should stirrup leathers hang straight down

[silkrider]

Should the stirrup leathers hang straight down at all times during rising trot? I notice on video i like to use the back of my calf with my toe turned far out and my foot well behind girth and the stirrup leather is angling backward and not straight up and down. Then on the rising part of rising trot my leg shoots forward, partly I think because the stirrup leather wants to return to an up and down position and i don't have the coordination/strength to hold my lower leg still as the stirrup leather and physics want to return the leather to its natural up and down position during the rise when inevitably the stirrup takes on a bit more weight. I know i probably push off of stirrups more than i should too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QowGvLlbBh4

 

[ThePony]

Looks like you are sitting on your forks a bit. Try and sit up on your bottom (remember to look ahead too) and feel the weight running in a straight line down your hips and through to your heels. Then allow yourself to rise, rather than shooting yourself up off your feet. Shortening your leathers a hole or two might help your feel more balanced? Final check is if someone pinches your horse, you shouldn't fall forwards or backwards!!

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

I have not watched the video but to stop common mistakes: Bottom should be tucked under your body, you should rise to the front of the saddle and over your hands (to keep them still). Your toe should be pointing forwards and your knee should be bent at all times, do not grip with your inner thigh, calf or knee. Try to sit a little longer and don't rise so high! Keep your shoulders back and your head up! Don't worry about long legs at this point in your riding career- shorten your stirrups to release your inner leg. Once you have mastered the this you can lengthen your stirrups again!

If you look at the top riders they sit on a horse as they stand on the ground- legs and hips in a straight line underneath them. We all talk about 'sitting' on a horse this is not strictly correct- you need to employ the same muscles that you use to stand and imagine kneeling with your lower leg to keep the heels under you!

Have you thought about a lunge lesson?

 

[horsemadsarah]

Hi there, nice GG!

Have you tried shortening your stirrups a hole? I know your doing a dressage test but it might be because you find them a bit long at the moment, so when you rise, your on your tippy toes. Also, trying to keep your heels down should help.

The stirrups should generally stay in the same position unless your giving a specific aid, like for canter.

 

[*hic*]

You are leaning forward and your legs are back! yes the stirrup eathers should hang straight down. Look again at the video and image the horse wasn't there and you are standing in that position on the ground. YOu would fall over on your nose.

Sit up, bum underneath you and dangle your legs from the hip, weigth down into the back of your legs. Once you are stting more upright so you can balance yourself your hands won't go up and down as you try to balance over the horse's mouth.

 

[ArabianGold]

Firstly I agree with all the above, you need to sit up more and tuck your bum under you, would also suggest keeping your hands still a bit more it seems as you rise up and down you are pulling neddy in the mouth.

Best of luck, its the only way of improving. I really should video myself again and look at my style..

 

[Bernster]

I just watched a snippet - but I have similar issues as you. Good advice on here already, and a lot of it is about upper body being more in balance and taking the weight out of your stirrups into your seat and thighs.

Difficult to give full info on an email, and I am only just discovering this myself, but I was told to rise as if I'm getting up from kneeling (practice off horse to get the feeling of using your thigh muscles and hips to push up and forward) - and not pushing up from the balls of my feet.

As for my waggly hands, that's another story for another day, but I'm getting better by focussing on having my shoulders down, elbows closer to my sides and thinking of engaging my 'lats', back muscles, which tends to make my hands steadier.

This riding lark is damned complicated but good on you for asking for CC and nice little hossy you have there. Good luck!

 

[TigerTail]

One thing that will be massively effecting your leg position is where the stirrups are actually placed on the saddle. Most saddles have them too far forward, meaning you are constantly fighting to keep your leg under you and often the end up forcing it backwards as the upper body tips forwards.
When the saddle is on the horse the stirrups should be as near to the deepest bit of the seat as possible so you can achieve an ear/hip/heel line without moving any of those bits of you!

You are either nagging with your leg aid or have very active lower leg, im not sure which as the cameras a bit far away. Think about lowering your little toe to bring your feet inwards and keeping the leg stiller.

You would really benefit from an Enlightened Equitation teacher

http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/teacher_find.htm

 

[madmav]

Very pretty horse. Luscious tail. And obviously has a bit of attitude by grabbing the chance to make a quick exit!
Agree with all the above and would also add that if you work on those pesky core muscles (pilates is brilliant for that) it would help you sit more centrally and also to move independently of what's going on with your legs, hands, horse etc.

 

[sula]

Agree with madmav and others, especially in regard to strengthening your core muscles. You appear to have more strength and position in canter and seem to hold a better contact and leg position in this pace than you do in trot. Very pretty horse and very smart too! You look good together.

 

[silkrider]

Thanks for all the helpful comments and the compliments on the horse. Someday the rider will catch up with the horse! Hopefully.