How to keep your legs still

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2 жыл бұрын

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#dressagerider #horses #legposition
How to keep your ankles still
Lauren posted a great question about ankle movement in Amelia’s Dressage Club a couple of weeks ago so this week’s video is a little ode to our ankles, their role in our riding, and what we should ands should not be doing with them.
Firstly, stiffness is the enemy! There should be movement in your ankles! If your ankles lock, your hips lock, your seat becomes stiff and the whole thing becomes deeply uncomfortable for you, and our horses! Thankfully, our ankles are pretty awesome ligament-filled shock absorbers that soak up our movement while we ride. We want them to move, but there’s definitely a difference between good motion and bad motion!
If you’re riding around kicking at every step, that’s bad motion!
However, a bob that goes in time with the horse’s stride? That’s fine, that’s good motion. Your heel down holds the leg and ankle in place while you’re not using the leg, but if you need to use the leg, you can use it effectively before sliding it back to its heel-down position.
Another pitfall to avoid is the classic canter calf swing. It’s very easy to fall into this trap in the canter! The lower legs swing like pendulums at the rhythm of the canter. This can be counteracted easily with some conscious riding and a bit of practice. If you consciously think of your calves while you’re riding, and think about keeping them a little closer to the horses side, about wrapping them around your horse’s sides, and finally try to feel the underside of your boot and that will help you prevent your leg swinging around!
Happy riding until next week! Remember to join the Amelia’s Dressage Club on FB for more support and if you’ve any questions you want answered, and I’ll be back next Wednesday with a fresh video
#Ankles #DressageSeat #StillnessInMotion

Пікірлер: 62

@krilltaters 2 жыл бұрын

Finally a positive for being a short rider!!

@lindakennedy8757 Жыл бұрын

Agree!! Lol

@chihuahuacutie2131 11 ай бұрын

I wish 😭 I’m 6ft2

@Bluemoonfarm17 11 ай бұрын

Right?? Maybe the only one! 😆

@filidolphini Жыл бұрын

as someone who’s been riding for years, and is teaching my own students nowadays, these things come as second nature to me, and i sometimes struggle to verbalize what someone is doing wrong. videos like this help a lot!

@janetclements8988 2 жыл бұрын

I love how you demonstrate what you mean in words. It makes all the difference as a learner.

@travelsoffthebeatenpath1211 Жыл бұрын

Great video with explanation. I struggle constantly with my legs swinging back in the trot although they are surprisingly still in the canter. With an office job, I have stiff hips so your explanation of needing some movement to avoid stiff hips was really interesting. I guess I need to learn to use constant light calf pressure to stop my legs swinging but still allow movement in my ankles as my legs don't have to be "still". Thank you for the video.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

Happy to help! Perspective and explanation always helps me too! Thanks for watching! Here's a link to a bunch of content that many people have found helpful: www.amelianewcombdressage.com/giving-back-now.../ Enjoy!

@lindacox119 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this fab explanation and demonstration! I'm always concentrating on keeping ankles still. No wonder he slows.

@courtneyburton2317 7 ай бұрын

The amount of encouragement and excitement to practice I got from this video ❤️

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 7 ай бұрын

So glad to hear it!

@amogus205 2 жыл бұрын

i believe your channel is seriously underrated.

@piaffe25rider76 2 жыл бұрын

Yep, my lower legs move as well - Thanks for this great video!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

@susangillham8771 2 жыл бұрын

Amelia , all your videos are helpful! I am still reaping the benefits from the " warm your horse up at the walk" and " How to sit" I am finally getting Mirage's back moving and free and sitting is so much better!! My canter is still pretty stiff with an up and down motion. I do have too much motion in my leg. I will pay attention to my lower leg at the canter and move my ankles not swing my leg. I know there was too much kicking, my poor horse no has a spur rub. No more spurs for now. I'll let you know how thinks go next week.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Susan! Glad to hear you're improving! Thanks for watching! Also, Join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/

@trueequestrian7345 2 жыл бұрын

Wow! Thanks I was struggling with this and it you helped me a lot!And whenever I try to canter,I feel like my body is going all over the place.any suggestions with that?thanks again

@colleenchartier3680 2 жыл бұрын

Same! I want to control my torso from bobbing back and forth without going rigid or too sloppy soft

@dice7740 Жыл бұрын

Sit back in your saddle and put your weight back into the saddle but make sure not to tense up as that will make you bounce

@JudieBoBoodie Жыл бұрын

I have stiff ankles even though I do exercises that my trainer recommends every day on the ground. I have very long legs and my heel tends to go up. So what she has me do when I ride is push down my heel one side then the other (toe in) with the horses stride. And I have to do this from inside my upper thigh so I don't tense my butt. I also have found that sucking in my gutt to raise my back and also squeezing my private part (keegle) keeps my core really strong internally so my legs can be fairly relaxed and I can go with the motion.

@Cathan1856 2 жыл бұрын

This was really helpful, thank you.

@Tynlee_Wilson Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for explaining why my legs move! I get a lot of rude comments about my leg position, when its really just shock absorption!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

You're welcome, I'm glad it helped!

@juliewojtkiewicz6227 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing video ! Thank youuuu so so much !

@fmc974 2 жыл бұрын

Good Morning, Amelia! I love your channel. I subscribe to Joseph too. I rarely comment, but wanted to say how much I enjoy watching you ride. Your channel is fun and laid back. Thanks for sharing your morning ride with us!

