How to get the rider's legs stiller

Two of the most common questions at clinics are:

            ► "how can I stop my legs moving?", and
            ► "how to I fix my twisted ankles?"

Do you see yourself on video and your legs go 'in & out' in rising trot?

Do your legs swing 'forward & back' in canter, or go 'round & round" in circles?  Are your pupil's heels up, or do their lower legs just wobble everywhere?

To stop the legs moving and gain the stillness of the master is not just elegant, it's safer!  A lower leg that is wobbling, bumping & flapping isn't just ugly, it's more unstable, and the rider therefore less confident.

A more controlled, still, leg, is safer and therefore builds the rider's confidence. 

And, to help the horse understand!   If the leg just moves everywhere, bumping & flopping, then it's hard for the horse to distinguish what is an "aid" and what is just "flapping & bumping" with the leg just moving everywhere.

Article 418 THE POSITION AND AIDS OF THE RIDER  

Download Official FEI Rules for free! 

1. All the movements should be obtained with invisible aids

2. Without apparent effort of the rider

3. Thighs and legs steady and well stretched downwards

4. The heels must be the lowest point

5. There shall always be the impression of harmonious co-operation between horse and rider.
    

Judges are becoming more and more educated in what to look for in the rider mark.  So, if they see 1) the rider kicking.  To be invisible the leg would have to be much stiller.  2) lots of effort from the leg, twisted ankles, moving legs 3) the leg moving & raised up kicking 4) instead of the heels down, the heels are up & kicking  5) kicking & forcing with the leg with the horse not co-operating and going forward

Legs often go in-out in rising trot, or swing forward and back in the canter, or go round in circles in sitting trot, or the heels are up, or they just wobble everywhere like a jelly fish..

With some very easy tips & tricks you can improve your legs every day.!

 

 BEST TIPS:

1. Foot support.   You've heard of the "ball of the foot"...well there are actually 5 balls of the foot.  On the photo on the right you can see the two riders, one with their "5th ball" behind the little toe supported, and the other with the outside of the stirrup too far forward, and the foot sagging below the stirrup, which in turn turns allows the ankle to twist, the knee to turn out and makes the leg less stable.
    

2. Heels down.  Not only is it an official rule that the heel must be down, it's also a safety issue!   See heels down.

3. Check your stirrup length.   When you take your feet out of the stirrups (and look up - don't look down!) the stirrup should sit just underneath the ankle knobble for flat work.   If it is lower, then it's too long, and everything will wobble everywhere.   The shorter the stirrup, the more stable the leg.  That's why jumpers have shorter stirrups!  If your heels are up, your stirrups need to be shortened - and the leg becomes stiller!.  To develop the "stillness of the riding masters" you need exactly the correct stirrup length - especially in the first years of your riding as you are training. 
   See:  Stirrup Length   

4. Saddle fit.  It's very difficult for the horse rider to keep their leg still if the saddle just doesn't fit them.  OK, it might have been fitted to the HORSE, but has it been fitted to the rider?   If your knees are going out over the front of the saddle, you need a more forward cut saddle.   If your butt hangs over the back...you need a bigger one.   All of these things contribute to leg stillness.

5. Learn to stand.  The no. 1 exercise I can give you (with correct stirrup length) to improve the heels, feet, ankles, lower and upper leg, and to stop the rider's legs flapping ad kicking unintentiallonally, and to make you stiller.  
   See Improving Your Balance

6. Find the stiller, most stable position.    I have again and again proven, by standing riders in the stirrups at halt safely, and  pushing their lower leg forward to see if they fall back in the saddle exactly WHICH position is safer.  Long straight "dressage legs", the riders fall down.   Grip with the knees, the riders fall down.   Turn the toes out, the riders fall down the fastest!   It's only when the foot is placed correctly in a correct length stirrup so that the knee is bent that the rider is able to stay standing.  Read the new rising trot article.  Have a look at www.colleenkelly.net & click on rising trot article.    That mentions in there about the belly button tracking straight.  That fixes most pelvic twists.

7. On the lunge.    A lot of instructors lunge and lunge their pupils, and obviously we do too, being a part of vaulting, however you have to be careful.  If you just let your legs flop and flap everywhere, it's not doing as much good as if you hold your legs in position.   Careful that holding onto the front of the saddle doesn't arch your back, and make you sit heavier on the pubic bone than the tail bone.  Be able to get the heels down and toes forward (or pointed toes of course for vaulting).

8. Doubling.    Yes, doubling.  It's just AMAZING how INSTANT this fix is!   When your doubling with another rider like you did when you were a kid, or like we do in team events in vaulting, you suddenly realise you keep banging their legs.   You instantly develop stillness of the leg as you match the other rider!  And, I've seen riders fix their bumping and wobbly legs in just a matter of minutes this way.   I often get the rider to put their big toes on the heels of the rider in front.  It's a brilliant - and fun - INSTANT fix!

9. Get a mirror.    No, it doesn't have to cost a lot of money.   Look in the 2nd hand trading post newspapers and find some 2nd hand mirrored sliding wardrobe doors you find in bedrooms.  They're brilliant, and for $50 or $100 you can get a whole set.   There is nothing that will create better riding faster than a mirror!  NOTHING!
   Check out:
   ►  Which stirrup moves more - left or right
   ►  Which stirrup is closer to the ground - left or right
   ►  Which stirrup moves more - left or right
   ►  Which foot is turned out the most?
   ►  Which stirrup moves more - left or right
   ►  In trot...Rise from the knee, and compare it to when you rise from the foot.   Which has the most movement?
   ►  Do you rise from the knee - do you rise from the calf?
   ►  Check out the speed...turn your toes out and check out the speed.   Turn them forward (checking in the mirror!) and notice how the horse goes slower.
    

10. Give it a genuine try!  When it comes the legs, you have to develop them to be stiller and stiller.  Give these things a genuine try and you will be amazed at the results.
    
    However, if you really don't practice, and really don't "give it a genuine go", then your results will speak for themselves
    
    I promise you, if you give all of these things a genuine try, your legs will get stiller and stiller, and more and more balanced.

 

 dedicated to Helen H.

 1. FOOT SUPPORT

Without support of the outside of the foot - the knee turns out - and leg becomes wobbly.   Notice in the right photo that you can see the inside of the stirrup.