Can't keep my lwoer leg still!!!

[epcd3000]

I'm so confused now! I've always had a difficult time keeping that lower leg solid. My instructor said she continuously sees my feet in my stirrups swinging around in trot and canter, and matter how hard I try I can't stop it.

I've been told firstly to NOT grip with knees or calves, as it will either lift you out of the saddle, or confuse the horse if you continuously apply pressure with your calves.

However to stop the movement of my lower leg I was told to hold onto the horse using my thigh muscles and my calf muscles.. But isn't that just a contridiction to what was instructed earlier! I know my main issue is using my stirrups to "post", hwich is a major no-no but these days, I honestly don't know which way is really the "correct" way to do things.

Here's a photo of me from last Autumn. I have real riding boots now and my position has improved slightly.. But this is basically what I look like. I don't know if you can get anything from this example. :rolleyes:

[luv2jump2!!!]

I have the same Problem in Trot!! My YO noticed and said squeze abit more with the knee and shorten your stirrups! I tried the knee thing and it worked, then the stirrup thing and that didn't work aswell as the knee so i tried them together and they are better! Not completly but 75%.

Lucy and Fern!

[Tootsie4U]

I would say *maybe* shorten your stirrups one hole. But mostly, think about letting all your weight sink into your heels and imagine that your lower leg is an anchor, tied onto the horses' side. Also, if you're trying to hoist yourself up out of the saddle while posting the trot, that will move your leg quite a bit. Instead, let the bounce of the horse pop you up -- you really needn't to pull yourself out at all.

[BackintheSaddle]

How does your leg feel without stirrups? No stirrups work had helped me heaps

[jUmPingIsLifE]

definatly agree with who said no stirrup work, it does help loads. about the gripping part you shouldn't really grip but have contact. I really like what someone else had said about thinking of your legs as a wet cloth, how it kind of 'clings' around things. your legs should be wraped around but not really 'gripping hard'

[galadriel]

Yes, yes, don't grip with the knee, also don't grip with the thigh and calf.

However, you can still use the thigh and calf to hold you in place, without gripping. The weight of your leg and the friction of the contact should just "hold" your leg gently in place.

More here:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/300-toes/

[laura jeanne]

I got some half chaps and it helped a lot. Your leg feels more glued to the saddle.

Would also give the same advice as Tootsie about the weight in your heels.

It helped me to watch videos or jumping events on TV to watch how the riders never move their legs.

Also, see the post under Training of the Rider called Posting Trott!!! (right near the beginning).

I am still having trouble with my right leg mostly moving in canter. I always look pretty good if my left side is facing the instructor but get lots of instruction if it's my right!!

[*MiRi*]

hey there
Myaybe your feet are in the wrong position? Maybe your feet are in the whole stirrup so your toes are pointing down? :rolleyes: this is just a suggestion :rolleyes:
And you were right.. it is definetly autumn!!
speak later
xox

[JinxC]

Hi,
I'm still having trouble with that as well. I found that getting my instructor to get on the horse and show me helped a lot. Some people are just visual learners. Also it helps to turn your toe out and your heel in just a tiny bit. It's barely noticable but I found it made it easier to let my weight pull down through my heel.
Good luck
Jenny

[virtuallyhorses]

I've just written a little article in my blog about lower leg stability - for me it was about two things - foot position and keeping your body correctly balanced over your leg. Check it out maybe something will ring a bell for you - or maybe your issue is different :)

Scroll to article "The foot - finding a balanced and stable lower leg through the stirrup" (http://impsdiary.blogspot.com/)

[Scarlett 001]

My feet used to swing a lot in the stirrups! I used to think that I was putting my heels down (and toes up), but once I finally did it correctly, I realized that all along I was perhaps putting the heels down, but not putting any weight into them. Over time, my problem has lessened significantly - not sure why.

Stirrupless work can be very helpful so I agree with the people who already said this. I find that when I take the stirrups back once again, my leg feels more solid and stays in place better.

[Em 1]

Just an idea - in that photo you look like you might be fractionally behind the movement. It's really difficult to tell from a photo at that angle - could be your sweatshirt but your head looks a bit far back. I only suggest it because I sometimes lean back too much. I spent so long not tipping forwards I went the other way. If your body is out of balance your legs will move to balance you hence the swinging.

[*MiRi*]

hi
try and keep balanced. it should help your legs. it does for me but my balance i no where near perfect! :p

[maya-m]

Yes, as said by others already, no stirrups work helps you understand where that movement in your lower leg actually comes from. (Make sure you are doing it with an instructor! That's how I fell off!)

I agree with Virtually Horses article, (and Galadriel's stuff) it does seem to come from your hips - open your legs from the hip - if necessary so your legs are completely off the horse, then relax them back down again, so forget about 'gripping' with anything - and then allow the length of your inner leg to 'drape' around the horse's sides.

