Race work riding

[Horseperson432]

I’ve recently started riding race horses and am struggling to keep my lower leg still. I’ve ridden a lot “normally” and would say I have a pretty still lower leg but when I get up out of the saddle into the correct “martini glass” position my legs move a lot causing the rest of me to. Especially when taking a pull. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have hypermobile ankles which is a bit of a pain too and struggle to stop them from really bending. Any advice would be greatly appreciated/ about work riding in general!!! Thanks

 

[bonny]

I’ve recently started riding race horses and am struggling to keep my lower leg still. I’ve ridden a lot “normally” and would say I have a pretty still lower leg but when I get up out of the saddle into the correct “martini glass” position my legs move a lot causing the rest of me to. Especially when taking a pull. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have hypermobile ankles which is a bit of a pain too and struggle to stop them from really bending. Any advice would be greatly appreciated/ about work riding in general!!! Thanks

Sounds like you might be trying to ride too short, you don’t need to and it might be better to just shorten your leathers by a couple of holes and get used to that before trying to go shorter.

 

[GinaGeo]

Try contacting one of the Racing Colleges. They both offer Courses which help you to transition to Race Riding.

PM me if you want - I might be able to point you in the direction of people that can help.

 

[Horseperson432]

Try contacting one of the Racing Colleges. They both offer Courses which help you to transition to Race Riding.

PM me if you want - I might be able to point you in the direction of people that can help.

I am actually on a short course there now!! They highlighted the issue. Just wondering if there’s any advice from anyone else!! I’ll pop you a message, many thanks!!!

 

[Horseperson432]

Sounds like you might be trying to ride too short, you don’t need to and it might be better to just shorten your leathers by a couple of holes and get used to that before trying to go shorter.

Ooo that’s a good point!!! It’s so hard as my legs are so short as it is that if I’m not short to some extent I can’t hold them… I’ll give dripping a hole or 2 a go! Thanks!!!

 

[GinaGeo]

I am actually on a short course there now!! They highlighted the issue. Just wondering if there’s any advice from anyone else!! I’ll pop you a message, many thanks!!!

In that case you're in the right place - they'll be able to get you on the racing simulators too and you can experiment on those to get the right stirrup length.

Think about the martini position as holding a squat as opposed to folding at the waist. You can get the same position on wobble boards and practise out the saddle too