Info on "Improving the stillness of your lower leg"

[epcd3000]

I got this information from a book I just bought at Chapters, called "100 Ways To Improve Your Riding", by Susan McBane. I found it VERY informative and helpful, as I am currently battling this issue and I know many others are!

Unwanted movement of the lower leg

a lack of tone in the leg muscles and poor balance in the saddle are the two main causes of an unstable lower leg. It also seems to occur more in trot than any other gait. On the rise, in riding trot, the legs, or even just the feet, may flap outwards. It the leg movement is a back and forth one, this signifies that your balance is not centred and you are, perhaps unknowlingly, using your knee as a fulcrum as you rise.

What can I do??

Remember: before you achieve something (control) you have to be able to do nothing (looseness). Mastering a loose seat and legs is the first part of aquiring a controlled position without rigidity or stiffness.
In riding trot think of dropping your legs down through your heels and of pushing your feet down and together under your horse's breastbone every time your rise. To stop your feet from flapping backwards and forwards, work on improving your balance and gently push your heels towards your horses's hock as your rise"


----

The page also says to not push yourself out of the saddle and rise like 6 inches up into the air! Let the horse push you out of the saddle and thrust your pelvis forward. Then, use the muscles in your leg to gently set you back down in the saddle and repeat. I've been making this mistake for quite sometime now, and after reading Susan's book and getting a ton of helpful advice from fellow NR members, I've been inspired to share all this information I gathered on the subject! Hope it helps!



( So I don't get in trouble for using Susan McBane's writing, here's her website as well.. http://www.susanmcbane.com ) :)

[Scarlett 001]

I suppose my improvement in my previously flapping lower legs happened over time as: my balance improved, my knees were no longer gripping, I was rising correctly (not directly up in the air anymore but the way your article describes). I guess all of these things together gradually resolved what used to be a big problem for me. My previous instructor never explicity stated that we were going to work on the moving lower legs, but worked on some of these other things that in the end helped the problem considerably.

My new dressage instructor has yet to see me do the rising trot - I will curious to see what she has to say - this may still be a problem even if not so significant of a problem. But given the work we are doing on balance etc. in walk/sitting trot before even working on rising trot, I am thinking that the problem may even get further resolved in the meantime.

Thanks for sharing the results of your research into the topic! Good luck with those lower legs! :)

[Tootsie4U]

Originally posted by epcd3000
The page also says to not push yourself out of the saddle and rise like 6 inches up into the air! Let the horse push you out of the saddle and thrust your pelvis forward.


Thats what I told you in your other thread! :D

Here it is:

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.


__________________
"Riding is simple. Its just not easy to do."

[epcd3000]

I know Tootsie! :D You guys inspired me to make up this thread seeing as I wasn't the only one with this issue!

I'm gonna try your suggestion this weekend for sure, and shortening the stirrup another length. The funny thing is, my instructor (after the show) told me that next week she's going to make me shorten my stirrups, too.. Wow, I think we're on to something here! :D

[kelsey]

I have that book - highly recommend it.

[Wally]

Are you trying to rise like a jack- in- the- box?

Try taking your shoulders forwards just a fraction, don't do rising trot totally upright, you'll keep getting behind the movement. Let the horse do the work, rise as far as he throws you out of the saddle, then with your head and shoulders slightly in front of the vertical, with your rib case lifted let your hips swing in an arc forwards, at the top of each rise, if you have a big moving horse, you then, might become upright, let your bum sink back gently keeping your pelvis slightly tipped forwards ready for the next upward swing.

Don't try too hard, most problems come in rising trot and canter from folk just trying too hard, chill and let it happen.

[Wally]

http://www.newrider.com/Kinder_Way/philosophy.html go here to start with then go to www.enlightenedequitation.com and read further.

[epcd3000]

Wally - Your advice has inspired me.. I can really picture what your saying! I'll try it tomorrow and tell you how it goes.. I guess I've been trying WAY too hard lately to improve me riding.. That might be my shortfall. :o