Do you have a tendency to fall forwards onto your horse’s neck? Maybe you have the opposite problem and you feel like you can’t get your butt out of your saddle. If either one of these is you then your leg position could be the cause of your problem. Here are five lower leg exercises you can do to help you find and maintain a correct lower leg position as you ride.

1. Touch Your Toe – Halt or walk your horse. Next lean down and touch your toe. If the weight of your chest is on your horse’s neck or the front of your saddle then your legs are too far backwards. If you are having trouble getting your butt out of your saddle when you lean over to touch your toe then your legs are too far forward.
2. Posting/Rising Trot at a Lower Gait – Halt or walk your horse. Now try posting to your halt or walk. If you feel yourself falling forward as you go up your lower legs are too far backwards. If you feel yourself falling back into your saddle as you go up your lower legs are too far forwards.
3. Up-Up-Down – Trot your horse. Instead of doing a typical posting/rising trot pattern where you go up and down with each step you’re going to stand up for one extra beat. This results in an “up-up-down” pattern. If you can’t stay up for the extra beat your legs are too far forward. If you have a hard time sitting down for one beat your legs are too far backwards.
4. Down-Down-Up – Trot your horse. Instead of doing a typical posting/rising trot pattern where you go up and down with each step you’re going to sit down for one extra beat. This results in an “down-down-up” pattern. If you can’t stay down for the extra beat your legs are too far backwards. If you have a hard time standing up a beat your legs are too far forwards.
5. Jumping Position or Two Point – Halt your horse. Now stand in jumping position. If you have a hard time standing up in your irons your legs are too far forward. If you are putting all of your weight on your horse’s neck or your saddle your legs are too far backwards.