wayward legs when jumping

asbo

asbo

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how can i make my position more secure, my legs keep disappearing up his back while jumping
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i jump the same as i ride as i have bad hips & can not go any shorter,feel really secure out x/c just not sjing
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I had this problem last year - my coach said it was because I wasn't putting enough weight down in to my heels so she had me do a few canter lessons with shorter stirrups and in forward seat for the entire lesson making sure I was really dropping my weight into my heels - it was hard work and very sore on the legs but it seemed to work as my lower leg is now very stable when jumping.
 
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i jump the same as i ride as i have bad hips & can not go any shorter,feel really secure out x/c just not sjing
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excuses excuses?? my friend totally smashed his hip to bits, and is now plated together with far too much metal and screws than is right, and he's a jump jockey, so rides pretty short!!
 
excuse me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i have been told NOT to ride any shorter as i am doing far to much damage.

he wants to ride shorter,thats up to him but i am not going to put myself in any more pain than i am when it is not necessary
 
i didn't mean that as rude as it came out, sorry.. but i don't under stand how riding shorter is going to do any more damage to your hips than riding is already obviously doing to them??
As i said, my friend has totally fcuked his hips, and rides jockey length, which is obviously alot shorter than anyone is asking you to try.. surely 1 poss 2 holes difference isn't going to increase pain levels and if it is, surely you should question how much good riding horses is doing to your body, and maybe it's trying to tell you something..
 
sorry having a stressy night,didnt mean to snap.

the shorter i go the more stress i put on my knees & hips, i find riding longer doesnt hurt them,after 5 mins of jumping lenght i have to get off as they lock & i am in agony.

maybe i need to stop jumping for good.
 
You could also try those straps - think they're by Equilibrium? Which attach by velcro to your stirrup and girth. I know people who jump in them at home as apparently in can "train" your leg to stay in the right place.
 
Or you could try riding without stirrups altogether for a bit, it'll improve your balance no end, and when i'm doing it i find my lower leg goes quite far forward as well.
If your horse/pony is quiet while jumping and doesn't put in big jumps over a little cross poll you could even try jumping like that.
Your hips/knees shouldn't lock then, as theres nothing for them to rely on.
 
Just a thought - but do you tend to really go forwards over the jump too - I used to have this really bad habit of folding forwards too much and then my lower leg would swing back to counter balance this and then I found it quite hard to sit up after the fence and my horse was usually scuttling off at speed by the time I was organised.
I have found that by really trying not to fold too much that my whole position including my lower leg has improved. I still have to think about it constantly but its starting to become more instinctual. I find it helps to look up and ahead instead of at the fence to keep my upper body level and only fold when I feel the horse lift off the ground and then to try to think of pushing my bum backwards toward the cantle as opposed to pushing my shoulders forward if you know what I mean.
IMHO the lower leg thing is definitely connected to what your upper body is doing and found this has helped me no end.
Good Luck.
 
Over folding sounds like it might not be helping.

I have bad knees and riding short really makes them much worse. If im going xc or on a long ride i have to strap both knees up in supports and i cant ride without my bendy stirrups- not even for a short hack.

Lessons are the only real way to find out the cause and cure it to be honest.
 
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