Do you have any tips for keeping your knees and thighs on a horse?

Question

I have been riding (english hunter/jumper) for a while and can't seem to heep my knees on my horse. Do you have any tips or exercises to do on and off of the horse? I already tried placing a $1 bill between my thighs and the saddle and attempting to keep it there but it fell out. Thanks!

Answer 1

when riding i would suggest using a western style saddle. this helps and are so much easier to use then english saddles. You will need great endurance on leg muscles and to have that, you need to keep practicing! keep your muscles tight when your riding!!

Answer 2

I used to have the same problem!  My trianer had me hold down my knee while cantering and that helped, and eventually my knee just stayed like that, and practice without sturrips so you can grip the horse better. Also I bought a video camera, and had someone record me riding so I could see what I was doing wrong.  This worked for me, hopefully it helps you!

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Try lengthening your stirrup and do leg stretching exercises as you warm up.  To create proper leg position with my riders I put them on a lunge line and take away stirrups and reins.  I tell them to start with their toes and to tap out a song, then we work on flexing the ankle, toes up, toes down, toes out, and scribing circles with their foot, clockwise and counter clockwise.  Then the knees, bringing the leg forward and backward from the knee then again scribing circles, this time with their entire lower leg.  Next is the hips, lifting them up perpendicular to the horse then slowly lowering them back down and swinging the entire leg back and forth slowly.  After this, I ask them to 'take their stirrups again' and no I don't give them back, I want them to drape their leg as though it is in a stirrup while I continue with their upper body, but for you the leg is more important so work on this, as long as your horse is calm you can do this while you ride and keep your reins.

Answer 4

keep working at it

You have not been riding very well to do JUMPERS OR HUNTERS OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER,,

JESS,, what a silly question

Just keep riding more and work harder at it keep your heels DOWN AND ride bareback more,,,,

Answer 5

""""""""""""""""GET A GRIP PERIOD '''

  

And if you do even ride H/J/ ENGLISH )You do not ride very well

h***s down and remember it nit gripping Just with the knee

or Thighs

Its the longer the leg and use your calf

It sounds to me you curl up while ridding

Long leg , heels down use your inter side of of the calf,, toes out a bit  Never straight forward,, ok  Its a old myth ,, ..