Gripping with my knees

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lucyc

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When riding today (on a share pony) i realised i really am gripping with my knees especially when doing rising trot, so i thought i will take my stirrups away but it just made the problem worse :confused:

So my question is: do any of you wonderful people have any little excercises i can do by myself either on or off horses which will help stop my gripping with my legs?

I haven't had a lesson in a while but am hoping to go for a semi-private at a new riding school during easter and so i shall ask them for some advice as well

Chocolates and Hot drinks to anyone who can give me any advice :D
 
I find having knees and toes pointing slightly outwards helps remind me not to grip, and reaching down into the stirrup when trotting. Maybe you could try riding a hole shorter until you are warmed up.
 
Dont know if its the same legs away exercise that I have done but you lift your leg up then stretch it as far out as possible and then down almost like a circle away from the horse then swap legs. If you do it as part of your warm over and cool down time it realy helps to deepen your seat and then helps to stop gripping.
 
that one's very good, and also a phase of riding with knees right off the saddle, toes pointed out too, until it is total habit to let your weight drop into your heels and especially to rise from there rather than from your knees, will really pay off. don't worry what it looks like, let your knees sort of 'sag' off the saddle and the weight travel down to your heels. ride like that for a few months until it's easy and you don't even think about gripping with your knees, then bring knees back in lightly against the saddle.
this really works. hope it helps.
 
Legs away - one at a time, without stirrups, stretch your leg forward, out to the side, back and then relax it back into the normal position.

Also, the 'knees up' exercise - one leg at a time at first and then you could try both, bring your knee up as high as it will go (like a jockey), hold for a minute, then relax.

These exercises will help you relax, stretch your legs and deepen your seat.

Keep having a go, each time you ride, without stirrups, even just for 5 minutes. It will gradually get easier. Also, if you are able to, could you book a lunge lesson so that you can focus on yourself and tell the instructor your concerns??

Goodluck :)
 
Try when the horse is standing still to do a rising trot type motion without using your knees to help, then try and fix in your head how that feels, then try that in rising trot.

Agree legs away is a great exercise for this too, though if you are a bit wobbly long sides are best and one hand on the saddle on 1st attempt is a good plan! Don't worry if you loose your stirrups when you try it, if you are confident trying it without stirrups is better. Oh and don't be surprised if you end up with cramp in unusual places...(very nearly wrote crap..)

Disclaimer - I take no responsibility for any 'John Wayne' esc walk or inability to walk down stairs in a sensible manner the following day that results from trying this ;)

Good luck!
 
sarahann1 said:
Try when the horse is standing still to do a rising trot type motion without using your knees to help, then try and fix in your head how that feels, then try that in rising trot.

Agree legs away is a great exercise for this too, though if you are a bit wobbly long sides are best and one hand on the saddle on 1st attempt is a good plan! Don't worry if you loose your stirrups when you try it, if you are confident trying it without stirrups is better. Oh and don't be surprised if you end up with cramp in unusual places...(very nearly wrote crap..)

Disclaimer - I take no responsibility for any 'John Wayne' esc walk or inability to walk down stairs in a sensible manner the following day that results from trying this ;)

Good luck!
Click to expand...

i did lots of non stirrup at my old riding school and we did the legs away excercises i just didn't know it was called that :) i shall give it ago next time i ride :D
 
Gripping with knees usually comes with tipping forward hence a very tense back. You need to sit on your bottom. Then you need to relax, all the way from your head down to your tippy toes and trust that the more relaxed you are, the more secure you are.

Practice on the lunge and just relax. think weight down into your little toes - this will take focus away from keeping heels down which can tense you up.
 
I grip with my knees' as well but it stems from the days' when you were taught at RS to hold a penny under your knees' LOL! These are good tips that I shall use, thank you all.
 
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