Improving lower leg?

A

Ahrena

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I went to a cross country course to see how my relatively new loan horse likes ditches/banks ect, didn't dotoo much because of the ground but I have a derby coming up so wanted to try these things.

He was fine, as I expected as he's previously done BE..but looking at pictures, I can see I have a bit of a shocking lower leg when we do drops.
I had this point proven to me when he jumped awkwardly down into water and tipped me off the side, earning me my first ducking! I don't think its too bad with everything else, I'm normally very stickable as I've had a lot of experience with naughty ponies but with drops...I need to do some work lol!

Any advice? Here's a photo
5-10.jpg
 
I think for XC your stirrups might need to go a hole or two shorter.
Get an instructor to take you for a XC lesson, they will be able to see the problem and help you rectify it, whilst going down the drop!
D :D
 
You APPEAR to be looking down.....look up to the sky as you approach the drop and keep looking there until you land!

Ditto the shorter stirrup suggestion.....you APPEAR to have your knee tight into the saddle and your lower leg forwards but loose away from the horses side. Not sure if this is fact or just appearance from the single photo............
 
Been a long time since I rode X-country but I would say your whole seat is a bit off in this pic which is going to affect your leg. Too far back in the seat so you're throwing all your weight and balance backward which pushes your leg forward.

I'd agree with the suggestion of shortening the stirrup and getting a X-C instructor to work on it with you is a great idea also. Drops are so tricky - hitting that correct point of balance is not easy.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, will up my stirrups and get couple of lessons as soon as I can.

In my defence its been eons since I've done xc, good couple of years!
 
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