Could you help me with some equ problems please?

Question

Okay, when I go around corners or cirlces (especially in the posting trot), I don't notice it, but my outside elbow flaps. My hand doesn't move, but my elbow flaps like a chicken wing with out me noticing it. Can I fix that with out being stiff through my elbow?

Also, my horse is jumping new decorations and is being really good over them for the first time. I have been telling him what distances because they are harder coarses with a little bump with my heel. Well when two pointing in a long or normal distance (doesn't happen when deep), my toe sticks out from squeezing with my heel for the distance. Is there any way to fix that with out me becoming dependant on my knee or tieing my leather to my girth?

Thank you so much!

Answer 1

A exercice my trainer has me do to loosen my arms and elbows when I ride is when I'm trotting instead of keeping my hands steady to when I sit down for the posting trot to raise your hands, when you rise lower your hands.  This isn't supposed to affect the bit in the horses mouth at all don;t fling your hands around everywhere but do it gently.  This helped me.  I watched a friends lesson and her trainer gave her a great thing to do. So heres this wonderful thing that I just love and another great use for bailing twine!.  On the D ring on your saddle tie a loop of bailing twine. when you ride hold it in your hands (like grip it, kind of like if it were a whip).  This helps your hands stay stead and stopped flapping.

I ride a thoroughbred who is a very sensitive mare that needs to have steady hands and soft hands and this is what my trainer has taught me to help me with my horse.

"Your lower arms (elbow to hand and fingers) do not belong to you.  They are the horses.  Your arms at walk and canter should move with the horses natural bobbing head motion, (They dont bob at trot) don;t force the motion just move along with the horse.  Your elbow to your should belong to you.  This is where you have the muscles in use. Don't tighten your arms just relax and if you need to do something with the reins (I know this is going to be weird but just try it and think about it, this is not going to make sense but....) pretend you are flexing your upper arm muscle and not grip hard with your hands or brace your arms.  This has been working wonders on me.  My mare throws her head because she is just getting used to contact and when I use my upper arms instead of my lower arms I do not get ripped out of the saddle.  I stay put and she looses her fight with me.

Good Luck

Answer 2

if ur hands dont move but ur elbow does it means ur hand is too stiff... relax ur wrist... put ur shoulders back and dont drop ur shoulder on the turns keep steady around ur corners... with ur legs... drop ur knee on ur saddle and squees with ur hips and theighs  

Answer 3

Try working on a lunge line so you can contracte on your elbow.  When you seem to have it down, you can try a regular circle in like a pettern.  If that doesnt work what i have done before is take a crop and put it behind your back but with it in between your elbows.  that will make sure that your elbows stay at your side.  Its a little uncomfortable but it works.

when you put your heels down put a little weight on your outside toes.  That will make your foot point in a little and prevent them from pointing out.  see if that works :)

Good luck and i hope that this can help a little.