doing no stirrup work - Page 3

Carri · 03-15-2009, 08:14 AM

I have been having this same issue, and my instructor recently walked over and changed my leg position herself, and pulled my thigh under me more. I was riding more with the back of my thigh on the horse, she changed it where it is more of the inside of my thigh on the horse. That has helped my whole leg, knee, calf, all of it, be in a better position. Now I have to build those muscles up correctly! I hope this makes sense, though, I didn't get it until she came over and put my leg on the horse correctly...

rivervu2 · 03-15-2009, 08:30 AM

With your feet in the stirrups reach down and place your hand under your thigh. Pull your thigh muscle up so that more of your inside thigh is in contact with the saddle. This should help.

Carri · 03-15-2009, 09:24 AM

There you go, that is what I was trying to say! Thanks, River!

NoniMe · 03-17-2009, 11:16 AM

The same sort of thing happens to my leg, Katie. My instructor calls me noodle legs, because sometimes, I can manage to have my entire leg on Tango, and still have my toes rotated outwards. LOL.

What helps me a lot, besides the thigh repositioning, is to keep my heels OUT. It feels like I'm in a pigeon-toed position, but I'm not...just rather like my feet are straight forward. Tango does better when I'm like this, and it's far easier to maintain balance and get up into 2-point and keep my legs long, weight in my heels...but it's really awkward.

Dunno if that helps any...but I know that when I can remember to check my toes and get them forward, everything on me (my calves, knees, thighs, and hips) all get into the right place.

Best-
Noni

kshnooks · 03-17-2009, 11:43 AM

thats a bit of my predicament as well...I was told to have my toes pointing slightly outward, I had been riding with my toes pointed forward and was having issues with putting too much pressure on the outside of the stirrup, causing my ankles to roll and putting too much stress on the outside of my calf. And actually, I do feel that I have better contact with my calf when my toes are pointed out at almost 45 degrees. *Sigh*. This durned horseback riding thing is much harder than originally thought it was!

I think part of my issue too is my physiology-big ol' thighs, itty bitty calves! LOL Add that to riding a fairly round horse=Katie's sucky equitation

NoniMe · 03-17-2009, 12:23 PM

I wasn't told to have my toes pointed out...they just naturally go there. Somehow, I manage to get my whole leg on Tango even with the toes pointed out.

Try this, the next time you're on your horse. Sit there, and experiment. Where are your legs when your toes are waaaaay out? A bit out? Straight? Heels pointed out? That exercise helped me understand what was happening to my knees...when my toes were out, my knees were out, too. When my toes were straight, my knees laid in the right spot. 'Course, when my toes were straight, I felt like I was pigeon-toed, but that's what it is.

As for the rolling of the ankle, put more weight in your heels. Not in your ankles, not on your toes...in your heels. If you're balanced in the saddle, you can have all your weight in your heels, and you can't roll your ankle without it throwing everything off above it.

Try this at home. Stand up straight, and roll one ankle out. Feel what it does to the hips, the back, the shoulder - see how it drops everything in the direction of the roll. Roll both heels out at the same time. See how that rocks you back and/or forward? Now, put imaginary bricks on your heels. Get all your weight on your heels. Try to roll one ankle without taking any weight off your heel. Can't do it. The bones/ligaments will take the heel sideways, and that means your weight is now on the outside of your ankles. Which, for me, hurts a lot. LOL.

When riding, I don't lift my toes, I sink down from my shoulders into my heels. I stand in the stirrups, and sit slowly down from my shoulders. What I find happens then is that sometimes, I come up a bit in the saddle - or rather, it's not my fat a$$ holding all my weight in the saddle; my weight does go down my legs into my heels...and if I can remember to do that when Tango's actually moving, it helps keep my heels down, and weight cues are more easily accomplished without me sliding around uptop on the saddle.

Give those two experiments a try, and see what I mean. And then, take some time the next time you're riding to see how your weight shift affects your horse...when you move this way, what does she do? That way, what's her response? You don't even have to be moving at much more than a slow amble...she'll shift under you to rebalance herself, and will teach you what happens when you have a bit more weight one side or the other...but take the time, and see what happens. It's very subtle, but it's amazing when you do it right...

And also, bear in mind that I might be able to do it on the ground or while slow ambling along, but I have lots of trouble when he's cantering doing the weight shifts...especially if my knees and ankles are outward bound...LOL...

And yes, it looks far easier on TV than in real life. But it's ever so much more fun to do it than sit on the sofa and watch, you know? Good on you for working hard...

Best-
Noni

kshnooks · 03-17-2009, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the tips, I definitely need to play around with my leg more and work on building some strength when it is in the "correct" position.

Meandmypal · 03-17-2009, 02:51 PM

WOW, I feel like I just got a free riding lesson!!! Wish I had found this thread this morning. Looks like rain now. Thank goodness, we need it. I keep sitting here trying to pretend I'm on my horse and what do I grip more with. Not really sure. I wish some of my instructors had done more than just ride around with me. Seems like I might have got the shaft abit. I watched a Clint Anderson segment on RFD today and went straigt outside to practice and did great posting, now wondering if I'd have got dumped if Tex had stopped suddenly. I'll be studying this thread and practicing in the morning. Tiki loved your posts on this one, you don't live to far may have to come down for a few lessons. I ride western though.

kshnooks · 03-17-2009, 10:30 PM

then I think you definitely need to sit in an english saddle!

You'll probably feel glued to your horses back afterwards.

