Knees resting on knee rolls?

[Illusions]

Well, the other day in my lesson me and my lesson horse were walking around when I randomly realised that my knees don't actually touch the knee rolls when we're walking around.
So I made them rest against them, but then it felt like I was trying too hard? And I've heard you aren't supposed to have tension in your knees?
So should they touch? I'm not sure if they do in trot or canter, I'll have to check on Sunday :rolleyes:

[Ollie Bears mum]

Knee rolls are there for support, for things like jumping as your seat tips forward, it's used as a general guide as to roughly where your knee should be, hence why it is not easy to jump in a dressage saddle as no support, I know have tried in my pre GCSE days and slid forward to much and ended up over the poor horses head,

[coss]

knee rolls are designed fo support as ollie said. However, if you ride particularly long you may find that your legs are just too straight (my RI demonstrated this for me by putting my leg where my saddle was designed for it to go - about 4-6 holes shorter than i actually ride).
it could also mean that you point your toes out in which case you need to open your hips more and basically swivel your whole leg round to point forwards - your knees are more likely to be in contact with the saddle then.

[vimto92]

Are knees meant to be in contact with the saddle that importantly though?
I always get told knee and thigh away.

[Wally]

Most saddles are so badly desinged that if your knees were touching the knee rolls in walk in flat work you'd be in an extreme chair seat ! :D :D...or with your stirrups so short you might be mistaken for a jockey.

[connieD]

I always get told knee and thigh away.


me too:D

[coss]

Most saddles are so badly desinged that if your knees were touching the knee rolls in walk in flat work you'd be in an extreme chair seat ! :D :D...or with your stirrups so short you might be mistaken for a jockey.

i felt like a jockey when my RI showed me where my leg had to be for the knee roll to be of used :p if i'd been a lot shorter, my stirrups would have been the correct length but my thigh wouldn't be long enough ;)

[Vicki&Milo]

Mine poke out infront of my knee rolls when when stirrup leather is straight and my iron reaches the bottom of my ankle bone (where it should be) I think it is is little pony syndrome in my case though.

[Wally]

I think that the ankle bone is way too high, think more of the stirrup being level with the seam where the heel joins the sole of your boot.

[Vicki&Milo]

thanks wally will take a look. With my stirrups any longer I feel I am 'reaching' and my lower leg becomes unstable but this is probably my legs!

[puzzles]

What an eye opener ... ! :-D

xxxxx

[Abi Ramsey]

Bear in mind the fit of the saddle... Most importantly it should fit the horse, but it should also be the best fit for the rider... This should help the placing of the legs and knees..

You remember in pony club days where we didn't know anything... Knees were sticking out, feet too far into the stirrups...

LOL