Lower leg moving too much in rising trot

L&B

L&B

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So, lower leg once again swinging like a clock in rising trot... As if I've gone back years in my riding :(
It was the first time back on my boy last night (after 6months of lameness) & my muscle memory has disappeared & I'm presuming 'don't die' nerves kicked in.

Could anyone advise the best/quickest ways to re-establish a tidy rising trot? I don't mind if there are exercises off the ground, or onboard - plenty of sensible horses to pay around on if not my lad :)

I believe I was putting too much weight in my stirrups to rise & gripping with my knees...
 
Try standing up in the seat in walk and trot so you can establish your position again, it also helps to stretch your calf muscles down.

I am going through a similar thing as you after having a year off, it feels like being a beginner all over again :(
 
Get your saddle checked. The fit of the saddle both to the horse and to the rider is fundamental. This problem can usualy be traced to a problem there. It mayeven be that when you were fitter you were able to compensate better and mask a pre existing problem.
 
Exactly what I was going to say even before I got to the end of your post :) Sounds like you're pushing yourself up by putting too much weight in the foot. It helps to think of the rise as the pelvis swinging forward rather than your body going "up!", so imagine the movement coming from your bum upward only, keep it small and imagine your pelvis moving towards the horse's ears and back again with a swing, rather than up and down with a push. Shoulders up and back. Remember that being relaxed doesn't mean being without 'tone' in the muscles and ligaments, especially around the hips, bum and stomach. And try to avoid arching your back too much to be straight - you want to be solidly 'tall' not weakly 'tall' by stretching up and arching your back, which again helps with being able to match the horse's trot energy by swinging forward rather than stretching up.

So easy to write from the comfort of a sofa ;) ;) It's such hard work when we've been out of it for a while!
 
Mike007 said:
Get your saddle checked. The fit of the saddle both to the horse and to the rider is fundamental. This problem can usualy be traced to a problem there. It mayeven be that when you were fitter you were able to compensate better and mask a pre existing problem.
Click to expand...

Saddle, teeth, back and physio for myself all done just a week ago :)
Horsey gets the whole hog when coming back into work ;)
 
"Think" down through your head-neck-shoulders-spine-pelvis-legs-ankles - HEELS DOWN, TOES IN!

Lower your irons at least a hole - until you are in serious "daisy bruising" territory and try that.

I didn't learn to ride PROPA like - till about 35 - was quite fit and could do a good impression of a cossack or gaucho but very little finesse - I went back to basics and spent about ten hours on the lunge like a child - at one of the best dressage establishment in the world. It nearly killed me!

However; it did instill a pretty good position viewed either from the side or front - in fact, the front view shows my ankles actually turned in and under the horse's belly ...... if I can do it - so can anyone!

I did hundreds of miles at sitting trot on my unstoppable mare and after a while developed quite pronounced "contact" muscles in my lower leg and they're still there despite not using them much in twenty years!

Good Luck.
 
Trap a glove between each leg and the horse. Dnt drop it. Works brill lol My old instructor used money notes :0 U won't move ur legs believe me
 
I currently have the exact same issue! I have a video of a show I recently went to and its hideous! My legs are going crazy!! I think its because I put to much weight down into my heels and grip with my knees like yourself as it makes me feel more secure on my sharp youngster!
 
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