help with lower leg please :)

Cobi

Cobi

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Morning everyone :)

I have recently been having trouble keeping my lower leg forward, I have the habit of bringing it back, don't know why just can't seem to stop. I have been riding 15 odd years and never done this before.

I constantly check my position and always keep heels down and knees away from saddle but still find myself being told off by various people. :(

I find it hard to grip/squeeze rather than kick so I guess this is a result of me not having much strength anymore?

I am working hard on sitting trot but need some tips as to any other exercises I can do, I am limited on the horse I loan as she's an old girl who can't do much in the school.

I am looking into pilates so hopefully that will help too.

Any tips would be great thank you :D
 
A picture would be useful, but unless you are jumping, I have always been taught that your position should be that if the horse was taken away from you you would be standing up. So if your lower leg goes back I can imagine you are tipping forward, or else you are super flexible!! Also have you been videoed and looked at yourself that was a real eye opener for me and very helpful in correcting my position.

Core strength is a must to ride well so your pilates will be good, also a decent saddle helps. Sorry no real tips without seeing your position.
 
Thanks Wren123, I havn't got a picture, would be handy but never anyone around who could take one, I don't feel as though I tip forward but must as I can't imagine being that flexible no! haha.

Will have to invite someone along to watch then thrust a camera/video in their hands! ;D
 
Sometimes it happens because you are tipping your shoulders & upper body forwards, so make sure you are sitting up straight. Either way, plenty of work with no stirrups, & bareback if possible will help. If you find yourself bringing your leg back more to use it, then instead of thinking about using your heel, think about using just your calves to squeeze.
 
I had problems with my lower leg going back when I started riding again after an accident (fractured pelvis) and I realised that I wasn't actually sitting on my bottom..... sit in the saddle, bring both legs up so that you've got your knees in front of you (hang onto the front of the saddle) and this will put you onto your seat bones, then let your legs just hang. I did lots of sitting trot without stirrups - up centre line, 10 metre circle one way, back up centre line, 10 metre circle the other way, back up centre line, other way again, etc. . Also used to do it without reins as well, so that I couldn't use my reins to balance me, but that's a bit extreme and you haven't got the physical problems I had! Am ok now, but problem wasn't helped by my saddle (wintec Isobell) which I couldn't really ride in after the accident, with the way that the stirrup bars are so far back - it tended to make me sort of kneel in the saddle..... Changing to an Albion worked wonders!
 
Thanks Littlelegs, I was quite happy to concentrate on sitting trot and was going to wean myself to taking stirrups away (not the bravest atm, not sure about completely removing the saddle!) haha but someone has now took it upon themselves to get me some leg straps?

I personally don't like the sound of it and would much rather practise other ways like been suggested here.

:confused:
 
Thanks Triskar I shall try that, I have never broken anything but did have a nasty fall a while back which did some damage to my back so perhaps its still all coming from that.

I wouldn't want to buy a new saddle as not sure on how long the loan will be for as she isnt very fit atm. :o
 
Short term till you build up your core strength / improve your seat what about using the quilibrium training strap? i ride western as i have joint disease which renders my left leg practically useless in the saddle but on the odd occasions i use the english these days i found the strap helped stop my left leg wobbling around o much. you can make your own one rather than buy the equilibrium ones just fixes the striup too the girth to lessen movement which is very helpfull for me as i tend to losse my left sttirup as can't move my leg much once am on board.
 
thanks Hawks27, I think thats what I have been ordered, I guess it will help whilst I imprve my seat, I just wanted to do it some other way.
 
Yeah its a bit of a short term cheat while you improve rather than a long term fix, all though for me its more of a safety thing as i will eventually be an RDA job which is why i've switched to the western saddle as don't need my legs so much for stability and the horn is great to hug when i need balance. new horsey is being taught neck reining and voice commands ready for when ive no use of the leg at all.
 
Old habits die hard - as they say. But what this means is that your legs have 15 years of muscle memory and it takes a long time to establish a new memory. I am having a similar problem trying to correct my position after many years of doing it wrong. Follow Tristar advice to find the correct position, then try NOT to think about your legs, but ride with your seat. Then periodically check position again. Don't let anyone force your legs into position by strapping them down - they'll just go back to the old memory when you untie them. That would be like getting a horse on the bit by tying his head down! Try to get people to say when it looks better (rather than when its wrong) so that you begin to FEEL when its right. It will take months to fully establish a new position - its not like someone starting from scratch.
Hope this helps - its working for me anyway.
 
Thanks Adina, this is the thing though, I have had lessons pretty much for the past 15 years of various disciplines with various instructors and never had this issue before, its a new habit and I don't know where its come from!

I think that I am probably making it worse as you say because I am thinking to much into it from others focusing on whats wrong.

I personally don't want to be tied down as it won't cure anything, I also worry about becoming stuck if I was to fall off. I think I will have to stand up to this person who is focusing so negatively on this and listen to my very experienced instructor!

Thanks everyone :D
 
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