Get The Correct Leg Position Riding Your Horse [Made Easy]
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- čas přidán 31. 03. 2022
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You need to have a good, stable leg position while riding your horse to give your horse correct and reproducible leg aids. If you can't do this, you risk confusing your horse, and then the horse has no chance of doing what you request of him. In this video, I explain what the correct leg position looks like. First, I explain the classically correct leg position, then I tell you about the 2 most common faults riders have with their leg position, and then if you wait until the end, I give you a tip on leg pressure.
This horse riding lesson is for beginners through to advanced riders. If you want to train your horse you need to have a correct horse rider position as it is your most valuable asset. If you are looking for some dressage training for beginners through to advanced riders I hope you find my videos helpful.
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• Get The Correct Leg Po...
Your position in the saddle is your greatest asset so take time to work on it. Your horse will love you for it. 🐴
@PalestineWillBeFree2yess inshaalah
Total knee out girl here. I tried this the other night....pulling the back of my thigh out of the way, and turned my heels OUT to roll my leg in. Oh my goodness, my balance was better, my posting was better, everything was better. You are the first person to help me get my legs correct! I thought I was just doomed with bad conformation! I recently found your videos and I'm getting a ton out of them. Keep them coming!
I'm so glad you like them Shannon. Thank you for taking the time to comment I truly appreciate it 🙏
Thank you so much for this video - you've broken down the mystery of a good seat into a really simple idea - it's very kind of you to share this with us! I'm definitely a "knees out" rider because I always learned gripping with the knees is bad. No-one ever told me the opposite would also be a problem even though it makes total sense after you have explained it so well! I'm excited to try the correct placement you described so I can be in better balance with my horse ☺️
I hope you found that correct placement Louise 🙂
I’m a recovering knees out rider. Creating new muscle memory takes a lot of practice but yes it’s so worth it. Loved the pointers in here about leg placement too. I will be checking in on my leg placement per your pointers on my next ride
I hope they help. 🙂
I love your videos & watch them between my riding lessons to prepare, they are helping me so much and give me confidence both with the horse and also with asking my tutor questions so a HUGE THANK YOU!! You have a fantastic way of explaining in detail which helps me understand as I'm a total newbie to horse riding. By the way you are both absolutely "CZcams superstars" 😂❤
The clearest and most helpful explanation I have ever heard. Thank you!!
After 20 years off riding I knew my trot was off but couldn’t work out why! Must remember to point my knees forward and not out, thanks for your tutorials they’re fantastic
I’m so glad you like them. 🙂
Thank you so much for this weeks video. Such easy to understand advice. I’m definitely a knees out rider. But you’ve helped me understand where I should be and how little pressure I need. Bless you Josie. Now I can’t wait to ride tomorrow .
Veronica so nice to see you comment here. Thank you 🙏🏻. I hope this helps you and your beautiful horse 😊
Great instruction on leg position. You are absolutely correct on all accounts. My instructor used to tell me, “drape my legs on the side of my horse like a hunk of meat slapped onto the side of my horse.” In other words, do not grip with your legs but let your legs drop naturally with continuous light contact throughout your thighs to lower calves. Your thighs are relaxed normally.
This is an area I'm struggling with! I'm being told to turn my toes out which pulls my knees away from the saddle & creates more of a bounce, throwing me more off balance. I'm struggling to get my heels down & back, but keep my calf pressure on...other's seem to get this so easily. I find if I ride without stirrups it's easier to get the correct leg position, which tells me I'm too reliant on the stirrups for balance
I cant wait to get on a horse and be mindful of this now! I used to have an amazing seat and then i had a baby and its never been the same 😅 im definitely a knee open type now!
Thanks for the video!
Have just subscribed, as a 'mature' learner I am struggling with leg position and finding that I'm using the stirrups to do rising trot. The info on this video is very useful. Will keep watching other video, thanks.
Thank you, very informative video!
I find your explanations so helpful! Thankyou❤
I’m a knee out girl and this has really helped. Going to work on this on Sunday😊Thanks
You are welcome Natasha. I hope it helps 🙂
Thanks to you and Spider so much for this video .... very helpful ... my horse and I both appreciate it very much :)
Thank you very much, this was very helpful indeed.
thank you for this. the description that your seat goes from knee to knee was very helpful!
Excellent video! Thank you ❤
You are so welcome! 🙂
Absolutely brilliant.
I’ve been gripping with my knees and you just helped me so much.
Thank you
Getting back into riding after about 20years! Taking riding lessons.
Feel like I’m a beginner again, it’s awful!
I found it so awkward to sit properly. Could hardly even stand up in the saddle.
