Lower leg posistion

[Emmeline]

Hey. This will be my first post and thread so hi to everyone :) :)
My question is about my lower leg posistion.
When I'm trotting or cantering my leg comes up and I grip with my knees. I don't mean to do it and it's been a problem since I started riding. I explained to my instructor and I've had lessons without stirrups and I had a lunge lesson and my lower leg was perfect, but seeing as I only go twice a month it's like I forget the information and my leg just weakens again.
I do try really hard to keep my leg down and I want to start jumping lessons soon and I don't think I'll be able to get far with the way my posistion is atm.
Like last week my instructor, Dee lengthened my stirrups so I really had to keep my leg down and I don't think it really helped.
Is there any exercises I can do to strengthen it or something? I get so frustrated with it now and I just want to make the most of out my lessons and I'd like to move onto other things but it's just keeping me back.

Thanks all :)

[~*sugarlump*~]

i would say carry on without stirrups whenever you can. maybe ride a few holes shorter.
keep your heels down and sink your weight into the heel, this should free up your knees.
also try moving your legs in large circles away and back from you, does that make sense?:p as this loosens your hips and brings your knees from the saddle

[Fanshawe]

Might also be that your hamstrings are tight so worth gently stretching them out before and after riding.

[vivi]

Imagine your thighs are two arms of a V shape (upsidedown of course). In a way what you are doing at the moment is making your knees be the narrow part of the V. Instead, think of the top of your thigh at the hip joints as being the narrow part widening out towards your pelvis. Imagine the point of the V comes out the back of your jods about tailbone level. You can practise this sitting or standing all day long off horse so should be ingrained when you get back on! (Courtesy of Mary Wanless).

[Joyscarer]

What works for me is concenrtating on having my calves in the right place to give the aids.

I learnt to ride back in the old days of a nudge with the heals and when I do that my heals come up and I ending up gripping with my knees again like I was taught too in the dark ages.

So I concentrate on checking regularly that the right part of my leg is against the horse and kept doing it until it felt natural. I still have the odd moment though in hairer moments :o

[Emmeline]

I learnt to ride back in the old days of a nudge with the heals and when I do that my heals come up and I ending up gripping with my knees again like I was taught too in the dark ages.


Haha that is exactly what I do.

Thanks for the help everyone :)