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03-15-2009, 08:14 AM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,647	I have been having this same issue, and my instructor recently walked over and changed my leg position herself, and pulled my thigh under me more. I was riding more with the back of my thigh on the horse, she changed it where it is more of the inside of my thigh on the horse. That has helped my whole leg, knee, calf, all of it, be in a better position. Now I have to build those muscles up correctly! I hope this makes sense, though, I didn't get it until she came over and put my leg on the horse correctly...

03-15-2009, 08:30 AM
rivervu2 Started Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 2,407	With your feet in the stirrups reach down and place your hand under your thigh. Pull your thigh muscle up so that more of your inside thigh is in contact with the saddle. This should help. __________________ *"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have."* *Thomas Jefferson*

03-15-2009, 09:24 AM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,647	There you go, that is what I was trying to say! Thanks, River!

03-17-2009, 11:16 AM
NoniMe Seasoned Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,749	The same sort of thing happens to my leg, Katie. My instructor calls me noodle legs, because sometimes, I can manage to have my entire leg on Tango, and still have my toes rotated outwards. LOL. What helps me a lot, besides the thigh repositioning, is to keep my heels OUT. It feels like I'm in a pigeon-toed position, but I'm not...just rather like my feet are straight forward. Tango does better when I'm like this, and it's far easier to maintain balance and get up into 2-point and keep my legs long, weight in my heels...but it's really awkward. Dunno if that helps any...but I know that when I can remember to check my toes and get them forward, everything on me (my calves, knees, thighs, and hips) all get into the right place. Best- Noni __________________ Apparently, I have a warped sense of humor. "Who knew?"

03-17-2009, 11:43 AM
kshnooks Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,387	thats a bit of my predicament as well...I was told to have my toes pointing slightly outward, I had been riding with my toes pointed forward and was having issues with putting too much pressure on the outside of the stirrup, causing my ankles to roll and putting too much stress on the outside of my calf. And actually, I do feel that I have better contact with my calf when my toes are pointed out at almost 45 degrees. Sigh. This durned horseback riding thing is much harder than originally thought it was! I think part of my issue too is my physiology-big ol' thighs, itty bitty calves! LOL Add that to riding a fairly round horse=Katie's sucky equitation

03-17-2009, 12:23 PM
NoniMe Seasoned Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 4,749	I wasn't told to have my toes pointed out...they just naturally go there. Somehow, I manage to get my whole leg on Tango even with the toes pointed out. Try this, the next time you're on your horse. Sit there, and experiment. Where are your legs when your toes are waaaaay out? A bit out? Straight? Heels pointed out? That exercise helped me understand what was happening to my knees...when my toes were out, my knees were out, too. When my toes were straight, my knees laid in the right spot. 'Course, when my toes were straight, I felt like I was pigeon-toed, but that's what it is. As for the rolling of the ankle, put more weight in your heels. Not in your ankles, not on your toes...in your heels. If you're balanced in the saddle, you can have all your weight in your heels, and you can't roll your ankle without it throwing everything off above it. Try this at home. Stand up straight, and roll one ankle out. Feel what it does to the hips, the back, the shoulder - see how it drops everything in the direction of the roll. Roll both heels out at the same time. See how that rocks you back and/or forward? Now, put imaginary bricks on your heels. Get all your weight on your heels. Try to roll one ankle without taking any weight off your heel. Can't do it. The bones/ligaments will take the heel sideways, and that means your weight is now on the outside of your ankles. Which, for me, hurts a lot. LOL. When riding, I don't lift my toes, I sink down from my shoulders into my heels. I stand in the stirrups, and sit slowly down from my shoulders. What I find happens then is that sometimes, I come up a bit in the saddle - or rather, it's not my fat a$$ holding all my weight in the saddle; my weight does go down my legs into my heels...and if I can remember to do that when Tango's actually moving, it helps keep my heels down, and weight cues are more easily accomplished without me sliding around uptop on the saddle. Give those two experiments a try, and see what I mean. And then, take some time the next time you're riding to see how your weight shift affects your horse...when you move this way, what does she do? That way, what's her response? You don't even have to be moving at much more than a slow amble...she'll shift under you to rebalance herself, and will teach you what happens when you have a bit more weight one side or the other...but take the time, and see what happens. It's very subtle, but it's amazing when you do it right... And also, bear in mind that I might be able to do it on the ground or while slow ambling along, but I have lots of trouble when he's cantering doing the weight shifts...especially if my knees and ankles are outward bound...LOL... And yes, it looks far easier on TV than in real life. But it's ever so much more fun to do it than sit on the sofa and watch, you know? Good on you for working hard... Best- Noni __________________ Apparently, I have a warped sense of humor. "Who knew?"

03-17-2009, 02:19 PM
kshnooks Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,387	Thanks for the tips, I definitely need to play around with my leg more and work on building some strength when it is in the "correct" position.

03-17-2009, 02:51 PM
Meandmypal Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Fort Myers Florida Posts: 527	WOW, I feel like I just got a free riding lesson!!! Wish I had found this thread this morning. Looks like rain now. Thank goodness, we need it. I keep sitting here trying to pretend I'm on my horse and what do I grip more with. Not really sure. I wish some of my instructors had done more than just ride around with me. Seems like I might have got the shaft abit. I watched a Clint Anderson segment on RFD today and went straigt outside to practice and did great posting, now wondering if I'd have got dumped if Tex had stopped suddenly. I'll be studying this thread and practicing in the morning. Tiki loved your posts on this one, you don't live to far may have to come down for a few lessons. I ride western though. __________________ When I look into my horses eyes, I see my soul staring back.

03-17-2009, 10:30 PM
kshnooks Started Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,387	then I think you definitely need to sit in an english saddle! You'll probably feel glued to your horses back afterwards.