Help me with my leg dilemma!

[Celestica]

I do not own a horse so this is something I will have to tackle once per week on a different horse each time.

Recently i've noticed while riding my lower leg moves a lot especially in trot, why is this and how can I fix it!?
In jumping my leg sometimes swings back like this https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297868_277441188940081_100000226069918_1379209_4572251_n.jpg
And another problem I find is, when jumping a course I constantly lose my footing in the stirrups so they go all crazy like this: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.ne...8940076_100000226069918_1379210_1514796_n.jpg

I know this is due to not putting my weight down into my heels but as much as I try I just can't seem to put enough weight down even though my stirrups are short?

Please help me, concurring this will improve my riding loads!

 

[Herts05]

Have you tried lunge lessons to help you with your position?

 

[Celestica]

Have you tried lunge lessons to help you with your position?

yes, I'm going to try get another one by the end of the month as last time it helped a lot but I feel like I've gone back to square 1

 

[be positive]

When you jump you are going too far forward and standing up rather than folding from the waist this then causes your leg to swing back and you will then be out of balance.
Try and do some work in 2 point position, this will help you stabilise your lower leg and make you more secure. Rising trot where you rise for two then sit one rise three sit one is good, just keep adding until you can do a circuit without losing your balance and resting on the horses neck, its very hard work though
Lunge lessons are helpful but if only riding once a week may not be enough to just have the odd one and you will be missing the fun things that you can do in your normal lessons.

 

[cheeryplatypus]

I used to do this too and got quite upset after watching it back on video. I managed to cure it almost completely in one session, it occasionally creeps back but not the same.
What I did was shorten my stirrups a little and then imagine that I only had legs as far as my knees. In order to do this you have to have your upper leg on, this is something which isn't taught well IMO. To do this I kind of turn my upper legs in a bit (think like you are kneeling with your legs out to the side of you, this lets you get the thigh on properly. Forget the heels down or weight in stirrups, that will happen. Just let your upper leg relax down onto the horse properly and rise from the knee more than the lower leg. There should be a little space between your lower leg (unless your giving an aid) and the pony but the upper leg (down to knee) should remain on.

For jumping I tell myself to push my lower leg forward and it ends up in about the right position...my friend just stood and yelled 'leg, leg, leg' as I went over the same cross pole until it was right. You can ask your instructor for help with this or just think it to yourself.

 

[traceyann]

I use to tie my stirrups with bailing twine to my girth to keep my leg still only with my cob as finding useing to much leg to far back. Not a very safe method but worked for me.