Leg strength/ flexibility

[Leftbutcameback]

I've been doing some work without stirrups in recent lessons and it's reminded me that I struggle to wrap my legs around, and I don't seem to have much "squeeze" strength. I do yoga and swimming, and ride once a week. I know ideally riding more would help but that's not possible atm. Does anyone have any good exercises I could do? Thanks!

The only leg exercises that really help me were the ones to help stretch the calves and drop your heels that involved warming up then standing on the bottom stair with your heels hanging over and gently pushing down. I used a Pilates ball while watching TV to help with position and general strength... Maybe my post will bump and someone with more ideas will be along soon.

not sure what you mean tbh

your thigh muscles should help you balance and stay up. to train those you could sit on a chair and squeeze a ball.
your lower leg should not wrap around at all. they should be loose and only give the horse direction by light touch. not much muscle required.
stretches are a good idea though.

Thanks both. I'll try and explain a bit better - in sitting trot, no stirrups, I need to contact with my lower leg to keep the horse going forward. He's a lazy ex-race horse apparently. I struggle to get my short legs to curve inwards at the lower calf to make contact. I think rather than strength I maybe mean flexibility at the hips to open. The only way I could do it was to turn toes out rather than feet facing forward as they should be.

I think the stretching standing on the bottom step would help too!

Hip flexor exercises might help. Think of growing down through your thighs and absorbing the movement through your seat. Closing your eyes for a few strides if you feel safe can help you feel more. There should be no gripping with thighs in sitting trot. The lower leg should drape round the horses side rather than constantly squeezing. Do you use loads of transitions to get him listening to a lighter aid? He should go from your aid them just keep going without constant asking as that just deadens them. What about a schooling whip to give a little tap to back up your leg aids? It's the horses job to keep going forwards, not yours. Definitely try transitions, it rarely makes things worse! Be strict, try 8 steps walk, 8 trot, 8 walk etc to waken him up.

It's a riding school horse so I only really have an hour a week to influence him. I do ride with a schooling whip, and need to get better at using it in the right place! I think draping is a really good term, and that's what I'm aiming for. I guess it's flexibility I should be working on then

They can literally tell as you get on whether they are going to bother to listen to you! Insist on every transition being accurate. My dd and I ride a friend's pony, he was taking the mick and not cantering yesterday. I got on and asked for canter the second I got on ( not in a mean way) and he responded. You have to make every minute of your precious lesson time count. Your horse will respond if you are really consistent and insistent. An hour lesson is a good length of time, some people only get half an hour, enjoy!

Lazy horses need less leg and hot horses need more! It's hard if it's a riding school but basically
You should ask, and they respond. If they don't then ask again, and repeat until they go on the first small signal
So squeezing and squeezing means the horse can switch off, I ask once say for trot and failing that then I use a stick or I do a pony club go go go kick, then back to walk and ask for trot nicely again
Loads of transitions help too especially direct ones like halt - trot

I completely agree with those points, and need to take advantage of the warm up more (and will do!). I've got into a bad habit of being lazy to start off. Thinking about it it's only without stirrups I have issues with my lower leg position so if I get him going well before taking them away that will be a massive advantage!

(it's a group lesson btw which is not necessarily what I want but the schools around here aren't offering weekend private lessons atm)