Lower Leg (in jumping)

[Brooke]

Hello everyone... i am wondering if anyone is willing to lend some advice to my lower leg. This is from mid last summer.... the jump was probally around 3'6. And i seem to have a problem with this saddle where my leg slides back like in this picture. I do have a small theigh block in my saddle but it doesnt seem to be doing any good. Over lower fences I dont seem to have this problem and my leg is strong.... any advice on drawbacks of doing this and how to fix it? thanks so much!

[Emily Roy]

i do the same thing... im slowly fixing it but its really frusterating lol.... ur pinching with ur knee (also what i do) so u need to find a way to train ur body to grip all throughout the leg.... but i dont really know of a good exercise to do to help that besides like no stirrups and such....

[Allison Horwith]

no stirrups. that's really the only thing that works. and i'd try to school sometimes with your knees way, way off the saddle to keep your calves in place, so your knees don't pivot. my trainer is making me do it, and it's effective. knee rolls are a blessing and a curse! haha.

[Brooke]

thanks! but the strange thing is i dont pinch my knee. i actually flail it open....

[Strange]

That's the only explanation for what you leg is doing. Even pinching a little can create a pivot which sends your lower leg back and your body forward.

[Brooke]

hmmmmm ok.

[Erin]

if you don't already wear spurs then pretend you are. press your leg where its suppose to be and if you continue to do that your leg will naturally stay there. i'm working on it at the moment...and its working!!

[HorseShowDad]

My local experts advice you to lose the thigh blocks and do posting trot without stirrups. This is from my wife and sister-in-law who have 50 years of combined riding amongst them.

[Trena]

i have this same problem, and have the knee rolls. i try to work without stirr ups often, because i know of the benefits. however, it doesn't seem to be helping. my instructors keep telling me to be long in the leg, which causes me to grip with my knees...and make the problem worse.
i thought the point of no stirr ups, was to strengthen your leg in the position it would be in, if you had stirr ups. this is obviously not possible if i'm long in the leg.

[Kristen]

I had the same problem but my trainer took a peice of baleing twine and tied it to my stirrups to make a loop and then when I would put the girth on I ran it throught the loop. At first it will feel awkward but your leg gets used to it and eventually you can take it off. My leg stays put now.

[Trena]

that would seem to be helpful. but wouldn't tieing your stirrups to your girth be potentially dangerous? also, i'm not sure you would be able to kick very well, if you happened to be on a lazy stubborn horse who won't go unless you kick.

[Kristen]

Well you make it not to tight so that your leg still moves but make it loose enough so it releases with pressure but make it tight enough so stays put while jumping. My trainer did this to me and I was riding Diamond who had the attitude of a hot TB.

[Sarah Markowitz]

yeah i agree this cant be fixed in a day i have the same problem too but i have been working on it. do a ton of no stirrups it really builds your leg muscles! also try not to pinch so much with your legs use you whole leg to wrap around your horse