Tips for improving position

J

Jo C

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 July 2001
Messages
3,960
Location
Essex
Visit site
So having seen my recent BD photos I am quite appalled at my position.
blush.gif
I have discussed this with my instructor who is obviously helping me but has anyone got any good tips, exercises etc to help me drop my weight into my heels and sit up please? I am having lunge lessons but need exercises I can do when schooling/hacking generally.
 
Me too
frown.gif


I've found looking up has helped with sitting up.

Stuck on the heels down bit. My prob I think comes from griping with legs & thighs so trying to think about keeping leg relaxed all the time. Can't think of a trick to sort it out though
frown.gif
 
Yes I think you are prob right about gripping with the thighs, my warm up pictures are generally better than the test pictures so I assume some of it is tension whilst riding the test. I have to keep telling myself to loosen up but its really not working.
frown.gif
 
Ha ha, I had the exact same experience last week. Had a look at myself on some BD pics and was appalled at my position too! My heels were raised and legs too far back, and upper body tipping forwards in all but one or two.

Was horrified!! Thought I looked the dbs too in my white breeches and black jacket!!!

Had a lesson a few days after and discussed with trainer, who said I have to really try to concentrate on getting my heels and knees down and keep my lower legs firm.

Here's a few things we tried, which seemed to work:

1) Relax, relax, relax, drop your weight down into your heels, and try not to grip up. Think 'loose'. I was surprised that my horse actually kept going when I stopped gripping and pushing all the time! He actually went much better as I wasn't blocking him, and squeezing the breath out of him!!

2) When you feel like you want more leg, instead of thinking about using your heels/ankles, which makes you grip up, think about using your calves.

3) Reduce the amount you rise in trot. This stops the lower legs swinging about so much.

4) Wipe on the sides with a schooling whip instead of using legs ALL the time.

5) Get a proper saddle - according to my trainer, mine is doing me no favours at all as it's very flat and has no knee rolls!! Apparently, I need all the help I can get!! Charming.

Can't think of anything else. Was interesting how much better my horse started to go.
 
I think I just need someone standing there in my test shouting HEELS DOWN at me all the way through - do you think the judge will notice?!
tongue.gif
 
Had some a lunge lesson recently to work more on my position, we did the following exercises without stirrups in walk and trot:

* lift one knee up at a time so you end up looking a bit like a jockey
* lift both knees up together
* push the heel out away and back from the saddle as far as possible, taking the whole leg away from the saddle
* imagine you've got a pony tail and someone is pulling it upwards (remember to keep the shoulders relaxed though and do not arch the back)
* roll the shoulders individually and together round in circles slowly
* twist your body round to the left and right as far as you can
* with stirrups slip you foot from the stirrup without lifting your knee and without gripping with the leg, do it by lowering the heel and lifting the toe. (For me this was really hard!) Find the stirrup again without looking down.
* in trot sit for two, rise for two or four etc etc
* stand up in your stirrups in trot, balance without using your hands on the horses neck
* Circle feet both ways slowly
* Try and work on dropping your weight down through the leg - most people whose heels come up grip to much with their legs and therefore their ankles become stiff and will not move with the horses movement. Ankles and feet should not be locked into a position

xxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top