I hope I improve. I love horses…
Thank you for this video. I think I’m a mix depending on the day! Now I can find some consistency and feel seated properly at last.
This makes so much sense, I’m a knee out girl and am definitely going to have a go at this now, thank you
I grip with my knees. Love your videous! So clear and helpful for me to train my horse.
Precious information, thank you a lot for the video🌟
You are welcome 🙂
Thanks for this video, Jodie. My challenge is keeping enough weight in my stirrups so my lower leg isn't floppy.
What an excellent video. I'll check this during my next riding... love it❤
Thank you 🙏
Thank you, stunning horse❣
💕
You've made it so much clearer. Thank you.
You are welcome 😊
Thank you very much for this video!! I’ve never heard it all explained like this and it now makes sense to me. I love all your video’s. Please keep them coming.
You are so welcome!
Hey Josie I enjoy your videos and break down and explains. I’ve been back to riding after many years off so starting over basically. My instructor is good but I think her experience is so far advanced she forgets what it’s like to be a beginner. I’ve also have found Sally Swifts book to be helpful. I’m gonna try putting some of these tips into practice today. Appreciate you sharing talents and time with us.
What an excellent explanation thank you, at the moment I'm a knee out but after watching this video it will be in the diction we are going in.
Best explanation ever! You have a gift, thank you for sharing it!
Thank you so much Suzanne. 🙏
Your channel has helped me so much with my horse. Thank you for taking the time to make all these videos!
You are so welcome! 😊
Im a knee out girl. Your videos are great and easy to understand, I love them, keep them coming😊
Wonderful video - thank you! I will be using some of your explanations with my students next week :)
I hope the find it useful Jackie 😊
Fantastic video thanks! I think I do all of these things depending. This will help me be more aware.
Fabulous 🙂
I have been flopping around a bit and didn't know why until I saw this video. I just started seriously riding this year. Your videos have been very helpful.
THIS VIDEO CHANGED MY LIFE !!!!
Love the analogy of the wet towel! Can’t wait to try it out on my next ride. Thanks!
Let me know how you go 😊
I love your videos very interesting thank you. Xx
Glad you like them!
Amazing analogy that shows perfectly the amount of pressure needed, keep it up please.
Thank you 😊
Great video and thank you for sharing. LOVED the wet towel description. So very helpful!
You are so welcome!
Knee out, grip in, and more! Thanks for these useful tips , will work on them.
I hope they help you 😊
I love you!! Always something I can actually use! Spider is a rockstar ❤️
I’m so glad the videos are useful 😊
Grip with my knees, been out of riding for about 10yrs so I need all the CZcams videos I can get had 3 lessons and I am back to canter but going to work on my seat and balance ❤
Great video as always - loved the wet towel analogy!
That's the analogy that helped me the most. 🙂
Love your videos,
Thank you 😊
Hi Josie, I am really enjoying your videos as in the past two months I have got back into horse ownership after many years raising my family. I am 55 so need to work on flexibility and riding my horse Arthur has been great. He has needed to transition from hunting and was very spooky and I realised that I am back to learning to ride again so your videos are so relevant to us both. Thankfully it has been going well but long way to go before a first dressage test!! Looking forward to your videos coming out and watching previous videos of yours.
I’m so glad they are helping you 😊
Thanks you so much for sharing this. I used to grip so tightly with my knees to stay on. I am working on an independent seat. This video has given me so much to think about....
I'm glad you like it 🙂
amazing videos thank you
You are welcome ☺️
Oh thank you for explaining so easily. I used to ride confidently until I started my BHS AI course, the instructor got me paranoid about my leg position as she was so into dressage that I felt and still feel that I have to ride long and deep, it takes over my enjoyment of riding as I cannot get out of my head the dressage position, to allow me to jump, I love schooling don't get me wrong, but I feel stuck in this long stirrup position and when I shorten the stirrups I feel a mess, your explanation has helped me no end, thank you so much xxx
Totally a knees out girl! I’m attributing that to riding western most of my life but have made the switch to English, as I want to get into jumping! My trainer has been kicking my butt about my lower leg!
Thank you so much! LOVE all your videos. I am knew at riding (1 year with 2 different skilled horses) and the Basics for me is so important.
For me it’s not the knees, it’s keeping my balance and NOT bend forward…I need to sit in the saddle. I appreciate you mentioning using the upper leg thighs bum…and not the stirrups to do post trot. What helped me understand is that the horse’s hind leg will assist me with my post trot wow that in itself is an eye opener. Again thanks happy I found your videos much appreciated 😍
Thank you for your lovely comment 😊. Just remember that there is weight in the stirrup but we don't "stand up" in the irons to get out of the saddle.
thank you. now understand more how i should position my hip. close the hip. hope it will help to do posting trot . look fwd to try tmrw in my lesson.
