Lower legs

[nic1]

Hello! I've written a long tirade about my unstable lower legs in rising trot under the 'Training of the rider' forum but here goes again....Basically I cannot keep my lower legs still in rising trot. I've read Heather's book and I'm trying to rise correctly and not place myself in a 'chair seat' but I'm still having problems. I think it's because I've jammed my heels down because I'm fine sitting and in canter so.....Any help gratefully received (the riding school horses will thank you for it - as will I)
PS if you need further details about my problem read the other forum - I was a bit verbose - many thanks
Nic1

[qwerty]

Hiya!
I had the same problem, my legs kept flying everywhere! :p
I found that if you use the horses body as a kind of splint it will help your legs. Don't push into the horse though or they will canter.:eek:

Hope it helps

Qwerty

[Tbgirl]

In the rising trot it's hard to keep your legs still! I had the same exact problem. I can only suggest keeping your lower legs attatched to the horse's sides...just to let him/her know that your are there.Keep your heels lightly against his/her sides and just let your heels flex down when you come up in your post. Try not to grip with your lower leg, just kind of "hug" your horse with them. Almost as though your trying to keep a ball in between your legs, and if you move them you'll lose the ball. Almost the same as the horse, you'll lose contact with the horse if you move your legs. I hope this helps!

[ros]

Hi,
I've been riding 40 years and I've only just sorted out my rising trot - I had a session at Heather Moffett's, starting on her equisimulator, and within the first half hour I realised what my problem has been all this time. I've always felt unstable both above and below the saddle in rising trot. I'd be fine for a while, but every so often something would happen and I'd lose balance in my upper body, which in turn made my legs wobble about. Basically, each time I sat I was trying to return my seat too far forward in the saddle, which made my upper body too upright, so I couldn't retain my balance. I was doing that because I was worried about landing my weight too far back and impeding the horse. But if you touch down LIGHTLY it's fine - you can keep your upper body tilted forward slightly, land your bum further back in the saddle to retain an easy angle, and that way you don't lose your upper body balance, so your legs in turn are more stable. (You'll always get a degree of movement of course, as they follow the horse.) You may not have the same problem as me, but hope this helps.