tips on keeping lower leg still when jumping.

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showpony

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Hi all, looking for any tips advice, exercises on keeping lower leg still when jumping. My 4 YO over anything 65cms plus has serious scope over a fence but I want to stick at this height as need to work on her rhythm and line etc.. My position is coming along fine appart from my lower leg is a bit loose and at times where she jumps very big my lower leg will swing back a bit .
 
Try doing some stretching exerices on your calf muscles, stand with your toes on the very edge of the bottom step on the stairs and lower and raise yourself stretching all down the backs of your calfs, it stretches your muscles and makes them more flexible, worked for me when I had the same problem!
 
Al was told to think about having her toes slightly out- I think so weight towards the inside a little more? t's worked very well- her lower leg stability has improved tenfold since that top tip!
 
Agree with Lolo and for XC you stick you leg slightly forward for security which helps as well even for SJ. I find having stirrups too short unbalances the lower leg.
 
maccachic said:
Agree with Lolo and for XC you stick you leg slightly forward for security which helps as well even for SJ. I find having stirrups too short unbalances the lower leg.
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defo agree with short stirrups, that seemed to have been my problem for a long time, always ride long now even when jumping
 
Ooh and make sure your stirrups are the same length, I only use webbing back leathers now, after one of mine stretched a lot more than the other. It really stuffed up my jumping untill I worked it out.
 
definitely stretching and doing squats helps as stated above! toes out to keep your leg applied and not having your heels super far down when jumping and practice landing into your iron rather than heels (not saying you do, it helps keep balance and keep a steadier leg i find). LOTS of no stirrups work helps wonders for strengthening leg and leading to a more stable leg and forces you to hold your leg around the horse's barrel. i usually do five to ten minutes almost very ride. My leg used to be pretty unstable, and these tips helped me a lot. A stable leg largely comes from good balance.

sorry if i dragged on too much, hope this helps! =)
 
I'd have thought your leg swinging back if the horse over jumps is totally normal and actually not that bad a thing. Even when jumping you want your lower leg underneath you after all so if horse really jumps big then where underneath is kind of moves. If you see what I mean.

Depends on how far back it goes and how big the jump is but if you watch people jumping 1.30+ their lower leg isn't usually on the girth as they take off.


Anywho, I feel your pain, my lower leg is a menace. Sadly I have to do something about my hands too. I am doomed to failure!

:o
 
I wouldn’t worry about it too much at the moment but then again if you get it sorted now if you start moving jump the heights its one less thing to worry about!
My leg position has never been fab but not rubbish just a bit 'could try harder'. :o :D
I've been working on it on the flat by taking more weight in my leg rather than just in the heel, too much in the heel swings you leg forward and unbalance you just as much as a leg that too far back. I try and think weight into the back of my leg or knee out to keep my leg round all the time so it is more stable on the flat. Lots of no stirrup works a treat as well.
The main thing that has actually helped my leg is looking at my overall position over a fence, thinking butt back, hands forward has meant I fold from the hips not waist. It has stopped me getting in front of the movement and going up his neck and making my leg swing back. It’s by no means perfect but has helped.
 
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