This helps me to feel that the 'weight' of the leg is being sent down the outside of the leg. Then, I can have more weight down in the outside of my stirrups, than the inside, and this helps (in turn!) to keep the toes in and slightly up :rolleyes: - phew, I knew we'd get there in the end! ;) It all ultimately helps with balance and position, and contact with the horse.

Sounds so complicated to explain, but it's all connected! :) and much simpler to understand when you are just doing it. Makes you bandy though! :D I guess you need to just experiment to see what works for you.

[epcd3000]

You guys have some excellent ideas.. I haven't done no stirrup work in a long time, I think I should give that a try.

I am guilty of hoisting myself out of the saddle using my stirrups and pushing myself up, I admit :o I'll get my mum to take some video footage and photos and'll update you guys then!

Thanks!

[epcd3000]

Originally posted by galadriel
Yes, yes, don't grip with the knee, also don't grip with the thigh and calf.

However, you can still use the thigh and calf to hold you in place, without gripping. The weight of your leg and the friction of the contact should just "hold" your leg gently in place.

More here:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/300-toes/

Good article! I also examined that above photo after reading and *oh my* my toes are pointing WAYYY out! :eek: :eek:

[Elvengirl]

I've got a bit of a tip that I found really helpful when I just started out riding.

Get a bit of twine or string and run it through your stirrup and around the girth, attaching the stirrup to the girth. This will keep your stirrup in the correct position that your leg should sit when riding. Ride like this for awhile all the time, hack out, jump, whatever. It will feel really uncomfortable and challenging at first, but it really does wonders for allowing your leg muscles to develop properly and for you to feel where your leg should sit. Eventually you'll feel comfortable, and the correct position and stillness of your leg will come easier. I found this has helped many with an unsteady, weak leg, including myself.

[Evol_or_revert]

Dam I can't really say anything new :( Except that I back up the no stirrup work! it's not just about the legs it's about ** whole body, no stirrup work is fantasic for balance. In what ever pace you feel best :D

do lots of leg swings at the walk in time with ** horses front legs, swing from the hip.

Iv now nomanated(sp) one day a week for rider work, it's so so imporant that the rider can stay balanced for everything. So it needs to be worked on :D

[epcd3000]

Originally posted by Elvengirl
I've got a bit of a tip that I found really helpful when I just started out riding.

Get a bit of twine or string and run it through your stirrup and around the girth, attaching the stirrup to the girth. This will keep your stirrup in the correct position that your leg should sit when riding. Ride like this for awhile all the time, hack out, jump, whatever. It will feel really uncomfortable and challenging at first, but it really does wonders for allowing your leg muscles to develop properly and for you to feel where your leg should sit. Eventually you'll feel comfortable, and the correct position and stillness of your leg will come easier. I found this has helped many with an unsteady, weak leg, including myself.

SPLENDID idea!! I'm curious to see how that'll work out! :p :p

[*MiRi*]

hiya
no stirrup work is a really good idea!I had to do it for about 3 weeks in a row nd it kills you (literally! soz thats not relly helpful!) but............i REALLY does help. I always lean/ed on the left hand side (cos im left handed) so obivously i was tipping and my position and everything included was wrong. The no stirupps helped me to balance cos if i DID lean to the left i would fall off, so i had to make sure that my otes wre pointing up, heels down, o gripping with knees etc!
Keep us posted with some news
xox

[Wally]

Sadly "pinging" legs is a balance thing, do lots of short sessions without stirrups, not huge long ones, it can be hard work if you are not used to it, once you get tired you lose control of your muscles and once you lose your balance you'll be doing yourself no favours.

Do no more than 10 strides of trot at a time until your balance and strength are up to it, do no more than 15 minutes at a time, maybe even 10 to start with, keep it slow, and calm. Let your toes point to the floor for a few seconds then let your foot hang, don't try to ride with your heel down and your toe up without stirrups, stretch down and then relax.

You need to learn exactly how to absorb the movement in trot and move with the horse.

Get a loan from the library, or better still buy Heather Moffett's Enlightened Equitation book, there is loads of info in there how, exactly you need to move to stay in blanace and stop those legs wobbling.

[epcd3000]

Update: Highered my stirrups today, seemed to help a fair bit in keeping my leg still. I also kinda of "went with the flow" letting Boomer puch me out of the saddle and not actually puching up with my stirrups.. Wow it really helped! Mind you I still am actually quite rusty indeed, but I guess it'll all come in time.

Note: I like longer stirrups better! She made me put them up two notches, and I felt like a jockey! :p :D :rolleyes:

[Wally]

Take them back down and stick to your guns!

[epcd3000]

That's what I was thinking!

Aren't longer stirrups better at deepening your seat, anyway? I'm gonna make my stirrups longer again next week.. See if she notices, mwa haha.

[EquiCrazyTn]

why don't you tie your stirups back that helped me

[NuttyMare]

i have that problem too, my instructor is making me ride really long today :S