Lower leg stability

sarahann1

sarahann1

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Hello, reading some tweets from riders today and one mentioned a rider who had poor lower leg stability, they were talking about a dressage rider I think.

It's got me thinking, aside from practice and a good instructor, is there anything else you can be doing to improve your lower leg stability to neaten it up?

I'm determined 2013 is going to be the year I finally ride with some sort of ability and style so any input would be great.

Thanks!
 
It would seem my lower leg is less stable when part of my back is stiff - so I've made it my resolution to sort my back out whenever my leg seems to start moving more than usual again. So I think it would probably depend on why the riders legs aren't stable?
 
I find that if I have any tension in my knee or hips then my lower leg ends up in "Michael Flatley" mode and nothing can stop them from swinging!
I've been working on trying to relax my knees and stop gripping when I feel unbalanced as it just caused more instability. With my hips I had to go the Chiro to sort them out after years of perching and tension, and now I use stretches in the saddle as part of my warm-up to 'unlock' them.
 
Definitely the comments about tension above, but even more so working without stirrups is incredibly helpful. Try for a few minutes at the end (or beginning) of your ride. In the spring I start out with just a couple of minutes each direction and then I build it up. It helps massively and I start to feel what I would describe as my leg "locked in" - by which I mean a good solid feel in the right place that doesn't move around.

You can also try shortening your stirrups to jockey length and trotting or cantering around with you bum higher then your shoulders. Have a bend in your knee, relax and allow your leg to absorb the motion. Suitable horse required!
 
A good exercise to help with lower leg stability is to trot round with fairly short stirrups (give yourself a head start and ride a little shorter than normal because this is easier with a shorter stirrup) and when you rise, rise FOR TWO BEATS, sit FOR ONE BEAT. Concentrate on keeping the leg underneath your body weight (imagine looking at you from the side you should have you lower leg underneath you so you are in balance) try to avoid gripping with your knees and just concentrate on finding your natural balance with the lower leg. This is easier on a horse with a natural good rhythm in the trot, and if you begin it on a circle. Pop a neck strap on too so you can occasionally when needed use that to balance you rather than the reins. The ultimate goal is to create a strong stable lower leg and an independent upper body, not reliant on reins (eg if you get really good you should be able to do this with 'no hands') make a note to land softly in the saddle and in control, not falling out of balance back into the seat. It's also good for core stability.

When you have mastered that in the trot you can try a similar thing with rising canter!
 
Saddle that matches rider. No one can ever achieve lower leg stability in a saddle that is wrong. sadly very few saddlers understand this.
 
From personal experience...whilst being perhaps a bit too hell bent on succeeding :D.
I found the combination of a really good instructor and a Chiro/McTimopthy etc that understands horse riding really works. It is important that the Chiro really understands the lightness that is needed to ride. And the instructor must be able to help you differentiate between riding incorrectly and not having the suppleness/mobility to achieve what is being asked for....
Has taken me a couple of years to work this out....tried a couple of chiros and a couple of instructors. Really getting there since I struck the current combination in July 2012. Riding has taken a massive jump up enabling loan of a better(but more difficult) horse. Am now just about at the limit of that pony and ready to jump up again to something that should help me get a few red ones rather than the odd yellow one.
 
I never had a problem until I broke my hip just over a year ago. After 3 months no weight baring I had very impressive muscle wastage and now have a very questionable lower leg. The rest of my riding is improving much quicker then my lower leg position/stability and the muscles that are still the most wasted are my gluteal muscles so I'm starting to think the two are connected.
 
Shortening stirrpus may help...also I find riding (walk/trot/canter) standing is really good for strenthening lower leg and really helps stability when jumping too :)
 
short enough stirrups, so often we ride too long as we are led to believe this is right. the other thins is do NOT jam your heels down, rhis will push leg forward, you then try to keep it back so end up with leg swinging, instead aim for a level toe heel position
 
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