Jumper position?

Question

when i jump, my upper half is good. Its amy lower leg thats the problem! i have a real problem keeping it still and my toes pointed in when i ride so when i jump my toes point out and my leg moves around. How do i stop moving my leg so much especially if i am going to start dressage? what is a good exercise to help with my toes? I try to remember to keep them in but as always i get distracted by something else and i forget. I have been starting off when i ride with a longer length practicing my dressage position keeping my toes in and it seems to help a little but not much. Please give any halp you have. I can't afford lesons so if you could give me what you know that would be great! Thanks

Answer 1

When I worked at a hunter jumper barn the lady would take some baling twine and tie the stirup to the girth. Enough so it will not let your leg go back but still far enough away so your leg falls natural.  There was a girl who always brought her lower leg back and the trained did this to help her.  It worked it help develop the muscle memory.  Do not tie yourself to the horse just the inside of the stirrup so that it will help hold your leg in place.  Also riding with out stirrups will help you develop strength.

Answer 2

You have two problems here - your leg position, and then keeping your leg still over jumps.

LEG POSITION.  You do not have to keep your "toes in".  In the past that was what people thought, and then they started to realise how much damage that does to your knees.  Instead, you should keep your toes "pointed at the angle coinciding with your natural conformation" which basically means let your toes point where they want to naturally.  They should not point straight forward, or straight out to the side.  Be sure your leg is positioned properly underneath you with a straight line - ear, shoulder, hip and ankle.  You should feel even contact through your entire leg (no gripping with the knee of calf).  If you ride bareback your legs will almost always naturally lie in the correct position.  Once you are sure your legs are positioned properly do LOTS of no stirrup work.  All of my students are capable of riding around our ring (100'X200') 3 times at a posting trot or a canter with no stirrups.  After lots of practice you should feel that your legs naturally will want to lie in the correct position and that no stirrup work will become very easy and your position will stay the same regardless of whether or not you have your stirrups.  When you get to that point you are ready to work on...

LEG POSITION OVER JUMPS.  The exercises above should make a BIG difference in your leg position when you jump, but if you still have a hard time here is some more help.  90% of the time if you legs move while jumping it is because you are jumping ahead of your horse.  You are probably anticipating the jump (and the problems you are expecting) and doing too much with your upper body - which your lower body (legs) is trying to compensate for.  Work on some small gymnastics (about 2).  Set up a gymnastic (get a professional or very knowledgeable person to help you set it up) with 4-5 jumps set as either a bounce, one stride or two strides throughout.  Start by trotting into the gymnastic - get into your 2-point very early and work on staying STILL and letting the horse do the work.  Once you are VERY good at the gymnastic try a single jump with trotting poles.  Then move on to a single jump, then a line then whole courses.  The gymnastic and trotting poles will ensure that your horse jumps properly and consistently so you can worry about staying relaxed and waiting... Eventually you want to be able to jump without getting into your 2point ahead of time - and letting your HORSE (not you) put you into the 2point over the jump.

I hope this helps. Keep practicing and have someone on the ground to watch and correct you as needed.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Work on your legs muscles sounds lik they are tired. Also if you live in scotland i give people learning lessons for free on Fridays so mabye a local stables would do that for you.

Answer 4

skttl969 is my  new hero - do what she says! No stirrups & gymnastics. With a trainer.  Maybe you can trade work for lessons?

Answer 5

you can buy training aids, which fastenround the girth and prevent ur leg fom sliding back when u kick as well as jump, i highly recommend them :)

also try some work with out stirrups as that can help with ur legs too :) just build on the lower leg muscle :D

Answer 6

Ok well maybe just take one lesson? Otherwise here you go.

Going from the posting or sitting trot lets say. DONT POINT YOUR TOES. Heels down!! But push your heel into the horses sides (not hard). So you kinda have duck feet with your HEELS DOWN. Depending on the size of the jump reach towards the mid-neck and hold mane (optional). Shoulders back, eyes up, heels down. (Boy this is hard to explain without showing!)

Grip the saddle with your upper leg or thigh and some calf.

Hope this helps!!!

:)

Answer 7

try buying some suede chaps, they kept my legs still, and was really worth the money.

exercise: 1. put and orange inbetween your knees and hold it there with your knees whilst walking up and down stairs (this is painfull and needs practise, NO JUMPING, try to move from the knee and STEP up the stairs)

2. get some neoprene strap on weights, lay falt on your back and do a pedalng movement to faliure

OR get some lessons

Answer 8

your legs are moving around because you're tired, so you have to build up the muscles in your legs- when you're at home try just leaning against a wall with your legs bent and leaning forward with your upper body. this sort of imitates the two point or jumper position. if you do this pretty often, then you should be able to hold yourself in this position for longer periods of time and will in turn strengthen your leg muscles

I hope this helped!!!!

Answer 9

i used to just ride all the time and focus only on my heels but then i also figured out, to stretch out your heels, sit down on the ground by your stairs and press against them with your foot. (sometimes it only works if there is a little overhang :( ) anyways, also work on walk, trot, and possibly canter after you get the hang of it without stirrups. it is hard work but after a while it gets easier and your legs are really good. all you have to do is remove the stirrups and leathers off your saddle and you are good. you can also cross them over the top in case you get tired or want to warm up with them. (i wouldnt jump unless your legs are totally rock solid because it makes it harder for you and the horse though)

Answer 10

Trail ride whenever possible.  Building confidence and coordination requires a commitment of time to practice basics.  Relaxing is the most important aspect of developing confidence.  Focus becomes second nature.

Change mounts often.  Learn the different personalities and temperment.  With time it will be easier to recognize how you can best fit and compliment each mount you ride.

Occasionally ride bareback.  This will strengthen muscle groups and skill which are sometimes forgotten in the saddle.