Leg problem

[Dawny]

Today i went and tried a mare for loan. She was lovely both on the ground and to ride but she is more forward going than i am used to which makes me a bit nervous and then makes her a bit nervous ( I wouldn't call her green but she definitely isn't the most experienced horse). The instructor who was taking the lesson pointed out that every stride i was giving her light kicks and that that is probably the reason she just gets faster and faster in trot no matter how much i half halt or slow my rise, and i have been told this once before but I've never noticed it myself which means i have no idea how to stop doing this. She told me to focus on keeping my leg still which i though i was but apparently i was still giving her little taps, and because she's so responsive it has a bigger effect on her than any other horses i ride. I really like her and could see it working out well but i think i need to sort this out, not just because of her but because it could cause problems once i start riding greener horses. Could you give me some advice on how to keep my legs still or how to notice i'm doing it?

 

[wren123]

Is it a habit you have got into to keep a lazy horse going wuthout realizing? Or it could be down to your inexperience with your seat not being secure enough to maintain a still leg this will improve with more lessons/experience.
I would be very wary about loaning a horse that is making you feel nervous at this stage.

 

[Dawny]

Sorry for not clarifying in the post but i wasn't nervous of the horse but rather the fact that there were other horses in the lesson and quite a few of them were green and were bucking every now and then and running off. It made me nervous to get too close to them because of this as i wouldn't want to upset their horses further. And i would say it has come from riding a couple of lazy horses recently.

 

[Makemineacob]

Why not book yourself a session on a mechanical horse? I found it invaluable when I returned to the saddle after a horrific fall as I wanted to understand my new limitations and make sure I could balance myself properly. I can highly recommend it, the one I did was only about £30 and I got a full print out of before and after once the instructor had given me some pointers on how to rectify some issues.

You would then know if it was a habit and also you would get some very good instruction whilst not having to worry about other horses whilst trying to rectify any leg issues.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

You need to ride as much as possible without stirrups, which these days probably means riding a mechanical horse or having lessons on the lunge.

 

[Shay]

Riding without stirrups helps. So does riding standing in your stirrups - which is easier to do at a riding school as they are usually unwilling to take stirrups away for insurance reasons. If your lower leg isn't still you won't be able to stand for long. When you can stand at trot all the way around a reasonable size school you have probably got a still lower leg!

The issue with the mare may not be that she is green - but that you are used to RS horses. Privately owned horses tend to be more forward. Sometimes a lot more forward! You are your own best judge of the situation but this forum is littered with posts from people who have over horsed themselves and lost confidence. Although it happens to pretty much everyone sooner or later there is no real reason to make it sooner than you have to!

 

[wren123]

Have to agree with shay, my first pony was a bit of a plod but I never had one moment of anxiety went out hacking solo and in company safely and had loads of fun. She was found privately via my instructor and then sold to another grateful family. My riding improved immeasurably simply from time in the saddle and my next pony was far more responsive and only four but we did very well together.

 

[applecart14]

Today i went and tried a mare for loan. She was lovely both on the ground and to ride but she is more forward going than i am used to which makes me a bit nervous and then makes her a bit nervous ( I wouldn't call her green but she definitely isn't the most experienced horse). The instructor who was taking the lesson pointed out that every stride i was giving her light kicks and that that is probably the reason she just gets faster and faster in trot no matter how much i half halt or slow my rise, and i have been told this once before but I've never noticed it myself which means i have no idea how to stop doing this. She told me to focus on keeping my leg still which i though i was but apparently i was still giving her little taps, and because she's so responsive it has a bigger effect on her than any other horses i ride. I really like her and could see it working out well but i think i need to sort this out, not just because of her but because it could cause problems once i start riding greener horses. Could you give me some advice on how to keep my legs still or how to notice i'm doing it?

My old instructor during lessons used to belt out the same thing all the time "MISS ANNE ON THE BIG BAY, GET THAT LOWER LEG BACK". I got so fed up of her saying it week in week out, that I stuck some velcro on the underside of my saddle and made a little suede knee roll from some suede material and cut up tights sewn inside and stuck it to the velcro on the underside of the saddle flap. A few lessons later I said "Christine, you haven't mentioned my lower leg for a while" She replied that she hadn't seen it moving for quite some time. I lifted up the saddle flap on my saddle and showed her what I had done with my DIY sewing kit and she said "MISS ANNE IF IT WORKS FOR YOU THEN THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS MY DEAR!" Bless her.

My moving lower leg is the bane of my life, it still moves now and this time of year starts to gradually wear out a little bald patch on my unclipped horses side! Its only ever on the one side so I think i must sit funny in the saddle.

I think you need to start putting more weight through your heels as this will help to keep your leg still.