Dressage saddle problem.

[Christmas Magic]

Hi everyone,and a bit of advice please. I've got lovely Jeffries Falcon saddle,had it for 6 month now. Trouble is,when i ride long,with leg in the correct(ish) position and knees just by side of the saddle(hope you know what i mean),it really hard to keep heel down and on rising trot im more like on my toes.But sitting trot fine with this length. If i put stirrups a couple of holes up,then my heels nicely down on rising trot,but really bouncing around when trying to do some sitting trot,and my knee slightly coming out of the saddle edge(hope you'll understand what i mean). I've got quite long legs too. So is it me so hopeless,or is it maybe wrong saddle for me? All thoughts welcome. Thanks.

 

[Christmas Magic]

Anyone?

 

[Bethie]

You've most likely got tight hip flexors that are stopping you from letting your leg drop down and round the horse. Ride shorter than you are aiming for while you work on your hips. When you say that you feel you are able to keep them in sitting trot check that you aren't bracing your back muscles and tilting your pelvis forward in order to force your leg down.

Taking up pilates would be very beneficial to you (as in, to start with at least, in a class with an instructor who can make sure you get the correct positions). Have a look at http://www.back2backltd.co.uk/Articles.html, download this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zen-Horseba...?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332263750&sr=1-1, and google/look at you tube for hip flexor exercises.

Eyes on the ground in the form of a good instructor are also invaluable.