Tipping forward in canter

[Hollymead]

Hello there,

I've been riding for 12 years and thought my basic position was pretty good ... until last night. My instructor has decided that my stirrups are approximately 2 holes shorter than the perfect dressage length, so made me drop them down one hole last night. In walk and trot it was ok, I had to stretch down to reach them, but I coped. In canter though it all went to pot. I can understand why I gripped up a bit and turned my toes out (trying to keep stirrups), but why did I lean forward? My instructor said that would have the effect of unbalancing me further, so why did I do it? And help - what can I do to stop it next time?

[galadriel]

If you're gripping with your knees, that often brings your lower leg further forward. You unconsciously try to keep yourself over your ankles, to keep the feeling of security; it's an illusion, but it's an unconscious action. So you end up with both leg and upper body drifting forward; the effect is that you lean forward. This is very unstable, but unconsciously you feel that it is more secure.

Try to stabilize your lower leg by resting it gently against the horse's side (don't squeeze, just place it there). Keeping your weight properly in your heels and stabilizing your lower leg will hopefully help you keep from gripping, as well as prevent the leg from slipping forward too badly. If the lower leg stays back, it's easier to keep from feeling that you need to lean forward.

[kedwards]

Also, if our legs get tense and grippy and our shoulders tight, it's hard to keep our weight balanced over the seatbones, and to absorb the motion in our hips. Instead, there is a tendency to round the back and absorb the excess motion there.

[Mehitabel]

if it were me teaching you, i'd take the stirrups away before lengthening them. there's no point lengthening the stirrups to the 'correct' length if the leg position hasn't been changed - as you found out, you'll just end up reaching for them and losing your balance.

generally, you will do some no stirrups work and then find when you take them back that they're too short - stirrupless work deepens your seat and makes you more secure anyway.

[Hollymead]

I'm fine without stirrups - last week I was cantering circles, doing counter canter etc without them. I *know* I don't need the stirrups, but still stick toes out to keep them :o . Maybe I should do a few minutes cantering without stirrups first, then go to the longer length? Hummmmmm.

Galadriel - I was gripping with my calves, which was why my toes pointed out, no gripping with knees that I can remember. But I see what you mean about unconsciously tipping forward to keep up with my lower leg creeping forward.