Ginn
Well-Known Member
As the title says really. How do you go about improving the lower leg position over a fence? Any useful exercises/tips?
Re: "Perfect lower leg position" - How to improve?
- Thread starter Ginn
- Start date
TiaPony
Well-Known Member
My instructor always tells me to push my feet forwards
makes sense when im on the horse!
x
x
KatB
Well-Known Member
Ride really short on the flat, really working on keeping your weight down and therefore keeping legs under you. Also get you off the saddle/not gripping with knees.... muscle memory developes and makes life easier!
dieseldog
Well-Known Member
tie your stirrups to your girth
Rachel_M
Well-Known Member
What works for me-
1) Ass- show your booty girls! By making sure your ass is back you are more likely to bend from the hips rather than just tipping forwards- so get bootylicious on your horses!
2) Imagine your feet are superglued to the girth and you have to keep them in that area- again works in time with pushing the bum backwords, works for me.
My main moto is that no matter what you are doing, whether jumping or flatwork or god knows what else your leg should be as close to the girth as possible.
1) Ass- show your booty girls! By making sure your ass is back you are more likely to bend from the hips rather than just tipping forwards- so get bootylicious on your horses!
2) Imagine your feet are superglued to the girth and you have to keep them in that area- again works in time with pushing the bum backwords, works for me.
My main moto is that no matter what you are doing, whether jumping or flatwork or god knows what else your leg should be as close to the girth as possible.
severnmiles
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
tie your stirrups to your girth
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PMSL
tie your stirrups to your girth
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PMSL
teapot
Well-Known Member
hacking out in jump length stirrups in forward light seat for anything faster than a walk - it does work. Oh and no rising for the trot either. Photo is to show what it can do for your lower leg:
I'm not as defensive as that now
I'm not as defensive as that now
Ginn
Well-Known Member
I'm guessing putting all this into practice on Kiri's 12hh pony could be a little interesting
I'm terrible - I used to ride very defensively and almost just slip my reins - improved this a liitle but then I had a break from jumping for about, well I guess now its about 3 years with the exception of the odd jump on the little man. But no matter how much I try it all goes tits up!
Other problem is I snap up too quickly and thats when my leg is forward and heels down
I'm terrible - I used to ride very defensively and almost just slip my reins - improved this a liitle but then I had a break from jumping for about, well I guess now its about 3 years with the exception of the odd jump on the little man. But no matter how much I try it all goes tits up!
Other problem is I snap up too quickly and thats when my leg is forward and heels down
MissDeMeena
Well-Known Member
shove your feet as far into the irons as they will go.. sounds dangerous (which is why i like the 'barns buckle' ) but makes a secure lower leg soooooo much easier to achieve!!
dieseldog
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
tie your stirrups to your girth
[/ QUOTE ]
PMSL
[/ QUOTE ]
I sure David Broome used to do it
[ QUOTE ]
tie your stirrups to your girth
[/ QUOTE ]
PMSL
[/ QUOTE ]
I sure David Broome used to do it
Rachel_M
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Other problem is I snap up too quickly and thats when my leg is forward and heels down
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Do you find that you end up looking down the horses shoulder?
Other problem is I snap up too quickly and thats when my leg is forward and heels down
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Do you find that you end up looking down the horses shoulder?
Ginn
Well-Known Member
Ok, this is from tonight - my first time jumping in ages - and this was on about the 3rd attempt really thinking about my hands (also terrible) and leg position.....
(all 3 pics are the same jump)
Just keen to get my lower leg totally secure with a youngster just starting her ridden life!
(all 3 pics are the same jump)
Just keen to get my lower leg totally secure with a youngster just starting her ridden life!
Rachel_M
Well-Known Member
Perhaps putting your bum a little further back and in to the saddle. The 2nd piccie looks as if you have been slightly jumped out of the saddle and by making sure that your bum is further down and back there is less chance of having the "superman" feeling. If your body is further back it would give your hands further room to relax down on the neck and more secure.
Saying that, I don't profess to being an expert but hopefully I can be of some help
P.S Considering you haven't jumped in a while your not to shabby there!
