Rider Position: Leg
Hunters/Equitation
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3m 4s
For a strong, balanced foundation, Holly explains that the rider’s heel should be slightly below the toe with the leg just slightly behind the girth so that there is a straight line from the rider’s hip to heel. The angle of the thigh and lower leg allows the calf to be against the horse so it can be used in different degrees.
Up Next in Hunters/Equitation
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Rider Position: Stirrup-Iron Placement
Holly describes where the rider’s foot should be in the stirrup iron: She likes the inside branch of the iron to be cocked slightly back so the foot rests on the stirrup diagonally and closer to the outside branch. This helps with the flexibility of the ankle, allowing it to work like a spring.
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Rider Aids: Leg and Spur to Go Forward
To ask a horse to go forward, the rider squeezes with her leg. If she doesn’t get the desired effect, she turns her toe out to use the spur, what Holly describes as “telling” the horse to move forward. If a rider uses the leg and spur together, it will make the horse numb to the aid.
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Rider Aids: Slowing Down a Horse
Holly explains how a rider can use her body weight to slow a strong horse. To ask a horse to slow down, first the rider would close her hand. If he didn’t respond, she would then close her hand and bend her elbow. If that didn’t work, she would lean back, being careful not to drive with her seat.