How did you go?
This video is very helpful thank you I have always pinched with my knees I’m trying to fix it but my balance isn’t very good either but thank you so much for the video it really helped I just pinch on with my knees to try to be more secure and stuck to my seat btw I’m a very , much beginner
Thanks for this video! I’m definitely a knee pincher, and as I try to correct the “hinge” post from pinched knees, I’ve ended up standing in the stirrups instead. Now I’m trying to shift into doing the “thigh roll.” Your advice has always been super helpful!
I’m glad it helps Shannon 😊
Thank you for this! I struggle with leg position.I have to say I used to pinch and put all the weight in my knees. To break that habit I pointed my knees out! Crazy solution but I think I now can feel when I use my leg as you described.
Sometimes we need to do the polar opposite to break a habit Michele. Now you can just aim for the middle ground 😆
Love your videos. I'm 57 this year and my pony is 19 year old Dales Pony and we need all the advice we can get 🙏😂 🍀🇮🇪💚 Thanks Liz Cavan, I Ireland 💚
Thank you Liz 💚 🍀 💚
Very clear and concise explanation. I judt want too add something I discovered was not to put too much pressure and weight into the stirrup!
🙌 Thats a hard one too for the beginner rider as they think they need to "stand" in their stirrups to rise.
Thank you! Very usefull information for beginners , like I am. Would like to learn more on trotting and loping pisitions for the rider. Thanks.
Canter Video czcams.com/video/sV15zgxPGVI/video.html
Rising Trot Video czcams.com/video/DlgVo1Oohls/video.html
Thank you , thats exactly what i needed to hear ! At first i kind of hugged the hourse with my lower legs ...and then someone told me to grip with the knees ...and actually that person told me that his trainer used to put a papper at the knee spot and they had to make shure they dont drop it ...so i was holding with my knees lately :(
I was also taught to hang on with my knee.
Great video.
Thank you 😊
❤thanks Josie I'm also a knee out girl haven't ridden a long time now so want to improve my seat thanks so much for this
You're so welcome!
Hey Josie,
I’ve discovered your videos recently and I am hooked. You and Spider are awesome!
I’m a knee out girl, btw 😎🐴
Thank you 🙂
I'm getting so much out of your videos , love tnem
I’m glad they are helping Janet 😊
I am definitely a knee grip girl. That wet towel analogy is so great! Thank you!!
So glad you liked it.
I love this horse☺️
I know he would love you too 😊
I’m struggling with the knee out and foot turning out when going into trot and canter I need to work on this more thank you for the tips
I sure love when you have Spider in the videos 😁. He is a gorgeous boy. So I am the correct leg, knee pointed forward and I also describe to my students how to post by saying that they need to rely on the grip of their thighs and the power of the horses haunches pushing them up to help them rise out of the saddle. For me it's about being one and well connected with the horse 😁. I even teach them to post without irons to help with it so they don't end up getting lazy and relying on pushing from the irons.
Posting without irons is a fabulous exercise isn't it Roxanne. I still do it to this day and am always amazed at how quickly I get fatigued but when you take your irons back...wow you notice how much you were using them and how little you actually need to!
@@BasicHorseTraining same for me and so then I'll jump on a horse bareback and even post bareback. That's a killer 😆
Oh I will have to try that. It’s been years since I’ve ridden bareback! I used to love it 😊
@@BasicHorseTraining 😁 always an amazing workout.
I like your videos it is going to help me win I ride my horse Nannette
Thank you for all the tips and insides. My horse is oversensitive of any pressure on her body when I'm riding. We are now 5 months riding under the saddle. When I give her leg pressure, she kind of panics and wants to run of. With your tips I hope she will understand in time that I am not so bad.
I don't know what is actually happening with your horse as I cant see but sometimes when horses go faster we can "grab/Squeeze" a little more with our legs or even lean a little forward as an instinctual self-preservation reflex. This can cause the horse to go even faster and then it becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling loop. Just check that you don't increase your leg pressure by accident. When you give a leg aid start at a scale of 1 (in pressure) and move up to as far as you need to get her to give you a response then take the pressure away. She may only require a 1 but you are always giving her a 4?? Also, remember that hot horses do need to accept the leg and lazy horses need to be ridden with limited leg pressure. 🙂
Thank you for this video, I am wondering if there are any horse riding places that are able to aid for Above Knee Amputee? I really want to ride horses again, and would love info on somewhere that has knowledge on this.
