Keeping legs still

[Naomi]

I've been told I move my legs around far too much (both in trot and canter - for canter aid I move lower half of my leg too far back so that it's bent) and that my riding will not improve until I learn to keep them still. Question is: how do I keep 'em still? Any suggestions that I could use in my future lessons would be great.

[Miss MoneyPenny]

I have never tried them, but what about those stirrup aids? The ones that help with the riders leg position - forgot what they are called, maybe someone on NR might have a review of them?

[*Glitter storm*]

u have to keep concentrating an reminding yourself to keep still. get someone on the ground to tell u wen u are doing it perhaps? also, full or half chaps help with grip. do you ride in johdpurs? i find my legs slip if i dont cos any looser clothing is slippy.

[Torny]

Hello,

If your legs are going back in Trot and Canter, then maybe your tipping forwards. So try to concentrate sitting up tall and going with the movement of the horse.

The way you rise to trot could be effecting your leg. Do you rise up with your shoulders and forwards?
As you rise, think how you feel. What parts of the body can you feel moving. Does anything seem unbalanced?

Hope this has helped, (if you understood what I've said. lol)

[Ipsa]

If you are stiff in the hips this can cause you're legs to move around so if you can stay relaxed in your seat and hips that may help.
Also riding at the walk and trot standing in your stirrups will help strenghten and correct your leg position.

[canna]

I've recently had a similar kind of problem (see my recent thread - swinging legs-how to stop 24 Oct). People here gave me lots of great advice, and I've now, thanks to a very patient instructor, conquered the problem (just about!). Don't know if any thing on my thread may be of any use to you!!:) As Ipsa suggested, I found the standing in the stirrups a great help, also working without them.
Good luck!!
P.s. Those stirrup aids are in the new Robinson's catalogue. I've heared various opinions regarding their saftey, both good and bad. I guess it's all down to what works for you.:)

[Scarlett 001]

I attended a great riding clinic a few weeks back with someone (Daniel Stewart) who is a trainer for the US National Equestrian Team. He videotaped us from the back doing a trot (sitting and rising). We then inspected the videotape in slow motion.

Well, some of the more advanced riders even had too much leg motion (sort of like a bell moving in and out) and he quickly identified for all of us watching the video that these people were pinching in with their knees too much on the saddle. It was so clear in slow motion on the video. As soon as that happened, the legs were swinging. I have only been riding for a year, and used to have a terrible leg swinging problem, but in the video my legs were still - and I was not pinching my knees! I was so thrilled to be used as a good example! (of course, I had many other problems, but this was no longer one of them! yay!) :D

Can you get yourself videotaped so you can examine if the knee pinching is a problem for you or not? Or maybe your instructor can examine this closely for you?

[Tor&Warrior]

I find riding without stirrpus and riding with jumping length in forward seat helps loads. My lower leg used to be very insecure so I had lots of lessons doing this and when I have lessons now the instructors always comment on how thats my best bit!