Saying that, I don't profess to being an expert but hopefully I can be of some help
P.S Considering you haven't jumped in a while your not to shabby there!
Ginn
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
making sure that your bum is further down and back there is less chance of having the "superman" feeling. If your body is further back it would give your hands further room to relax down on the neck and more secure.
Saying that, I don't profess to being an expert but hopefully I can be of some help
P.S Considering you haven't jumped in a while your not to shabby there!
[/ QUOTE ]
Very helpful - I was never really taught to jump, just got on with it but now I am left with lots of very bad habits
Also (and I know its a terrible excuse) but its very uncomfy putting my bum down and back further in a 15" saddle! Would popping my stirrups up a few holes so Im totally off his back (and away from the saddle) help or leave me feeling even more like superman?
making sure that your bum is further down and back there is less chance of having the "superman" feeling. If your body is further back it would give your hands further room to relax down on the neck and more secure.
Saying that, I don't profess to being an expert but hopefully I can be of some help
P.S Considering you haven't jumped in a while your not to shabby there!
[/ QUOTE ]
Very helpful - I was never really taught to jump, just got on with it but now I am left with lots of very bad habits
buzzles
Well-Known Member
Work with no stirrups, and not just 10 minutes every now and then, you need to do it for at least 40 minutes a few times a week. Might be an idea to have a lunge lesson on a schoolmaster. You will be sorry as it does very painful things to your legs but it does improve your lower leg and makes it much more secure. I also found my lower leg improved even more after a summer of riding out racehorses- you soon develop a secure lower leg when you're sitting on a bucking thoroughbred with jockey length stirrups - the sense of survival kicks in!! Also really improves your balance. The symmetry straps are a good idea if your lower leg swings around a lot, they really helped my sister develop a better lower leg position, especially for jumping.
Rachel_M
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
making sure that your bum is further down and back there is less chance of having the "superman" feeling. If your body is further back it would give your hands further room to relax down on the neck and more secure.
Saying that, I don't profess to being an expert but hopefully I can be of some help
P.S Considering you haven't jumped in a while your not to shabby there!
[/ QUOTE ]
Very helpful - I was never really taught to jump, just got on with it but now I am left with lots of very bad habits
Also (and I know its a terrible excuse) but its very uncomfy putting my bum down and back further in a 15" saddle! Would popping my stirrups up a few holes so Im totally off his back (and away from the saddle) help or leave me feeling even more like superman?
[/ QUOTE ]
If you can distribute your weight- legs on girth or perhaps toes just slightly forward, bum far enough back to keep your main weight over the saddle then it would be worth a try! Remember your hands aswell, they are there to balace up with your bum. As your stirrups are shorter you are going to have to bend further at the hips to make sure your not left behind. Hehe- I did actually think to my self on the pic where your bum is right back on the saddle- "Oooh, thats gonna leave a mark if she lands there!"
Keep us updated.
[ QUOTE ]
making sure that your bum is further down and back there is less chance of having the "superman" feeling. If your body is further back it would give your hands further room to relax down on the neck and more secure.
Saying that, I don't profess to being an expert but hopefully I can be of some help
P.S Considering you haven't jumped in a while your not to shabby there!
[/ QUOTE ]
Very helpful - I was never really taught to jump, just got on with it but now I am left with lots of very bad habits
[/ QUOTE ]
If you can distribute your weight- legs on girth or perhaps toes just slightly forward, bum far enough back to keep your main weight over the saddle then it would be worth a try! Remember your hands aswell, they are there to balace up with your bum. As your stirrups are shorter you are going to have to bend further at the hips to make sure your not left behind. Hehe- I did actually think to my self on the pic where your bum is right back on the saddle- "Oooh, thats gonna leave a mark if she lands there!"
Keep us updated.
Peanot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
My instructor always tells me to push my feet forwards
makes sense when im on the horse!
x
[/ QUOTE ]
ditto this. It does work, on the way to the fence, put your feet forwards, and they stay secure.
My instructor always tells me to push my feet forwards
x
[/ QUOTE ]
ditto this. It does work, on the way to the fence, put your feet forwards, and they stay secure.