good lower leg exercises whilst riding....

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truffles

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I don't like my lower leg on the flat at all, I seem to push it so far down that my feet slip out of the stirrups! I do ride short, but whenever I put my sitrrups down but then I feel quite insecure, therefore I tense up and so does she, and I can just anticipate me going out the side door (althought it hasn't happened yet *touch wood!*)

I am having lessons, but we mainly concentrate on Chloe rather than me, and getting her not rushing around corners and bending round my leg etc... but hopefully next lesson I want to concentrate on my overall position.

So tomorrow I want to get some practise in, for my lower leg especially - any ideas? Hopefully going to work without stirrups, for most of it as well.

Thanks
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Work without stirrups is probably one of the best things you can do to improve your leg position. It will encourage you to stretch your legs long and give you a stronger seat. It should also help with your balance so you feel more secure. Just be careful not to hang onto the horses mouth for support. Are you pushing your heels down too far and your feet are sliding out?

When you take your feet out of the stirrup the bottom of your stirrup should be level with your ankle bone.
 
Work without stirrups for you Miss! Try the good old, leg up, out, and down trick. Could you perhaps ride in a dressage saddle for a bit? Might encourage your leg.
 
Work without stirrups and work on the lunge is invaluable for a good position.

Whilst working without stirrups swing your leg back from the hip / thigh, take your leg OFF the horses side (clean off right from the top) and then place them back on. It will push your whole leg back into a much better position (remember...ear, hip, heel alignment). Do this repeatedly whilst riding to correct your legs as they will sneak back to a more normal position over time. Really feel like you're wrapping your leg down and around. Rotate your thighs inwards and make an effort to turn your toes in also.

(This is where it helps to have slimmer legs because the sad fact of the matter is that fat on your thigh interferes with a good leg position. Ive seen a few classical instructors actually encourage riders with less slim lined thighs to try and get hold of the fat on their inner thigh and push it towards the back when riding)

Theres nothing wrong with dropping your stirrups... but drop them just one hole for a period of time and then put them back up. If you drop them too much, you'll become unbalanced and tense; when you tense up you'll curl your lower leg back and up in attempt to "grip" which will just have the effect of making you bounce. Remember the ideal length of stirrup is to allow your leg to hand loose and then raise your toes. The stirrup should be at the point where you can raise your toes to - so its technically toes up and not heels down!
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Try and ride with the stirrups closer to your toes (so more forward than the ball of your feet). You'll find this helps you to keep the stirrups.

You could also try the lower leg symatry training that equilibra do. They're basically a safer version of the old technique of tying someone's stirrups to the girth with twine (safer as in they will break in an emergency)

Aside from that, honestly, nothing beats a lot of stirrup less lunge work Im afraid.
 
Thank you for your advice. Infact, I think I will ake my stirrups away just so I am not tempted for relief LOL.

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Are you pushing your heels down too far and your feet are sliding out?

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Yep!! Deffo ride too short, as my ankle bone really isn't even near the bottom of my stirrups LOL. Ooops!! Will be changing that then too.
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If you ride quite short, a good one i've found is to trot stood up, out of the saddle. Make sure your knee is relaxed so your weight is down the back of your calf.
This helps with balance, and to stabalise the lower leg. You could try putting your foot further into the stirrup, so it more under the ball of your foot; and remember, the heel shouldn't be so far down it's distended- the weight should be enough to keep it just below the height of the ball of the foot, but try not to think 'heels down' all the time.
My best tip for a more secure lower leg is to relax your knee; if the knee is supple and relaxed not fixed or gripping,it will instantly make your lower leg more stable.
 
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Work without stirrups for you Miss! Try the good old, leg up, out, and down trick. Could you perhaps ride in a dressage saddle for a bit? Might encourage your leg.

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Hello Hello you!! Like your new name
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Ahhh forgot about that trick LOL - revisiting my tiny tots days!!! Fraid don't have a dressage saddle, and can't really borrow one - but who says I need a saddle anyway!?!
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If you ride quite short, a good one i've found is to trot stood up, out of the saddle. Make sure your knee is relaxed so your weight is down the back of your calf.
This helps with balance, and to stabalise the lower leg. You could try putting your foot further into the stirrup, so it more under the ball of your foot; and remember, the heel shouldn't be so far down it's distended- the weight should be enough to keep it just below the height of the ball of the foot, but try not to think 'heels down' all the time.
My best tip for a more secure lower leg is to relax your knee; if the knee is supple and relaxed not fixed or gripping,it will instantly make your lower leg more stable.

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Wow, thank you, lots to think about there
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. Do I relax my knee by bringing it away from the saddle a tad?
 
Yes, keep lifting the leg away from the saddle. You don't need the knee to be in contact with the saddle all the time- you want the contact to be on your calf.
Every time I start to feel my stirrup move under my foot I tell myself 'RELAX THE KNEE'
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, it works every time, as I know I'm starting to grip with the knee.
 
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Yes, keep lifting the leg away from the saddle. You don't need the knee to be in contact with the saddle all the time- you want the contact to be on your calf.
Every time I start to feel my stirrup move under my foot I tell myself 'RELAX THE KNEE'
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, it works every time, as I know I'm starting to grip with the knee.

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Oh I see, thank you
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I will have to start putting post it notes on Chloe's mane when I'm riding, so I remember
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A dressage trainer used to have me repeatedly flick my heels out while I had no stirrups - this helps to keep your toes forwards and rotates your thigh inwards...
 
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A dressage trainer used to have me repeatedly flick my heels out while I had no stirrups - this helps to keep your toes forwards and rotates your thigh inwards...

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Thanks, think that will help alot
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I am getting rather excited now LOL, all these exercises to do
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-non stirrups gets you to relax your entire leg and to get you to stretch down, and improves your seat with lots of practise ect. i find non stirrups easier when working on a circle as it doesn't give the horse or pony a chance you motor down the long side.

-drop your stirrups, bring yor knees up to your chest, and then outwards and down. this gets your leg in the correct position and get you to stretch down.
 
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instructor at the moment got me pulling my toes up behind me almost towards my back, then slowly bringing them down again
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Oopph that must be good! I like your siggie too
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[ QUOTE ]
-non stirrups gets you to relax your entire leg and to get you to stretch down, and improves your seat with lots of practise ect. i find non stirrups easier when working on a circle as it doesn't give the horse or pony a chance you motor down the long side.

-drop your stirrups, bring yor knees up to your chest, and then outwards and down. this gets your leg in the correct position and get you to stretch down.

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PMSL, I'm going to look barking!
 
i echo the lunge idea, my lower leg used to be useless, but i then had lunge lessons on a friends very well schooled horse, and its got a bit better! (funny thing from reading your post, your horse is chloe and your login truffles, my name is chloe and i ride a pony called truffles!)
 
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