@aniab4306 Жыл бұрын

Great helpful video! Thanks♡

@sophiaequestrian7962 2 жыл бұрын

love the intro queen!💕

@hovibono 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Amelia! Your videos are so helpful and I love wathing them.👍🤩 I have the same issue as you, my mare is small and I have long legs... Now I know that moving the legs is not so wrong... 😊

@pkchateau8654 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this video. I recently started riding a TB gelding with a VERY springy trot, and maintaining steady legs at the rising trot is much more difficult on him than at canter. Sometimes he will just take 2-3 steps with a little extra propulsion from his hind quarters and I feel like I am boosted up to the moon! I am constantly concentrating on “long legs” (even though I am only 5’3’’) and keeping us both in a steady rhythm. Watching you videos on rider position really help!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! That makes me so happy to hear!

@kck3163 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Amelia, Love your videos and try to watch them as soon as you send them. I have difficulty collapsing on my left side. I’m working to improve. Do you have any suggestions or hints on how to continue improving?

@dawnjennings3709 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful - thank you!!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Dawn! So glad it was helpful! If you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ And also, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! 😀 facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/

@falizianme5846 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Even tho mine aren't wiggling ! I do have issues with just being to tight and my trainer has now started the mantra of let go with your legs and swing with your hips! which I find so helpful as I tend to want to "help" way too much! There's always something to learn and check in with on our position! Can not wait for the muscle videos!... I thunk I see a collab with Stephanie on a masterclass! Or better an on the ground rider position weekend clinic! With exercises etc! I'd totally sign up!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and thanks for the support! Watch this space for more fun stuff coming up! 👀 😀🐴

@pariahmouse7794 2 жыл бұрын

Timely as ever, I need this as I am trying to improve my canter seat, my lower legs are usually pretty good, but canter has opened up a whole new can of position worms, haha!

@susanterry4440 Жыл бұрын

So good info. I did enjoy. Tomorrow will be a busy day using all this info

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

Have fun! Let me know how it goes :)

@meeraalrustamani1172 2 жыл бұрын

Thankyou so much!! I've been struggling on the canter to keep my feet intact and this helped a lot thankyou!!!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome Meera and thanks for watching!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ (If you’re already familiar with all this and have received this before, apology for the unnecessary message, I’m being super thorough today!) I’m also on FB and IG facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ And finally, there’s my website! www.amelianewcombdressage.com/ Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day!

@meeraalrustamani1172 2 жыл бұрын

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage No worries! One question though do you have any tips to keep my back more straight because my captain says I lean back too much!

@user-rk1sn4sy3p 7 ай бұрын

זה עובד תודה רבה

@mokuzou3795 2 жыл бұрын

Dear Amelia, your videos are the best! Would you consider making a video about establishing a respectful human-horse-relationship, especially with young horses? Keep up the great work and huge congrats to your last show with Harvey, you guys looked just amazing together🐎 ❤

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Do you like these videos?? Be sure to sign up for my e-mail list!! forms.aweber.com/form/52/766851352.htm

@puckdreams1297 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much my leg always flops around

@amehameh485 2 жыл бұрын

Hello from Brunei

@jyllgraney4491 2 жыл бұрын

So my issue is keeping my lower half relaxed while learning how to use my legs. My feet move a lot in the stirrup and I lose my left one a lot. Bc I sit into my right too much. I struggle absorbing the motion and not locking out my leg to stay in stirrups. Idk if anyone else has this problem but thx for the helpful videos!

@CeciliaP.3 7 ай бұрын

Me too . I am in the same situation

@naunettemartin7450 2 жыл бұрын

I want to thank you I'm ride ing so good on my horse and can I ask you how do I keep my hands still thank you Nannette

@jewelweed6880 2 жыл бұрын

Had trouble seeing what your leg was doing because the breeches and boots are dark like the saddle. For visual teaching purposes, lighter breeches color and saddle pad (or horse, haha) would be easier for viewers to observe.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that feedback!

@EllaJK11 Жыл бұрын

So I have a problem with my feet, before that I’ll give background information. I was a jumper for 9 years, so they are still sticking out. I switched to dressage 1 year ago and I still have the bad habit because for 8 months of that year I didn’t know, I am really trying to get muscle memory in that, I got where my feet are supposed to be but now I have to focus more on not sticking out. Do you have any tips on that? I can get it when I focus really hard on it, but not when I’m focusing on my horse. I just want to have the memory on it. I looked for a video about it, but I found this one and so I’m trying to contact you through this. I have gotten comments on it, I’m still trying to work on it! If this helps, my horse is somewhat round . Thank you!

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

Essentially you want to rotate your whole leg forward from your hip socket instead of thinking of it just as your toes/ankles, otherwise it's the whole leg not in the correct position and you can't be effective. try this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ht-ZncqJmduwmXk.html

@yourlocalbeginnereq 10 ай бұрын

I don't know what this is but sometimes in the trot one leg swings forward and the other backward. Any tips? (posting btw)

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 10 ай бұрын

Check out this for more tips on posting trot: amelianewcombdressage.com/dressage-training/how-to-post-the-trot/

@d.l.bamlett4393 29 күн бұрын

My feet swing out. I have chronic ankle and knee pain. I find it hard to stand over my feet as my muscles arent that strong even though i do strengthening exercises progress is delayed.

@AmeliaNewcombDressage 28 күн бұрын

This might help: amelianewcombdressage.com/dressage-training/alignment-your-key-to-stability-and-security-in-the-saddle/?KZfaq&General

@gayleudall7971 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Amelia. These are good points. Now you need your shirt manufacturer to make white vertical striped boots so your legs are more visible on a black horse! :)

@AmeliaNewcombDressage Жыл бұрын

haha I'll pass that feedback on to them!!