Help with an awful leg position.

I

ilovecobs

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Hey, when i ride my legs push forwards too much, my riding instructor tells me to push them back but they still do it all the time, would shortening my stirrups a hole help? or does anybody have any tips?

thanks :) x
 
I have the same problem!

I've found putting the stirrups up a hole helps, but as I ride in a dressage saddle my knees end up off the flaps if I go too short, so it really isn't a good solution.

Really interested to see what others suggest..
 
Your upper body :)

Be careful that you're not in front of your horse's movement. By keeping your bodyweight back, you'll naturally bring your leg back underneath you to balance yourself. This in turn will help your horse to lighten in front and you'll create a nicer feel and picture overall. Looking up helps more than you might imagine!

It may help to shorten the stirrups a hole for a while, so that you're not reaching for the irons and can drop your weight through your heels more comfortably.
 
I know that the bad workman blames his tools and all, but many saddles have the stirrup bar quite far forward, which means you have to fight to get your leg back and so can't have a nice relaxed leg in the correct position. If the leather runs diagonally back when your leg is in the right place, you're on a hiding to nothing trying to keep it there.
 
The easyiest way to correct your position, is to stand up in your stirrups at walk or trot with your heel right down. then sit down, your leg will slide slightly further back when you sit, your heel remaining down but not forced and your seat should be just about right!
This worked for me, and by doing it constantly when I notice myself slipping it seems to work and I dont tend to have as many problems now xD
 
I take it that's you in your sig? Your leg position looks good there.

There are other reasons why this could be happening, but I used to do it too, and the main issue for me was that my horse was rather wide and I wasn't flexible enough through my hips and thighs to sit correctly on him. Rather than opening my hips more (I couldn't) my thighs were coming up and forward so I was sitting as though I was on a chair.

I got so used to trying to force my legs back that whenever I rode a narrower horse they would be much too far back!

A few things really helped. Working without stirrups was one. I also swallowed my pride (after a bit of sulking, though I was a teenager which may give me some excuse) and had a couple of lunge lessons. I practiced that slightly embarrassing 'jockey position, legs out and back, then into riding position' exercise that I can't remember the name of. My horse thought I was nuts. I also found some stretches and yoga exercises that aim at improving suppleness in this area.

Don't feel bad about it and try to push your legs into the right place - I found it makes things worse rather than better! Instead, if you think you are having the same issue I did, work at becoming more flexible and your leg position will improve in increments. Unfortunately there is no quick fix but it's possible :D
 
Thanks everybody for the great tips, i will certainly be using them :)

My saddle is the wintec wide and the stirrup bars are further forward than i would like, i rode a horse at my yard who has a dressage saddle a while ago and the difference was very noticeable.

And it is me in my sig and my leg position is ok in halt and walk but as soon as i trot it all goes to pot lol!

Well i have plenty to be doing in the school now :D
 
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