Help!!

[katie_and_toto]

My jumping and flatwork positions need serious work. Becuase I'm quite little on Toto, I can't really wrap my legs around him properly and find it really hard to keep my lower leg and feet still. When I trot, my feet jut backwards and forwards as I rise and and when I ride in general my knees aren't resting on the knee rolls, they come away as I use my legs. I do a lot of work without stirrups but this doesn't seem to help. When I jump, my lower leg slips back and my toe points down. I also tend to over fold and look down at the jump.

It doesn't matter how big or small the jump is, it always ends up the same. If I concentrate really hard on one thing, something else will go to pieces. Sorry for the really long post

Help really appreciated!

 

[YorkshireLass]

Firstly, get a good instructor! They will help you develop a good deep seat which will put your legs in the correct position.

You might also benifit from someone looking at your saddle to see if it is working against you! As you are little and the horse is big, a close contact saddle might make thehorse feel narrower. If your saddle is to big for you then you will be like a pea on a drum.

Also, get some of those straps that connect the stirrup iron to the girth.... I forget what they are called, but they encourage muscle memory in the lower leg. Muscle memory is like when you use a remote control, or type.... you finger just knows where to go to hit the right button. It works the same with a riders position. You need to train your muscles to effortlessly take the correct position. It you can't get some of the proper straps, some velcro will do! It needs to be safe so you don't get tangled if you come off. Obviously a good instructor is better, but this is something you can do yourself.

 

[katie_and_toto]

Thanks, he only just had a new saddle last year, so that can't be it. I go to PC rallies nearly every weekend to have instruction so I must just have stumpy legs

 

[muddy_grey]

I don't know how well behaved your horse is, but it might help to do some leg strengthening and movement exercises. Put your stirrups up 6 holes (es 6!) and then stand up in your stirrups first in walk. Stay up and try to do at least one cirecuit without a wobble. If you put a neckstrap on then you can grab that rather than the reins if you fall back. Once you can do it in walk they try in trot. It will help flex your ankles with the movement.
Also with your stirrups at jumping length try the same, but fold every few strides concentrating on where your legs are. Then gradually fold for longer until you can do a whole circuit in jumping position with your legs under control. This one can be done in canter too.
Try to do these every time you ride if you can.
Hope you got all that - Good Luck

 

[kerilli]

what you're doing is resting on your hands in mid-air. if you can push them forward but not rest them on the horse's neck, you'll have to keep your weight supported on your legs, so try that. try keeping your shoulders up much more, and not resting your hands down.
working without stirrups won't help. working with short stirrups, and learning your point of balance so you can float out of the saddle and stay there at trot and canter (it's much harder at walk!), with your heels and knees absorbing the motion of the horse, will work, i promise!
best of luck!

 

[bellaM]

In the one photo your stirrups are too long. When your hacking ride in a forward seat to increase your leg strength and sink that weight into your heels, also as above get a good instructor.