calf doesn't wrap around completly

[Elaine]

I've been having trouble wrapping my legs completly around my horse. It seems that the top portion of my calf is gently touching, while my lower calf can not touch my mare without me pulling my leg too far back. I've never had a problem with my knees gripping, but it seems that my leg is either too far forward or too far back. I know that I need to work on toning my calves, but can anyone suggest how I can fix this problem? Thank you very much for reading this:)

[Tina J]

Sounds to me as if your toes are pointing out so the bulge of your calf muscle is getting in the way. If your toes either point forward, or at about 5 to 1, then it is the side of your leg that is brushing the sides of the horse, and the calf is much flatter there.

But I wouldn't get too hung up on it. Concentrate on getting your seat right, with your pelvis flexible, and making sure that your thighs aren't gripping. As you get more supple and stronger your lower leg comes into place fairly naturally. Trying too hard is counter productive as it makes you tense, pushes your seat out, that upsets your balance and your lower leg wanders.

[Heather]

Don't worry about not having the lower portion of your calf/ankle in contact, as long as your toes are facing forwards. It depends a lot on the length of your leg and the size of horse that you are riding- if you are a small short legged rider on a big horse, then the calf will indeed wrap round more easily all the way down, but if you are a long legged rider, even on a big horse, as the leg will be round the lower half of the horse's ribcage, to actually get your ankles to bend in under the ribcage as it drops away and rounds, would be a physical impossibility, unless you wer awfully bandy legged!

Heather

[lamprellsarah]

hmm, so let me get this straight you are meant to have you ankle bone on the horses side, ok i am a tall rider, on a tallish horse, i don't think i could get my legs right around without being bow legged!!!
put put me on a small horse, then i feel my legs gripping more, and my legs curve!!

[fizz21]

When I ride my calf always seem to move a bit backwards and my right foot stays in the right place in the stripup(sp) but my left leg seems to be the problem :(

Why does this always happen to me?

[lamprellsarah]

hi ya i had the same problem too, although i hadn't noticed it i was slightly off balanced with my rising in trot, and i also posted on the same leg, when i changed the posting i found myself very unstable, but found if i get going with it, my legs became better, and so became stronger and more stable!! i also do a lot more work without stirrups and posted while without stirrups, and some bareback!!
when posting without stirrups you may find that you will start going to one side, you will soon be able to tell which oe is weaker!!!
i am not saying this is your problem but it may be something to think about!!

do you do this in all gaits or just some, i only did it in trot!!!

and i hope it does help :) :D :)

[fizz21]

I get the problem in trot and in canter :(

But my jumping is fine sometimes

[lamprellsarah]

well you may find your canter will improve with your trot, as long as you keep you heels well down in canter you should find it easier!!!

[fizz21]

My heels are also a prob as well

[Heather]

HI LamprellSarah,

I think that you must have misread my reply- as I state that for tall riders to get the whole leg in place and wrapped round would be very difficult, and would not suggest that you try to get your ankle bone in contact at all, particularly on some horses who drop away under the lower part of your claf, or you would indeed end up bandy legged, or as my Grandma used to say 'He/she wouldnt' stop a pig in a passage'!

Heather

[Wally]

"Coudn't stop a pig up an entry" is my Dad's saying! I've always loved it as it conjures such a lovelly mental image!:D

[lleeaannee]

I have the problem that I can't point my toes forwards even on the groound. I can on the ground but it twists my knees and hurts. Do you know of any way to stop this?

[lamprellsarah]

oh thanks heather yeah did misread it then!!!
also why do you have to keep your toes pointing forward?? i try to, and although i don't completely succeed i don't look pigeon toed either!!
heels!!! i find loads of no stirrup works well, also exercises, on and off the horse, standing up in your stuirrups and trying to stay straight and not have to hold on helps, but is hard!!

also that pig thing it's a bit weird not sure what to make of it, never heard it before!!! :) :D ;)

[Elaine]

Thank you all for the advice! I think that my toes are not pointing forward, mainly because I've been doing classical ballet for over 12 years now and my legs have been trained to just turn out! :D