Exercises to improve fitness and position whilst not be able to ride?

[nemo_]

So due to the snow, I'm not able to ride and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Anway, regardless of the snow, I would really like to improve my riding position, my worst habit is probably my sticky-out toes! And after a year of being taught to grip with my knees, I really need to undo this. As a result of gripping with my knees, when I go over a fence my lower leg swings back and my toes stick out and I hate it, and I don't feel very secure! However my instructor said on the flat my lower leg position is very secure.
So do you know of any exercises I can do to improve the sticky-out toes and lower leg?
Also any suggestions as to exercises (preferably that I can do inside ) I can do to improve my fitness?
Thanks very much

 

[stencilface]

I know some people go for lessons on mechanical horses to improve their riding without having to deal with a horse. That would be riding that you can do in the snow

I have never been on a mechanical horse, but I know other on here have

Other than that, I would say squats, and yoga/pilates stretching exercises. Go and buy a health and fitness magazine, they are good for different exercises for toning etc.

Could you shorten your stirrups to sort the problem of youe legs going back? My legs always seem to shoot off forwarfds recently, and I have no idea why

 

[tacallor]

I would suggest an exercise ball for all round balance, and core muscle toning etc.
And for the toes thing, i had the same problem, what helped alot for me was investing in a 'wobble cushion' its basically like a flat exercise ball that you blow up and then you stand on it and try to maintain balance and from what i can remember they're not too expensive. I got told to use it because of problems i was having with strength in my knees/ankles and it really improved my toe position, which was a surprising added bonus!
Another thing you could do to strengthen your ankles is simple ballet exercises, just sitting and flexing and pointing your toes is a really easy one!

 

[Kokopelli]

Sit ups! They improve the core so your stronger in your postion. Start off doing 5 normal ones then do 2 twists to the left and 2 to the right. Build this up and obviously if this feels too easy do more

 

[nemo_]

Could you shorten your stirrups to sort the problem of your legs going back? My legs always seem to shoot off forwarfds recently, and I have no idea why

My stirrups are already really short and it got to the point my feet were barely past the bottom of the saddle so they had to go down a little bit...