Position help wanted (flat work)

luckyhorseshoe

luckyhorseshoe

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I'm after some position help from all you knowledgeable people.

I am struggling to keep my lower leg still, i think i am gripping with my knees, which then means i don't have any weight in my stirrups to keep my heels down.

I know the obvious thing would be to do some no stirrup work but my pony isn't ths sort to do that on (instructors advice, not just me being a wimp), and i don't want to keep asking to borrow others at the yard. So question is, what sorts of exercises can i do with stirrups to work on this?

(I am planning on some lunge lessons in the near future but want to know what i can do now)

Thanks in advance
 
We had a group lesson no stirrups on Friday, and one of the horses was really arsing around, so that girl kept her stirrups. The instructor had her doing an exercise the same as the rest of us: at a walk, gently swinging your leg backwards and forwards from the hip, in time with the walk. The purpose is to make you aware of tension, and to open at the hip.

Another idea, also at the walk: purposely clench and tighten your thigh muscles, hold for a bit, and then completely relax them so that your thighs feel completely floppy. Repeat a bunch of times. This is to help you be aware of just how tense they can be, and what it feels like when they are actually relaxed.
 
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We had a group lesson no stirrups on Friday, and one of the horses was really arsing around, so that girl kept her stirrups. The instructor had her doing an exercise the same as the rest of us: at a walk, gently swinging your leg backwards and forwards from the hip, in time with the walk. The purpose is to make you aware of tension, and to open at the hip.

Another idea, also at the walk: purposely clench and tighten your thigh muscles, hold for a bit, and then completely relax them so that your thighs feel completely floppy. Repeat a bunch of times. This is to help you be aware of just how tense they can be, and what it feels like when they are actually relaxed.

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Thanks sounds like a good idea - as i have come to realise that i am tense as i'm expecting her to do something cheeky!
 
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Thanks sounds like a good idea - as i have come to realise that i am tense as i'm expecting her to do something cheeky!

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LOL, I know how that feels! The thing is to remind yourself that the tension really won't help if she does do something cheeky!
tongue.gif


I'm finding that working without stirrups every day is actually making him more relaxed. It's helping take the bucking out of his canter transitions, which is a good thing, I think.
tongue.gif
 
at walk, with longish stirrups, concentrate on really letting your knees flop away from the saddle, pointing outwards (as if you're doing an impersonation of a frog!) do this for a while and get used to letting the weight travel down to your heels... if you're doing it right, you should feel this (compared to the weight being in your bottom and thighs when you grip with your knees.) that's a start, anyway.
must admit, i am no fan of work without stirrups, as most times it makes people tense their muscles and grip, and/or thump on the horse's back, the exact opposite of what we are trying to achieve.
 
Hi. I went to see physio especially for riders see :EVENTPHYSIO.COM He checked my riding muscles for imbalance and gave me some exercises to stabilise my pelvis. This helped a lot and now my pevis is more secure - so is my lower leg. Try usung one of those blow up balls to do some balance excercises on.

Emma
 
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Thanks sounds like a good idea - as i have come to realise that i am tense as i'm expecting her to do something cheeky!

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL, I know how that feels! The thing is to remind yourself that the tension really won't help if she does do something cheeky!
tongue.gif


I'm finding that working without stirrups every day is actually making him more relaxed. It's helping take the bucking out of his canter transitions, which is a good thing, I think.
tongue.gif


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I think our ponies are quite alike, i have the bucking problem too!
But yes you're right, its a case of i know i shouldn't get tense and grip but i do anyway. Maybe i should just go for it then, and ride her without stirrups
 
Its worth saying that visualisation helps as well. Watch videos of people with near perfect seats. I really recommend these ones:

http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Improve-your-...lication_Date|1

Charlotte DuJardin (who rides for Carl in these videos) is a good example of a rider with a nearly ideal seat. If you watch her and people like her you can use that visualisation when you are in the saddle and so become more aware of what your body is doing at any given time.

The basics of a good seat are ear, shoulder, elbow, hip, heel alignment, an open pelvis and a relaxed knee, dropped heel and straight, but not stiff back.
 
Maybe have a look at your saddle & the stirrup bars, & how the leathers hang in relation to your leg? If the stirrup doesn't hang in *exactly* the right place, then you'll have to reach back or forward for it which will unbalance your whole position.

I used to have soooo much trouble with my lower leg...until I got a new saddle, & now it looks after itself without me having to give it a second thought. Just an idea...
 
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