aaagh, someone's stolen my legs!!

[HappyHacker]

Have ridden for most my life but for the past 6 years I have ridden almost chair-like with heels right down as I damaged my back in an accident and this position feels most comfortable and safe.
Had a lesson last week end and tried bringing my leg back and on the horse more, opening my hips and bringing my knee slightly more off the saddle. Last week it feel quite comfortable and more effective for collection and transitions.
However, went into the sandschool yesterday and tried riding in the same position, and my legs turned to jelly, and were so ineffective, poor Archer may aswell have had a rag doll on his back! I felt I was almost getting pins and needles and cramp in my calves.
So I tried without stirrups...yet still legs felt like they didn't belong to me.
Has anyone else experienced this and is there anything I can do about it?

[maya-m]

One good thing to do may be to try some gentle supported yoga poses that explore your range of movement, open the hips, and give you a little more information about what your body can and can't do.

I often find myself discovering things in yoga that explain problems I've been having in my riding.

As you've damaged your back, you need to be very careful how you perform the poses, but if you are still riding having damaged your back, then yoga should actually help you.

Pm me, if you are interested, and I can describe for you one or two poses that may be a good and safe place to start, that complement riding.