Posting trot leg position..?

Question

okay, so i always post more like this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YVBNEvDLlF0&feature=related

with my heal moving to asorb the trot..

but many people ride like this

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zbbxoa3mC44&feature=related

with the legs never moving..

so which is "right"?

i remember my lesson when i figured out how to ride like i do, moving my ankles and all... my trainer at the time was very proud, but looking back she wasn't the greatest so now i wonder if i'm doing it wrong!

so what do you think?

Answer 1

The second video all the way.  You could never get away with the leg movement of 1 in hunters or dressage.  Both of my trainers would kill me and hide my stirrup leathers and irons for weeks.

I know how you feel, though.  I learned like 2.  

My college IHSA team coach was the best.  She rode on the A - circuit for years.  Most of the girls on my team were A-cicuit, one being a junior, national hunter champion one year.  I had to re-learn riding, seriously.  She made me post without stirrups with pamphlets between each calf and horse.  I had a small (6") frisbee with a ping pong ball in it that I had to hold with both hands.  The ping pong ball was not to fall out while posting trot.

In hunter/jumper, the calf is your friend.  In dressage, the thigh is your friend (calf too, but more thigh).  Watch videos on You-tube of high level riders; their legs barely move.

Answer 2

the second one is right, your supossed to put weight in your heels and use your abs and your thigh muscles and not your calves. YOu lower legs are not supossed to be moving all over the place

Answer 3

When you do the posting trot with your lower leg moving, you have the effect of deadening your horse to the leg aids. He has no way to differentiate between your leg just moving and an actual aid, so he learns to tune them both out.

When you post with your legs steady and still (but not stiff), your horse will be able to know when you are really asking him for something and it will make him a more responsive horse because you have become a more effective rider.

Answer 4

glad i dont rinde english, i ride western and u dont move like that, hmm the first one looks right

Answer 5

The first girl is moving her leg excessivly. The second girl is flexing into her heel as well (like you should) but has learned how to keep her leg still. You want a quiet leg but not a stiff one.

Answer 6

The second rider is correct in my experience, not only was I taught that way, but my 3 daughters all were as well, by different instructors.  We were taught to post off the heels with softness in the ankles but no visible movement of our legs.

Answer 7

THe second way is correct. You should post of your heels, but moving them around isn't that attractive and can confuse some horses because your feet are constantly moving around. Work on posting off your heel but keeping them more still. Use the horses momentum to your advantage. Let his bounce take you up into the post instead of working so hard and moving your feet around. Fluidity is key

Answer 8

well, for one your hands are resting on your horse, hold them alittle higher, do you ride a difficult horse? i do, and i need to keep kicking and squeezing, so my legs never stop!

Answer 9

When I'm posting I always try to keep my feet/legs as still as possible, cuz that's how I was taught. I was taught to keep my feet and legs still when I'm posting and not to move them forward. But I'm not sure if that is the "correct" way to post. I always thought it was the correct way, since thats the way I was taught.

Answer 10

this is pretty cool cause im just learning to post too. your supposed to keep your legs still and i think the first one could keep their legs back a bit.

Answer 11

Your reins are too long and your hands are down by your saddle.  You need to push your hands forward also.  

About your leg.  You should definately try to keep it as quiet as possible.