Help! I need to know some of the basics ...

[puzzles]

First things first; I am in no way a novice rider; i usually know the theory, but putting it itno practise is another thing!
I was taught that riding was kicking and pulling. I knew from the start that it was SO much more, and in some ways less, than this, and have incorporated my own things naturally and as I changed riding school.
HOWEVER! Basically - I have been riding for over 5 years and ride once a week, but there a few basics that I am still unsure about that constantly hold me back. I don't really understand how, in a downward transition, the rider is supposed to use her leg? I understand that it is to maintain impulsion but when I do it the horses don't understand what I'm asking. Could you please explain it some more? Also, when watching many other riders at all levels, I see them using their leg at every stride in trot and canter - why is this and should I be doing it? Surely the horse would switch off and ignore the leg when the rider wants to make an upward transition? Also, I am unsure how to achieve true impulsion and engagement as I am not sure how much rein an leg I should be using, and how I should apply them. Please help!
With these things I just don't really know if what I think is 'the way' really id the way, if you get what I mean. Please do not advise me to ask my RI as she has no ide and will most likely tell me what everyone tells me and what is not proper, classical, riding.

ALSO! I used to have a good jumping position, but ever since I had a break ages ago I actually have no position when jumping; it's a tad a case of everything, everywhere :confused: :o and even though i, quite literally, studfy other riders - what is the answer? Where do you out your weight and what part of your body/the horse, etc, do you use for support? Do you stick your bum out and back? :rolleyes: I really cannot seem to remember how ever I did it!

Til next time ... :p And thank you in advance

xxxxx

[eml]

Intersting Puzzles

I spent today working with kids on leg position and control of transitions.

Basically in downwards transitions you want the horse to go (for example) from a good trot to a good walk. If you take your legs off and use reins only the horse will fall out of trot, go on its forehand and have a really lazy walk. When coming down a pace think of holding the front of the horse with your back to a lesser extent your hands and and riding it forward into this 'block' We spent lots of time speeding up and slowing down trot with thought and back, not reins, to get the feel of this.

I am a great believer in the 'don't nag' school of leg use, at basic levels it normally comes because the rider takes their leg off the horse totally and therefore have to 'flap around' to find the contact. Equally at a higher level you do need to ride each stride but as an observer on the ground you should not be able to see this 'riding' as when the leg is placed correctly you are talking about changes in tension of muscles.

As far as jumping postion is concerned think about yourself as a piece of paper folded in three, hips and knees are the folds. To jump close up the piece of paper, knees , ankles and hips fold more and as aresult seat moves back, shoulders move forward.. you stay balanced over feet. (lower heels)

[puzzles]

Thank you - great explanations! :-D

xxxxx

[KateWooten]

I'm in about the same position, puzzles - I ride a lot, but still have to (or want to) think about it all.

As far as jumping goes, I'm taking a bunch of lessons on my 'smoooth-as-silk if you can get her to the jump' mare, Summer, in preparation for going on to teach my best boy, joseph (now 6). What seems to be working for me as far as position goes :

- make sure your stirrups are short enough, then be really vigilant about not getting into a chair seat. With short stirrups, if you can't see your toes over your knees, then you must have your lower leg in a pretty good position.

- flatten your back. Even arch it, to exaggerate. If your back is flat, then you're not collapsing your shoulders, and your bum is likely just about right too. It's amazing the difference it makes to your horse if you collapse your shoulders - Summer will approach perfectly, but if it's a big enough jump (over 2 ft 9 for me) I get scared, collapse my shoulder, and she puts in an extra half stride and chips the jump every time.

- think about your bum real close to the saddle. That's quite a nice visual (although you should probably keep quite quiet about it :D ) but imagine your crotch just about a hairs breadth from the saddle, just grazing the saddle.

- think about shoulders back*

- look up and out. You can, when you're real good (apperently) look at the top back rail of the fence you're approaching, right up to the point of take-off, but you know, at my stage, I find it easier to not even look at the fence a little bit, but to look instead at, say the arena fence, if it is far away and high. Eyes-up is a big help for not collapsing your shoulders.

Hope that helps a bit - just some of the things I have to 'visualise'. When I get them all right, the jump goes perfectly. If I muff up any one of those, we tend to scramble untidily over.

*at the risk of being rude, after all that 'bum' stuff, the easiest way I find to keep shoulders back is to think 'show your chest to the world' :eek:

[Sofi P]

I have to say it, this is my fav quote especially when teaching children. Think 'sitting on the toilet reading a magazine'! Which is all of the above but I just like the phrase! Also think that if the horse suddenly disappeared from under you (omg, imagine if that actually happened!) then you would lang on your feet in the same position and be balanced.

As EML said, the leg should always be 'on' the horse, but it shouldnt look like it is from the ground. A lot of the things you talk about are those things that you only really 'get' when you feel it for yourself for the first time, and then you're like 'oh yeah, I see what they've been going on about all this time!' And dont forget, if you're riding RS horses they are generally going to be less responsive than competition horses etc so when you ask for something like a downwards transition with your leg the horse probably doesnt have a clue what you'r on about, so you will still the rein aid to let them know what you're asking for. But the more you use your leg and body (hopefully) the more they will understand you and the less you will have to use your reins.

Hope some of that helps!

[puzzles]

Thank you very much guys, that's helped a lot - especially with, ahem, interesting visualisation! ;-)

xxxxx

[Anvil83]

[QUOTE eml]If you take your legs off and use reins only the horse will fall out of trot, go on its forehand and have a really lazy walk.

I am a great believer in the 'don't nag' school of leg use, at basic levels it normally comes because the rider takes their leg off the horse totally and therefore have to 'flap around' to find the contact. Equally at a higher level you do need to ride each stride but as an observer on the ground you should not be able to see this 'riding' as when the leg is placed correctly you are talking about changes in tension of muscles.[QUOTE]

Hi, just read this thread & I'm wondering about whether the legs should wrap around the horse from the thigh downwards or use give & take squeezes with the legs? Or should I just be using the lower leg?