OMG!! I'm getting increasingly worried about my lower leg!

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So I've always had a bad lower leg position, doesn't seem to cause me many issues and I'm more of a fun rider than anything but judging by these pics I don't think it's going to be too long before I take a tumble! Somehow I've managed not to ever get jumped off but I'm not sure how!! In my defence he does have quite a boingy jump and I don't think I look this crap on most horses.. but still, I have had him 9 years!

Not too terrible (click right)
http://www.klickonfotos.co.uk/photo_galleries/261013rh/pages/261013rh 362.htm

Bit worse (click right)
http://www.klickonfotos.co.uk/photo_galleries/261013rh/pages/261013rh 269.htm

Not sure what the heck happened here! (right again)
http://www.klickonfotos.co.uk/photo_galleries/261013rh/pages/261013rh 120.htm

This is obviously a long term bad habit.. any ideas how to get out of it?
 
My leg used to do this a bit when I jumped in a GP saddle, moved to a jump saddle and the problem went away

Think you can also do a lot of work in point 2 position and that can help strengthen legs
 
I would say try a lunge lesson, that way you can just focus on you.
Plus as JVB says, get some strength built up in your legs!
 
I would say the first two photos are a bit different from the third: in those two the jump has obviously gone roughly as you wanted/planned, in the last one clearly you have had a bit of a miscommunication/misunderstanding and are well and truly out of balance - well sat :D

The issue you show in the first two is that your weight is too far forward, your body is far too close to his neck, and your lower leg has swung back at the same time. I think, though, rather than thinking about your lower leg, you should in the first instance think about keeping your shoulders up, your head up, and letting him come up underneath you - I think this will immediately improve your lower leg. Once your weght in further back and you are more in balance, maybe just think about punching your heels down as he takes off.

Situations like photo 3 will always happen from time to time, but if your positon is more secure as above, it won't feel nearly so precarious :)
 
To keep my lower leg secure, I try not to think 'lower leg forwards' but 'bum back', as this keeps me from pushing myself too far up my horse's neck and then losing my lower leg as a result. I always think of me being a see saw, with my lower leg being the pivot- whatever goes in front of the pivot must go behind it too.

Al was struggling a bit as her lower leg was prone to swinging between fences, and then not being secure over them, and her instructor spent a lot of time making her canter around in a 2 point finding where her weight needed to be to make her lower leg secure. It's made all her riding much better, and a noticeable difference over fences.
 
Happily flicking through and spotted Oshk horse :D I had the same problem with walls - over thick them and end up putting so much leg on and tipping the rest of me forwards, I think you just need to sit up a bit more.
 
It's only a few pictures but it looks like you're pushing yourself forwards through your feet something I did for donkeys years. What helped me was lunge lessons to get used to really putting the weight through my heels and learning to fold from the hip for jumping and not pushing myself up and forwards through my feet. I was very fit at the time but shocked by how little leg muscle I had so on the lunge I spent a good 10 minutes trotting in the new and improved folded jump position and by god were my calves screaming!!
 
TableDancer said:
I would say the first two photos are a bit different from the third: in those two the jump has obviously gone roughly as you wanted/planned, in the last one clearly you have had a bit of a miscommunication/misunderstanding and are well and truly out of balance - well sat :D

The issue you show in the first two is that your weight is too far forward, your body is far too close to his neck, and your lower leg has swung back at the same time. I think, though, rather than thinking about your lower leg, you should in the first instance think about keeping your shoulders up, your head up, and letting him come up underneath you - I think this will immediately improve your lower leg. Once your weght in further back and you are more in balance, maybe just think about punching your heels down as he takes off.

Situations like photo 3 will always happen from time to time, but if your positon is more secure as above, it won't feel nearly so precarious :)
Click to expand...


This^^^
 
Eek - agree, well sat on the last one. Also think the advice about shoulders back - sitting up and looking up might help. I have a similar issue with lower leg and my jumping position generally. Lots of 'heels down, lower legs pushed forward, shoulders back' action for me.

If I could EVER remember to do 'bum back, hands forward', that would help massively but I keep forgetting that in the last few strides to a fence!

Tip from a Harry Meade hunt prep clinic, feels odd but def works to get you to sit back and up - jump one handed (reins in one hand, other hand up and back - ride em cowboy style!) :) Bet your legs go forward then!
 
I am by no means an expert but it looks like you might be gripping with your knees rather than getting the weight to drop down through your heels.
I was also taught that if in doubt, or going over something big/scary, get your 'toes before tits!' which I guess then helps with sitting back and up. I don't know if it's correct, but it's always worked for me.
 
I used to have exactly the same problem and agree with others about taking your stirrups away. You can even do this on your own when you school to help your balance so your not depending on your knees/hands. Another trick and I know this sounds weird but if your horse is sensible and safe enough, tie your stirrups to your girth!! I did this and it helped massively, especially through a grid of 3 or more fences as once your in you don't have to worry about the stride and you can focus on doing things correctly, looking ahead, heels down, not gripping with the knee etc. You don't need to do it every time you jump but I have to say I think that helped me as much as riding without stirrups. Good luck!
 
Bernster said:
Tip from a Harry Meade hunt prep clinic, feels odd but def works to get you to sit back and up - jump one handed (reins in one hand, other hand up and back - ride em cowboy style!) :) Bet your legs go forward then!
Click to expand...

Ooh I started doing that when I'm climbing up F's neck recently (random experimentation is our game) and it really does work...
 
Same as TableDancer :) Maybe try concentrating on softening your knee and dropping your lower leg while you school at home, too? Good luck and have fun hunting!
 
Thanks guys. I never really think about it that much TBH, He's never jumped me off before, but we jumped a bit hedge on the farm ride at our yard the other week, we were on a good one and he decided to do his "I'm exited, lets just jump as big as I possibly can (which is pretty big!!) and I totally did nearly fall off, hanging round his neck style! ;-)

I think I definitely need to think what I'm doing a bit more. I had a little go with no stirrups yesterday which I think I've done maybe never! Didn't do any jumps because it was a bit dark but I think it will help, good exercise to do anyway I think. Canter was pretty much the same as normal but not a fan of trotting with no stirrups! :P

Cheers,
Starbucks
 
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