knees on the saddle and lower leg still.. how to?

[Susara]

oh dear, you guys must have heard this one before!

So much is said about the proper riding position, and why it's important, but problem is it just seems I can't do it. I stand in my stirrups on the rise and I can't manage to both keep my knees close to the saddle and use my lower leg. I do have short legs for my overall length, so I might be a bit top-heavy, and also I have strong calf muscles so it's natural to stand up in my stirrups, of course then kicking out with every stride.

What can I do to correct this? My teacher seems to be of the opinion that people eventually figure out how to do it, and he doesn't insist on a proper position.

But it frustrates me; the few times when I managed to get myself nice and quiet it was _wonderful_. This only happens when I get the horse nice and round, then my leg is quiet and also I don't lean forward. It feels like flying... great!

Are there excersizes I can do? Specific things I can practice? Perhaps off the horse even? I've been riding for three years now, and it seems that 'more of the same' of what I've been doing is not going to go anywhere.

[josieP]

Here is a link I found exceptionally helpful.

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

After I read this article and concentrated on doing what it described and imagined my legs wrapping around the horse, I saw instant improvment on my swinging lower leg at the rising trot. And it's been getting better every time I ride. My instructor even commented on my great improvement on my lower leg.

[CBay]

I don't think you should be standing in your stirrups to rise to the trot. Your thighs should be taking most of the weight and you should be going slightly forward, not straight up as in standing in your stirrups.

As an exercise you could try rising to the trot without stirrups - not for too long though, it's killing. The only way you can do this is by keeping your knees on the saddle and rising from the knee and thigh and only rising a little way.

It also sounds as though your stirrups could be a bit short but I can't tell without seeing a picture.

Hope this helps.

[Cheko]

I always remain straight in the rising trot. I have had lessons from trainers that say you should incline slightly forwards but the majority seem to favour straight so when you sit you are more secure in the saddle and able to give a stronger seat aid should it be needed before rising again. So what is it folks?

[Bay Mare]

I have always been told to think about pushing the hips forward BUT that the movement is initiated by being propelled out of the saddle by the horse's movement rather than actively rising (does that make an ounce of sense? I know what I mean but it's not coming out very well :rolleyes: ).

I always get told to come slightly more forward as I am very upright and can come behind the movement but it's more a 'rock' than a huge movement.

I have also been taught to sit back lightly in the saddle and not think about pushing into it (which will only cause the horse to hollow and/or shoot out from under you which some people see as impulsion).

[Mehitabel]

upper body *very slightly* forward so that when you swing your hips up and forward towards your hand,s, you're straight again.

[galadriel]

Thanks for the kind words about my site, josieP :)

And another article that might be slightly helpful in this instance is the article on posting:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/400-trotting/

[Susara]

thanks for the reponses! The lorienstable articles are very clear, thanks. To help with 'wrapping' your leg - I've heard that people tie their stirrups to the girth, so your body gets used to the feeling. Any comments? I've also heard to do light seat in shortened stirrup straps, so your calf muscles can stretch. That a good idea? I try to keep my stirrups longer, but someone commented Monday that it seems I have to point my toes to get to the stirrups, so I shortened them again.

Then about that 'pushing the hips forward'... I tried actively pushing my hips forward. It is feels akward, and I tend to loose my balance after a few strides because it takes a lot of effort, I think it's that 'behind the movement' that Bay Mare mentioned. But if you think it might help me keep straight I'll try to practice like that.

Rising without stirrups.... *sigh*. Somehow I _knew_ someone was going to suggest that :-). I just feel so sorry for my horse because really, I'm horrid at riding without stirrups. My horse has a wonderful canter and my stirrupless canter has improved quite a bit, at least.

[galadriel]

I really hate the idea of tying the stirrups to the girth; it seems extremely unsafe to me.

What you can do is pick a marker; then every time you go by that marker, check your position. (You can use the gate to the arena, or passing by an obstacle, etc.) This will allow you to continue in the correct position, without something as dangerous as tying the stirrups. Getting into the habit of checking yourself regularly is good for your riding anyway :)

The stirrups should be wherever they do you the most good. Do you have someone on the ground who can watch you at different stirrup lengths, and tell you when you're sitting the best?

In posting, you shouldn't need "active" movement as you're rising. The horse's back should do all the work. If you only come up off the horse's back about an inch or so, that's fine! You don't need to add any energy. You just have to control the direction and make sure that you sit softly.

[Tootsie4U]

Full chaps! You stick like glue! :D:D Of course, then you develop a dependacy on them... theres always a catch....

[carrimclaren]

I didn't like those stirrup straps which hold your stirrup to the saddle. I used them once in a lesson and hated them as okay they work as in you can't move your leg but it was a problem when the horse i was on reared and i couldn't get enough leg on because i couldn't get my feet to respond with enough pressure because they were stuck. After that i told them i didnt care how crap my lower leg was i wasn't using them again as i felt unsafe in the fact that my lower leg wasn't strong enough to put enough pressure on and i couldn't get the horse a dig to say stop it because i couldn't move my foot.

Susara, i have the same problems as you at the moment. My lower leg lacks strength so i end up having either a wobbly leg or flapping and trying to kick. I've been trying to concentrate on without stirrup work each time i school, even if it's just 10-15 minutes and i think it's starting to pay off now.