Long legs on a small horse

alexomahony

alexomahony

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I have a 14.2 connie that I've posted about many a time on here - he's usually a total angel, but every so often becomes very frustrating to ride. the type that is deceptively forward, but behind the leg, spooky and backing off everything and very tricky to ride truly forward.

To set the scene, last weekend I had a clinic with Ros Canter - she was great and very firm. Sky (the connie) has had a few loading issues recently so I thought I'd outsmart him by bringing my other horse along too as a travel buddy to make sure he loaded easily for our super early set off!

This was all fine, got there in plenty of time to tack up and get ready. Asked Ros about putting my other one in a stable whilst I had my lesson which was fine (he gets stress stood in a trailer alone thinking he's missing out on something)

Well Sky went ABOSULTLY nuts, lost all rideability and warmed up terribly, constantly calling to Maldwyn (they're not normally clingy at all), slamming the breaks on at fences and basically being very distracted and naughty. When he jumped, he was lovely, but between fences, approach and the get away was just awful, unpredictable and unrideable. He wasn't trying to thrown me off, but was just completely ignoring me.

We brought Maldwyn back out just so I could get on with it, and he calmed a bit but generally lacked concentration throughout the whole session meaning we stuck to very basic fences and didn't really tackle anything or push ourselves like we normally would.

Anyway, my question to the thread is about long legs on a horse like this. See, Ros kept telling me to kick him on - this is all fine and well, but when my leg isn't against his side and hangs lower than his stomach it means, in order to kick him on, I need to bring my heel up, therefore unsecuring my leg. Sky is generally trained to my seat and calf so this isn't an issue but in this instance it was as I didn't want to unsecure my leg as by this point he was dropping shoulders and spinning, running out at fences and slamming on the breaks plus I was pretty sure that the way Sky was feeling that kicking wasn't making sod all difference to him!

My question is for all those long leggers on smaller horses - how do you get round this? I did up my stirrups one (I already ride short) for my last round and I felt it made a bit of a difference!

Photo's from clinic aren't great but:
https://www.facebook.com/alex.omahony.3/posts/10155724279366875

Can I just reiterate - it is rare that he is like this, I'd been at a BE clinic the week before and he was wonderful, jumped everything and was a general sweetheart, it was purely about Maldwyn being there, so he's never having a travel buddy for this type of thing again unless they're doing the clinic too! So my question isn't about Sky's behavious as such, but more about getting round the long leg issue!
 
You could give him a serious squeeze with your legs for the last few strides before the fence. I find it better than kicking because it doesn't disturb your seat and you don't need to use your heels. You could do the same between the fences and make use of a whip if needed.
 
I think the real key is to get him in front of the leg and have a plan on how to achieve this when he switches off, it sounds as if he drops behind you whenever things are not going his way and I am not sure your length of leg has any real bearing on the issue, other than you will struggle to give a really good kick but if he was moving in front of you would not be required in the first place.

The problem with clinics is there is no time to address a fundamental issue should it arise so I would suggest a few private lessons where you set him up to be more challenging and know there is time to work through it and find ways to get him really working with you otherwise it will be an ongoing issue that may be set off when you really need him on board.
 
shortstuff99 said:
Do you use spurs? You could try swan necked spurs as they sit higher so then you wouldn't have to bring your leg up for applying.
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Hey I don't for the mere fact that I usually don't need them at all and also, in a situation when I did want to use them I'm again, conscious of bringing my heels up. Never thought of swan necks though thanks :D x
 
be positive said:
I think the real key is to get him in front of the leg and have a plan on how to achieve this when he switches off, it sounds as if he drops behind you whenever things are not going his way and I am not sure your length of leg has any real bearing on the issue, other than you will struggle to give a really good kick but if he was moving in front of you would not be required in the first place.

The problem with clinics is there is no time to address a fundamental issue should it arise so I would suggest a few private lessons where you set him up to be more challenging and know there is time to work through it and find ways to get him really working with you otherwise it will be an ongoing issue that may be set off when you really need him on board.
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Thanks for this and I completely agree - everything I do works on keeping him carrying himself forward and being in front of the leg as he is deceptively lazy being naturally hot and forward.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, his behavior was unusual and I can only think it's because he had a travel buddy so normally he is reactive to my calves and usually very straight forward and focused on the job wherever we go.

Yeah I know what you mean about clinics and I really really hated being the one who kept bloomin' having to go again due to stopping. Luckily there was a lady also in the clinic who me and Sky have been in plenty of BE clinics with before so she vouched for me not normally being so useless - I'm sure Ros just thought I'd exaggerated my ability and was in the wrong group :(

We have private lessons as well, but I do the odd clinic just as a change and for some different feedback and also to make use of some lovely arenas and fences/courses. (I'm not competitive so don't often go out to jump round!)
 
mule said:
You could give him a serious squeeze with your legs for the last few strides before the fence. I find it better than kicking because it doesn't disturb your seat and you don't need to use your heels. You could do the same between the fences and make use of a whip if needed.
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Hey, yeah this is my usual tactic which works a dream. His behavior was unusual and I don't expect him to act the way again, so the post was more of a general question of 'how do others combat this issue' than 'I'm having this particular issue with my horse' just so that, should he act this way again, I have a few tips in the bag to work with :)

My whip is like my best friend - might not always know I have it, but it's nice to know it's always there if needed to back me up :D
 
I sometimes jump with a schooling whip (obviously at home!) so I can use it without having to move my position or hands and just a little tap helps encourage my horse forwards, could that work? I've then found he's more forward when out too
 
We all have those days! Connies can be super sensitive and with mine it's relaxation of the mind and body that sorts him out! I have an exercise or two that he finds really relaxing and encourages him to stretch, if we're out and about and he is very tense we just go off to the side somewhere, do our exercises and he comes back in a better frame of mind.

In terms of the legs - keeping the leg on doesn't necessarily need to involve heels at all, the calf is just as good, better in fact because it's application doesnt cause as much tension in the hips and thighs. IF it is the right part of the calf - ie the inside, not the back.

Obviously I can only go from your one flat pic above but your toes are sticking out because your whole leg is turned out and that makes it almost impossible to keep the lower leg on. Having a lesson or two with a seat specialist may be a good investment. I know from experience that it is a difficult thing to change :)
 
But I was always taught not to use your heal for a leg aid and still am taught that way, you shouldn't have to lift your heal you should use your inner calf on the horse for a forward leg aid, I know the heal is sharper than the calf but maybe get him more in front of your leg like BP has said it should really help you.
 
My welshie is 14.3/15hh built like a tank & I'm just shy of 5ft 11! So I totally understand where you're coming from as if I swing my heel to kick I tip forwards unsecuring my seat! I tend to do as you do riding with seat & calves, hes also responsive to voice & I ride with a dressage whip to back up my calf if he's ignoring me. I also carry it when jumping at home & hacking.
 
A lot of the male riders have this on even (comparatively) big horses- esp. slim eventers. That's what I tell myself anyway as a perpetual small horse rider!
 
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