Unstable lower legs!

[nic1]

I'm now in my second year of lessons (being a non-owner) and a reoccuring problem has cropped up - my lower legs move backwards and forwards when in rising trot. I know that it's to do with my rising 'technique' (or lack of it) and I've read Heather's section on it in her book, but I can't seem to overcome this. I've tried correcting my position (so I'm not in the chair seat), avoiding gripping up and I'm trying to rise correctly so ..... The horse I usually ride is made 'back to front' so her back end is a lot higher than her front - but I don't think that's the problem because her trot is lovely to sit to (although the canter is pretty awful). One of my instructors suggested a lot more work without stirrups which is fine by me because I tend to ride better without them, but as soon as I retake them my legs move again. The riding school horses are very forgiving but this must annoy them (it annoys me!) I think that it may be because my heel is too low - any suggestions anyone?

[LindaAd]

Could it be that the horse's conformation is tipping you forward, nic1, so your legs move back to compensate? Then they go forward again as you sit. Have you tried asking your instructor to check that you are really sitting straight; that might feel to you as if you are leaning backwards. I don't see how low heels could cause the problem, not if your weight is going down through your heels.

A useful excercise might be to alternate sitting and rising trot - say, five strides of one followed by five strides of the others - and notice what your legs and your upper body are doing when you change from one to the other.

[fionahogg]

I imagine your problem stems from the incorrect position of the stirrup bars on the saddle you ride in, especially because you tend to ride better without stirrups. I take it that when you rise up your lower leg swings forwards? This would make the stirrup leather hang perpendicular to the ground. And when you sit (and apply a leg aid?) your leg swings backwards into the correct ear-hip-heel alignment? If this is the case then I shouldn't think your saddle is helping. To think about using your knee as a pivot. Make sure that when you rise up, your leg doesn't straighten out - the leg should still be bent at the knee because you swing forwards from the hip instead of just rising straight upwards. If you don't pivot from the knee then your lower leg will be very unstable and liable to swing forwards and backwards. The knee should be supple though; make sure you don't grip with the knee otherwise you'll tense the whole leg.

Hope this helps!

Fiona.

[skewbald]

i know your problem as i learned to ride on a horse that was for disabled riders so he had the bibs on the front of the stirrup that are shaped like a shoe so now when there are no bibs my feet slide in ans out and back and forth. it is so frustrating. and my instructor is tell ing me to keep my legs still but i can't!!!