Keeping the leg in the right position

[pengapenga]

I am helping my daughter with her riding, and she is having trouble keeping her legs in the right position. Her legs are always way behind the girth, any further back and they will be on top of the horses rump :rolleyes: The position gets worse in trot and cosequently she is not rising trot properly. What excersises can I do with her to improve her leg position. I have tried explaining that when she is in the correct position she could draw a straight line from shoulder to heel.

Got the pic up now. It is one of her bareback, none showing leg position whilst on saddle sorry. However as you see the position from the knee to ankle is back a bit when she is in the saddle it is noticably further back and her heel is up (not shown in this pic unfortunately) was just trying to give you some idea of how she sits. I have browsed the net to see leg positions and her position is definetly to far back.

[laura jeanne]

No picture attached.

[pengapenga]

Sorry could not get it to attach, computer not happy :rolleyes: will keep trying :)

[pengapenga]

Pic up now :)

[Tootsie4U]

Could be the saddle pitching her forward.

However, I dont see a darn thing wrong with her position in that pic. Her heel's right under her hip! ++++

To be honest, I'd rather see a leg back too far than forwards too far.

But since you asked here's an exercise that will surely point out to her where her leg *needs* to be (ie. the correct position).

Have her stand straight up in her stirrups at walk and trot (and canter if she's able). If you are not in the utmost correct positon, you wont be able to stand. Legs back too far, you'll fall forward. Legs front too far, you'll fall back. You'll only be able to stand if you're in that ear-hip-heel line. Once she's standing for a few strides, have her really focus on where her body parts are and what it feels like and then have her try to achieve the same feeling sitting in the saddle.

[CityGirl]

My guess would be that she is pinching with her knees which is sending her lower leg swinging back. Maybe have her work in saddle without stirrups & really focus on keeping her weight centered in the saddle & riding from the torso as opposed to her heels?

[pengapenga]

Could be the saddle pitching her forward.

However, I dont see a darn thing wrong with her position in that pic. Her heel's right under her hip! ++++


I too thought it was the saddle, but just thought I was imagining things, yesterday I was in the tack shop looking at saddles and noticed that the saddle we have seems to have more padding. I think I should get new tack for Mysty, all the tack came with her.

Yes that pic was not a very good example I did notice that she is in a good position, was just trying to show that when in the saddle her leg is quite a lot further back which seems to make her heels go up. I know not explaining myself really well :rolleyes: :o unfortunately I don't have a side shot of her when she is using the saddle.

Thanks for the excersise tip, I have been asking her to ride without stirrups, I also have her standing up in the stirrups and she does pitch forward this is very noticable when she trots :) so will keep asking her to do these excersises :)

Thanks for your help :) She does weekly riding lessons and she does not seem to be so noticable.

[cvb]

pengapenga

who taught her rising trot ? Could she have the idea she's got to "stand up" and hence is over-rising ? and off her knee hence the swing ?

what's her sitting trot like ?

an image that seems to work is to tell her she has your weekly shopping hanging in carrier bags off her feet ;)

Now ask her to go sitting first, and let the HORSE make her rise - i.e. she turns the "bump" into a trot... see if that helps ? She may just be trying too hard...

[pengapenga]

pengapenga

who taught her rising trot ? Could she have the idea she's got to "stand up" and hence is over-rising ? and off her knee hence the swing ?


She has weekly riding lessons and they are teaching her rising trot. She seems to prefer the sitting trot though and is ok in a sitting trot when loses concentration she will bounce a lot. At lesson they do not correct her leg position although it is not as pronounced there as it is on Mysty.

I have been doing the halt and half halt that was discussed in my thread the other day which is why I noticed that she does not have a very good leg. position. I like the shopping bag idea, she is good at imagining things.

Now ask her to go sitting first, and let the HORSE make her rise - i.e. she turns the "bump" into a trot... see if that helps ? She may just be trying too hard...

I will get her try to rise using this method. Sometimes I think she does not quite understand the instructor and is tooo shy to say so :)

[Tootsie4U]

Mehitabel has said a few times before to imagine what would happen if suddenly your horse wasnt underneath you anymore? Would you land on your feet or on your backside?

Maybe she'll understand that concept. It worked for me when teaching some of the kiddies. If their legs slipped, I'd ask them where would they land if Rosie suddenly wasnt underneath you anymore? 9 times out of ten they'd pull their legs into the right position and I didnt even have to tell them if they were too far forwards / too far back.

[pengapenga]

another great concept :D we shall have this discussion tomorrow :)