
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It comes with a good instructor and a pupil who is capable of following that instruction.

Your top picture is not of a position I would aspire to.
 
I thought i would upload a couple of photos of different leg positions obviously everyone has different tastes, i think all are good, people will find pros and cons to each, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, thank you for sharings yours, it's good to get people's opinion.
 
I wouldn't say the top photo is horrific, but the rider is tipping forward by about 15 degrees.
The second one seems to be someone trying to go into their forward position in a dressage saddle.
The third looks like she is asking him to move over- I would be a bit worried if that was her normal leg position!

Ideally, you want to be able to draw a straight line going from your shoulder to hip to ankle. Like this http://www.artofriding.com/images/classic-seatok.gif
You'll see riders on cross country with their leg further forward (here's Zara Phillips http://www.localriding.com/image-files/zara-phillips-2.jpg) as it's more secure for that phase.

As Jemima said, it comes with an instructor- telling you over and over and over again! Having stirrups the right length will help- if they are too long, your leg will swing around.
 
It's not really about different tastes, it's what's correct for what you are intending to do. As a good basis though it should appear when you are mounted that if your horse suddenly disappeared you would be in balance on the ground. Certainly the rider in the top picture would not be standing!

In your case instead of putting up pictures you admire why not put up pictures of yourself and then the experienced people on here can give you some idea of what's going wrong and what to do to correct it.
 
Yeah i though all had a good leg position, probably better than mine, it's hard to find photos on google, as i see loads on fb then when i come to right a post i can ever find them, and if i do you need to ask permission first which takes more time, so i find finding photos on google less time consuming. I knew there had to be a straight line from your ear, to your hip, through to the ankle. And one from the elbow, to the rein, to the bit. I do have tuition and have only more a less just started having lessons again. But my teacher is helping me lots.
 
Yeah it does depend what phase your doing, i have heard that if your horse was taken away from underneath you should be stood balanced like you said, i dont have any schooling really, but will try take some :).
 
try standing up in your stirrups in your warm up, so walk/trot/canter standing up at the beginning of your lesson/schooling session- at first it might be hard to balance but after a few tries you should be able to stand up the whole time while also keeping your leg on. also stand up on hacks too :)
 
try standing up in your stirrups in your warm up, so walk/trot/canter standing up at the beginning of your lesson/schooling session- at first it might be hard to balance but after a few tries you should be able to stand up the whole time while also keeping your leg on. also stand up on hacks too :)

This, BUT please do not use the reins to keep you in place! In fact if at all possible ride without reins, also plenty of work without stirrups.
 
Yeah i though all had a good leg position, probably better than mine, it's hard to find photos on google, as i see loads on fb then when i come to right a post i can ever find them, and if i do you need to ask permission first which takes more time, so i find finding photos on google less time consuming. I knew there had to be a straight line from your ear, to your hip, through to the ankle. And one from the elbow, to the rein, to the bit. I do have tuition and have only more a less just started having lessons again. But my teacher is helping me lots.

I think you need to stick to the basics for a while longer.
 
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