My lower leg and heel trends to swing a bit
I just started riding, and now I get when my teachter sad to look at my riding pants! I am a leg off woman. Great video!
Hey Josie! I love your videos. I was wondering if you had any advice/exercises for maintaining and improving balance on ponies. I ride a 13.3 pony and she’s super green and wobbley at times. Love your work!
Hi Lexie, It shouldn't make too much difference whether it is a horse or a pony that you are riding the balance exercises would be the same. What is different is the fact that when we are on a smaller horse/pony our weight and height have a much greater impact on their balance. If you have a sack of potatoes on top of a tall stick and carry it on your shoulders it will cause you more issues if it moves around than a sack of potatoes moving around close to your shoulders. So my answer is balance exercises should be the same whether you are riding a horse or pony BUT we need to make super sure that we are sitting very central and in balance on a pony. BTW young and green horses are always a bit more wobbly. Ride nice long straight lines and big sweeping bends until you feel she is more balanced. When you change across the diagonal try to come onto the alongside a bit before the corner so she has time to find her balance again before you expect her to turn. I hope that helps 🙂
Knee pincher here and my knees were hurting after riding. Thank you for this video
Your welcome 🙂
Excellent video... Thank you! What breed of horse is Spider? He's so handsome!
Another great video!
Really good analogy too!
Poor Spider, the life of an equine CZcamsr 😆
This video was his dream job! Just stand around looking gorgeous 🤣
@@BasicHorseTraining Right!!!
just before you said that I was thinking how content he looked just standing there looking like the gorgeous specimen of a horse he is. There’s just something about him😊Even though there is a great distance between us being on opposite ends of the world, I can clearly see it. He just exudes charisma and charm.
ALL your horses are gorgeous💛
Oh thank you. I am so very lucky that they are in my life 💕. If you ever venture to Oz I would love to catch up and Spider would love to meet you 🤗
@@BasicHorseTraining I would absolutely love to! It’s a dream destination for me.
I think I told you that shortly before my grandfather died, winter break of my senior year in high school, he was asked to come & coach the women’s softball team for the Olympics.
He stayed for six months and also visited New Zealand and Sweden.
He would’ve been there mid to late 1990s
I’d love to go and visit some of the places he took pictures of.
Thanks for being such a lovely human Josie💛
Make sure you let me know so we can organise something 🥰
I’m a knee out guy, not girl! lol!
Love how you explain things in everyday terms, i.e. wet towel
Thank-you!
You are so welcome!
@@BasicHorseTrainingпожалуйста, напишите всё, что вы сказали на видео, чтобы я могла воспользоваться переводчиком и понять ваши объяснения.
I think I am both a knee out and a knee grip rider at this point. 🙄 Lots to work on here! As always, thanks for great descriptions!
Em the work never stops as there is always something to work on 😆
I would love to know what exercises you do to help with flexibility in the hip - as I have gotten older I have started to have the exact same problem of feeling like I need to reach down and pull my thigh "padding" back so that I can lay my leg in the correct position. I know my hip flexors are tight so that causes problems as well.
This all creates an interesting issue as I find that I actually end up twisting my knee and ankle inward to compensate for not being able to lay the thigh flat, which obviously causes a fair bit of pain in the hip, knee, and ankle since those joints are not supposed to work that way 😅
second this post.
I love your videos! ♥ My issue is I think my legs are not the same length, so one stirrup is a perfect fit, while another one is either too long or too short. If I had my own saddle I could prob fix that easily.
Thank you so much Laylla’s Locker. I love to make them for you 🙂
The stirrup leathers may be stretched to different lengths. Often the left leather is longer due to getting on that side and if they aren't rotated it will cause a lot of issues.
@@BasicHorseTraining ye. That makes sense! I will ask in the club where I train. Thank you!
Lovely horse
Thank you 😊
Are there exercises that can help develop the inner leg muscles to help make this seem more natural?
I’m struggling with my leg swinging forward in front of the girth (more predominantly my right leg, rather than my right). I understand how my leg position should look… but not sure how to solve. My trainer even took my stirrups away & found my leg position was more accurate without them. Any tips & tricks?
Thank you for this movie! Great example with the towel. I' m a straight knee rider. But my fiance is outside knee and feet rider. That's how he is built and when I'm teaching him ( he is very beginner) he can't seat correctly because it is very uncomfortable for him. Any advice Josie? Truly I don't think there is any hope...
Ann I would get him to do some stretches. It shouldn't "hurt" and as much as we need to stretch our limits to improve and become more flexible we shouldn't cause ourselves pain. Remember that he only needs to do a little every day and tiny improvements add up to big ones over time.
