How do I stop myself from gripping with my legs when riding?

[HashRouge]

I had my second lesson today for the first time in ages and my instructor was trying to help me sort out a few issues that are long term bad habits of mine. Firstly I lean forwards, but with his constantly nagging me I eventually started sitting back on my seat bones and found the "go" button on the horse I was riding! The second problem I found much harder. I tend to grip with my legs rather than letting them hang long and relaxed, and when I need to use my legs I end up drawing them upwards (I don't know if that makes sense?). I tried desperately to let them relax but I was really struggling! Does anyone have any tips? My pony was very obliging once I stopped tipping forwards and positively bounced around the arena in a lovely elevated canter despite the 30 degrees heat, but I think that not being able to relax my legs was really hindering me from using my seat bones properly. Unfortunately we had to stop the lesson early because I was struggling with the heat so I didn't manage to achieve the correct leg position and I'm really frustrated with myself!

 

[AprilBlossom]

No advice as I do the same thing so interested to see responses...but WHERE THE CRAP in London did you find 30 degree heat?! I need to get myself there pronto lol

 

[Ranyhyn]

Someone once told me to turn my toes out more to help correct it hope that helps a bit.

 

[hobnob]

I do this with my legs, particularly if Im on a horse I don't know. I end up drawing my legs up and loosing one or both stirrups. If I don't focus on my riding I'm better - does that make any sense? I find I just need to relax and not focus so hard on what im doing, but that's just me!

I hope you get your answer and I will keep an eye on this for tips!!

 

[EAST KENT]

Grip with your knees ,mate,it sticks you on like a leech.Turn your toes inward,that lifts your lower leg away from the horse. That`s all old fashioned stuff of course,but it works.

 

[pansy]

Have you thought about doing no stirrup work ? I know it helped me - you may just end up gripping tighter with your legs though- but it's worth a try !!!

 

[HashRouge]

I think no stirrup work is probably a good idea, though it might kill me after so long out of the saddle . I don't know if gripping with my knees would help because I can't work out if I already do this, but I'll have a go next time I'm on board. Thanks for the suggestions, any more are welcome

AprilBlossom - I need to edit my location. I'm living in Lisbon at the moment (I'm a language student normally based in London, but currently on my year abroad). Today was the hottest day of the year so far, too much for riding in really!

 

[spotty_pony]

Ride bareback! This will soon solve the problem!

 

[holzrokz]

this is my biggest problem! Seems to get worse the more i worry about doing it and its terrible when jumping! Any advice appreciated here to

 

[La Fiaba]

Lots of no stirrup work will work wonders and think of turning out your knee and your toes forward so you've got 'bandy legs'. Don't grip with your knee as this makes your lower leg unsecure.

 

[AprilBlossom]

Ooh lovely, enjoy it whilst you're out there! I'd second the bareback, I do try and do a bit of bareback when I can as used to ride my old mare bareback all the time and seat and legs were about ten times better than they are now! But she was as flat and wide backed as a table...my current chap is high withered and much narrower - does not make for a fun or comfortable experience!

 

[dafthoss]

I have the same problem on lazy horses as I am putting so much leg on that I cant relax my legs try a more forward horse that dosent like gripping as it makes you very aware and your not constantly trying to keep the horse moving. Spurs also had the same effect as I was so consious of not jabbing him when I didnt want to that I kept my legs perfectly still.

 

[skewby]

Where are you gripping? I was a beggar for years for gripping with my inner thigh/groin, I had to constantly do a mental inventory when I felt my horse telling me "you've let something get tight I can't go forward", it was always the muscles right up high near your girly bits (ahem sorry but couldn't think how else to put it) that was wrong for me. I worked and worked at letting them go, then found my sway back was tense, put that neutral and then we were away. Also try and think of a big load of gel/gloop in your lower abdomen, that's where the weight needs to be, once you have that it will blob you to the saddle and make you in with the horse, great feeling, and your legs just hang and your lower leg is against the horse and usable. Keep at it chick only took me about 8 years lol xxx

 

[HashRouge]

It's funny, I can't quite work out where I grip! I think I need to get back on the horse and see! Turning my knees and toes forwards automatically sounds like something that would help me. I think I tend to turn my toes and knees out, so maybe that will help me grip less. I think I must be gripping with my thighs and knees. Working without stirrups should definitely be feasible but I don't think I'd want to ride bareback even if they'd let me as I have to ride without a hat. I haven't got mine with me and when I asked about borrowing one the teacher was like "Mas já és maior, não és?" (But you're an adult, aren't you?)

 

[Vixen Van Debz]

Yip, I second the notion to lots of riding without stirrups. You really need to keep your leg long and relaxed and your heel down. I don’t grip with my knees, but do sometimes generally tense up in my legs and lower back. I’ve found (through sitting trot in particular) that thinking about relaxing my buttocks actually helps me to generally ‘detense’ This has certainly been helpful when going back to work without stirrups too!

 

[Elbie]

I have quite an insecure lower leg and have just been told by my instructor that I grip with my knees. Also, when I first started uni, I had just been riding a TB that needed no leg and I used to ride very short. When I started lessons at uni I couldn't ride anything! Here's some tips that really helped me:

1) Ride without stirrups. Yes it is horrible but it will do wonders and will quickly stop you drawing your legs up! At uni, they used to make me ride the whole half hour lesson without stirrups. Doing that twice a week for a month really helped. Pop both feet out the stirrups and while holding onto the front of the saddle draw your bottom forward. Relax your legs down and you should be able to feel you're sitting on your seat bones. Close your eyes and make sure you feel like your sitting evenly. Whenever you feel unbalanced, close your eyes and make sure you feel the weight evenly on each bum bone.

2) Whether you have your feet in out out the stirrups, push down with your little toe. This helps point your toes forwards!

3) DON'T grip/pinch with your knees. I'm not saying you should ride around with daylight flapping between them - keep them close to the saddle but relaxed.

4) As well as riding without stirrups, try riding in a 2-point position in walk, trot and canter. Try and aim for 2 circuits of the school in each pace, on each side. This is a good exercise as you can also do it while hacking. Go into a hovering jumping position and close your calves around the horse. Stay out of the saddle using your lower leg, not by gripping with your knees. Enrol the help of a friend to (GENTLY!) tip you forward and back while your gripping with knee and without. You'll see how easy it is to keep a better position when its all in the lower leg.

Hope that helps!

And now...back to work!