My legs just won't behave themselves

J

JaneHogan28

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My riding's a bit rusty after riding on and off for the last year as horse was lame. I'm lucky enough to be riding a couple of horses at the stables but I'm really struggling to get my legs down and my heels down. Both the horses are youngsters and quite wobbly, every time I come to use my legs they're drawing up and all over the place.

I go to the gym loads, stretch in pilates and nothing seems to work. I feel like a total amateur. My instructors are aware of it and although they do tell me to get my legs down it doesn't seem to bother them as much as it bothers me!

Any ideas that would help me?

Thanks so much

Jane
 
Great tip I saw here that has helped me loads is think Toes up NOT Heels down. If you are drawing your legs up you are gripping with your knees making lower leg unstable. Lots of work in your light seat & work without stirrups will massively help strengthen lower leg and balance
 
equi said:
Take stirrups away, but still maintain the toes up and concentrate on relaxing your legs
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Thanks yes I ride much better without stirrups (bizarrely) but can't do too much trot because my youngster has a really long weak back at the moment . Thanks for taking the time to reply to me :confused:
 
Echo the toes up. I would also try shorter stirrups, it maybe they are too long a very common fault when trying to lower the leg
The other thing is imagine you are kneeling or that your legs are cut off at the knee

Very often by pushing the heels down you push the lower leg too far forward, it then swings about meaning you have to move it back every time you use an aid
 
Its most likely the position of the stirrup bars on the saddles causing a lot of it- if they are forward of the deepest part of the seat they pull your thigh forward making it hard to get a nice ear hip heel line.

A good trick is to lower your little toe to stabilise them.
 
Is your saddle fitting you properly? I found I had this problem when the saddle I was using was tipping me forwards a little. Now I have a new saddle my legs seem to have sorted themselves out!
 
Well he's not actually mine so not much say in that but he is getting fitted with a new dressage saddle which I'm sure will help. Feels like cheating though! Also my (third pair of) Mountain Horse boots split the zip and my leg position is def worse without them. Who'd have thought it would make such a difference a pair of boots... Thanks for replying to me!
 
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