I recently saw a video of myself riding and I think I have a knees out and lower leg slightly back. I know, I should ride better but, I cannot help but think it is because my mare is a very thick and heavy Friesian as well. (Don't get me wrong... I love her and have had her for over 14 years). But, her body has been a challenge: Thick and very heavy to ride. So, I think I have developed knees out and leg back riding position. I will work on your suggestions.
I received your email and I’m happy to look at your video but there was no video attached. Just a photo.
Thanks for breaking it down. I think I turn my knees out when my legs get tired and i'm trotting.
Perhaps when you feel that happening you could have a quick break. That way you can nip a bad habit in the bud?
An older instructor I had, 89, used to tell me to roll my thighs on. I guess that's the same thing? Than kid for the video
I guess it could be the same thing 🙂
I come from a dancing background and putting my knees and toes forward has being such a struggle, as most of my muscle memory goes back to turned out legs 😅
I really struggle with my knees and especially my feet position. I roll them out so I can almost "hug" the horse from my hip to my heel, thats what it feels like.
The Femur- hip joint is quite painful when I try to make them straight and my toes alllllways stick out.
It looks ridiculous 😂 But they always go back to that position, I don't know what to do
Excuse me,dear, I have a problem with my foot position special on canter my foot always lose the stirups
Hi after looking at your video I feel I have comment on your teaching of not standing in the stirrups. I must point out that this is not wrong. Many instructors will tell you the weight must be on the seat bones and in the heel. If you hold the horse lightly with you lower leg this helps and makes it easier and quicker to apply the aids. Also I feel that the tension from your hips is because you are using your thighs. Please take a look at showjumpers and cross country riders to see them use this principle.
Hi Susan, I think you might need to re-read your answer, it doesn't make sense. I think you have accidentally left the word "not" in front of the word "wrong". Perhaps you edited it and missed that word ... I do that all the time lol.
Every classical riding book I've read stated that you "don't" stand in the stirrups, yes there is weight in them but you don't stand in them, your weight is evenly distributed over your seat.
Showjumpers and cross-country riders ride in a two-point seat and that is just what it says. - two points of contact so the actual seat bones/ seat is not involved and therefore you have to "stand" in your irons.
When I ride with gaiters or chaps my riding is much better than without because the chaps/gaiters make me focus more on my legs. Don't know if it's only n mental thing or if someone else have the same 🙈
Where do I find your 3 principles of riding?
So excited to try these tips this weekend! Thank you! I started way late in life, took riding lessons at age 50 and am STILL working on a good leg and seat at age 64.
I hope they help gilliangirl1. I have been riding for years and I still work on my seat and legs everyday. It is a never ending journey but that is the beauty of it. 💗
Hi josi my horse is very sensitive to contact with the thigh on the saddle and moves of of it very quickly just wondering if you have any advice
This is a hard one to answer because it depends on what the horse is reacting to and I can't see his responses but I would like to tell you a saying that speaks to this. A "hot" horse should be ridden with leg on and a "lazy" horse should be ridden with leg off. What it really means is that you need to "desensitise" your horse to your leg - not make him dull but not reactive/hot.
@@BasicHorseTraining Thanks josi
I watched the correct alignment and then had to comment. I take it correct knee placement is for the benefit of the horse. Is it for his comfort or direction? Also, where is it written that if you do not ride in this manner that perhaps maybe you should not be riding? I say this because my knees get very angry after a while if too far bent. My right knee needs replacement which I refuse to do until I can absolutely no longer walk. So, my leg is almost straight while my other leg is just slightly bent. This is a bit comfortable for me and my horse has not yet told me she does not like my seat. Can you tell us where we can read who wrote this “proper rule of riding”? Thank you.
Hi Shirley, the "correct" position is written about in most books on dressage and it is for biomechanical reasons. It allows the rider to be the most comfortable weight for the horse to carry and it "helps" the rider to balanced and give aids independently.
I'm not sure why you wrote this sentence -
"Also, where is it written that if you do not ride in this manner that perhaps maybe you should not be riding?"
As I didn't say that and I haven't seen that written anywhere.
I am a Registered Nurse of some 38 years and my advice to you would be to get your knee done asap. I have NEVER heard anyone say that they wish they didn't get their knee replaced but everyone I know has wished they got it done earlier as they put up with pain for far longer than they needed to. My farrier even had both of his done at the same time and then was back doing his job pain-free. I truly hope you get relief from your knee pain as joint pain is not very nice.
I am definitely a gripper....trying very hard not to be though
You got this gaynor! 🙂