STILL trying to keep my legs around the horse

[laura jeanne]

My instructor keeps telling me to wrap my legs around the horse. So she told me to turn my toes out more so that I would be squeezing the horse with the back of my knees (calves?). Maybe it's just not possible since I am short and the horse is over 16 hh and is very round. Still trying to understand what to do . . .

[galadriel]

You want as much of your leg touching the horse as possible. That's the bottom of your thigh, and the side of your calf. These should rest up against the horse's body. Having them there will help hold you in place (make you more stable and secure).

It will also distribute your weight along the whole of your leg, instead of just through your seatbone. You can think of it as sitting on your whole leg, not just on your seat.

You may have to take your knee partly off the horse in order to maximize the contact area. If you've been taught to grip with your knee, don't be anxious; you're NOT supposed to grip with your knee :) The important thing is to get as much of your leg against the horse as possible.

[laura jeanne]

Oh dear, that's my worst problem- gripping with my knees. That's the way I was taught so many years ago and when I started up again last year, I guess my instructor (former instructor) never noticed it and so I spent all last year still riding like that.

This instructor keeps after me about it. She said that I should try to over compensate for it by keeping my knee off the horse for a while to get out of the habit.

I thought we had a good lesson this weekend because it was just OH and me and we just did w/t/c and I spent most of it keeping "don't grip with knees and wrap legs around horse" in mind. (along with a zillion other things) sigh, I wish the whole thing could feel more natural. I plan to do as much trail riding as possible this year so that I get more riding time.

Galadriel, I know you think that the foot should be parallel and not pointed out, but since this is a hunter/jumper stable, maybe that makes a difference? Or is she just telling me that because the horse is so wide?

Thx

[galadriel]

It sounds to me like she's doing it partly to get your knee off the saddle.

The truth is that where your foot is pointed is nearly irrelevant; it's what your leg is doing that matters. It's just usually expressed by riding instructors as "point your toe in"--and they don't go into further depth about WHY you're supposed to point your toe in. In a lot of cases doing so aligns your leg in the best way.

It sounds like you are needing to go in the opposite direction for a while, to teach yourself to stop gripping, in which case pointing your toe out may be helpful.

[laura jeanne]

Thanks, I hope I'll be practicing again tomorrow night.

[galadriel]

Good luck :)

[stormbreaker]

hi laura

unless your horse is hugely round ie your legs hardly go past the saddle it shoudl be esier to put your rleg on a bigger horse, i have a wider boy and ride a narrow horse as well to keep my leg on the narrow horse i have to be bow legged almost.

ont of the best thing ive done that both keeps your legs on the horse and your knees off is this.

mkae sure you have aline between should hip and heel make sure your sat on your bum. now just let your toes point out wards. this will push your heels into the side of the horse make sure its not too hard it will also push your kneee out form the knee rolls. youll find that from your ankel to the top of your calf will be in contact with the horse now all you need to do is slowly turn your feet in. its taken me a couple of days to get it right and its not natural to me yet but it has helped me.

[kedwards]

I know you think that the foot should be parallel and not pointed out, but since this is a hunter/jumper stable, maybe that makes a difference?

Yes, it does make a difference. Standard US hunter equitation instruction teaches with the toe out at about a 30 degree angle, the stirrup angled, and the weight somewhat toward the inside of the stirrup. When I switched to eventing and dressage I had a very difficult time learning to use the inside of my calves rather then the inner-back of the calves (and am still working on it).

To be honest, I find that it's much harder to "wrap" my legs around a big horse from the position you describe, but it is standard US hunter equitation.

[RickInVirginia]

allow me to sugget, if I may< another (mental) approach...try thinking of allowing your legs to "drape" around the horse as if they are wet towels...you are not 'forcing' them into position, rather you are allowing them to rest against (and cling to, not pinch against)the horse's side. I thisk about this sometimes when I ride bareback, and it has helped my in-saddle riding also)

RIck in VA

[Elvengirl]

I second kedwards coming from doing a lot of equitation and medals up in Canada, they teach the same thing (toe out at 30 degrees) It's an ongoing battle for me to use the inside of my calf instead of closer to the back of my calf as my body conformation goes against having the toes forward (i am bow legged and my toes point out:o) I think having a nice long stirrup makes it easier to get the leg around the horse.