For years, I believed that lower leg stability was a matter of strength. Keep your leg still, hold your position, engage the right muscles—these were the cues I absorbed from traditional riding instruction. But the real game-changer in my own riding journey came in 2003, when I met a Centered Riding instructor. That experience completely reframed my understanding of balance and stability in the saddle.
Up until then, my training had been solid, show-jumping focused, and balance-oriented. I had been taught how to stay secure over fences, manage my position, and maintain a steady leg. But what I hadn't fully grasped was the role of awareness—how noticing the small details, releasing tension, and working with the movement rather than against it could create effortless stability.
Strength vs. Awareness: Why Feel Matters More
Don’t get me wrong—if you’re an eventer galloping multiple horses across country, you’ll need strength to meet the demands of your sport. But if your goal is to improve your feel, focusing on strength alone can be counterproductive.
Instead of bracing or gripping, think about allowing your weight to settle where it naturally needs to be. When we force our lower leg into a position, it often leads to rigidity elsewhere in the body—tight thighs, stiff hips, or a locked torso—all of which interfere with fluid movement and connection with the horse.
A Simple Exercise to Build Awareness
Try this:
Place your hands gently on your horse’s neck while riding at a walk.
Notice the motion of your horse’s neck muscles. Can you feel how they shift underneath your hands?
Allow this motion to subtly inform the mobility of your shoulder blades. Can you sense them gliding over your ribcage? If they feel stiff, check if you're unconsciously pulling your shoulder blades together. This can cause unnecessary tension in your arms and torso.
Now shift your awareness lower—tune into how the movement of the horse’s ribcage affects your weight. Does it lift you up toward your shoulders, or can you allow the energy to sink down toward your pelvis? Try facilitating the latter.
Trust gravity. Let it create a gentle stretch through your Achilles tendons. Keep your knees soft, and imagine your weight resting slightly in front of your thighs, as if you were kneeling.
Stability Without Tension
The best part? When you refine feel, stability comes without unnecessary effort. Your legs follow the movement instead of clamping down. Your center stays adaptable rather than rigid. Your whole body becomes part of the conversation, and your horse will notice the difference too.
Developing lower leg stability isn’t about locking anything into place—it’s about understanding how your body interacts with your horse’s movement and finding harmony between the two.
So the next time you ride, instead of thinking about holding your position, ask yourself:
How can I allow my stability to emerge naturally?
Have you ever had an “aha” moment with lower leg stability? Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear about it!
Comentários