lower leg swinging back when jumping

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myprincess

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please help when jumping my lower leg swings back sometimes causing me to lose my balance, I also drop my reins, I have a jumping saddle would cranking my stirrups up a few more holes help? !! Any tips greatly received, also recommendations for stirrups as I don't think my cheap crappy irons help the matter thanks in advance.
 
Lifting your stirrups may help. Do you have lessons? If so what does your trainer say?

I'd be tempted t lift the stirrups a couple of holes and do lots of cantering in 2-point position to help strengthen your leg and make it more stable.
 
GinaGeo said:
Lifting your stirrups may help. Do you have lessons? If so what does your trainer say?

I'd be tempted t lift the stirrups a couple of holes and do lots of cantering in 2-point position to help strengthen your leg and make it more stable.
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This !! :)
 
Legs are rarely the problem here, with the hand issue too you will almost certainly find that you are tipping forwards with your upper body and being what is called 'in front of the movement.'
This makes your lower leg slip back in an unconscious attempt to balance yourself.

Sit up correctly and your lower leg will be unable to slip back without you forcing it. Get someone to video you if possible, and lots of work without stirrups would help.

What area are you in? I may be able to recommend a good instructor :)
 
thanks guys I have lessons with a trainer she just said to put all my weight in my stirrup which im really trying to do, I have a very willing but young and green horse so I don't want to put her off jumping.
I think its partly because I'm so unfit too when I've been schooling for a bit my legs become useless!
Anyone know of any exercises I could do to improve?
 
Jo1987 said:
Ride a horse that refuses EVERYTHING. Worked for me!
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haha I think this is actually works tbh! I used to have a cheeky pony years ago that would slam on at the last second, when I think back I never came off because I made sure I was balanced and not tipping forward, I was much better back then than I am now. Anyone got a refuser i could borrow? haha
 
I struggle with this too. I was definitely one who tipped forward. My instructor spotted that it was because I held my hands too high - apparently you fold to your hands, so if your hands are high you don't fold enough and therefore tip forward. She made me ride into the jump with my hands halfway up my horse's neck, actually on the neck or even lower than the crest. Suddenly I wasn't tipping forwards, was pushing my bum back and was much more stable. Once that was established she told me to push my knees out just as we got to the jump. That curves your leg around the horse and again increases stability.

I still have my moments when I'm not concentrating, but I'm 100% better than I was before, and when I see pictures from SJ competitions I'm not freaking about a beautiful picture of my horse being spoiled by my terrible position!
 
Shorterhstirrups and weight in your heels, not your feet. Make sure you are not gripping with your knees too as that'll make you swing too

Check your saddle as well -I have a very secure lower leg usually but if I ride in an Albion, I end up kicking myself in the bum, my lower leg shoots back so badly.
 
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Patterdale said:
Legs are rarely the problem here, with the hand issue too you will almost certainly find that you are tipping forwards with your upper body and being what is called 'in front of the movement.'
This makes your lower leg slip back in an unconscious attempt to balance yourself.

Sit up correctly and your lower leg will be unable to slip back without you forcing it. Get someone to video you if possible, and lots of work without stirrups would help.

What area are you in? I may be able to recommend a good instructor :)
Click to expand...

I would try this before bumping stirrups up too much, if this is the issue taking your stirrups up could make you feel worse and you could really come out the front.
 
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