Improving your riding

When we ride, we are influenced not only by our own body and it's crookedness, but by our saddle, the horse and the footing. Dressage saddles, though often comfortable, are not always the best choice for dressage riders! It's become popular with some riders to use a very straight leg, but that's not always the most effective position. For example, if you have larger legs you may do a lot better in a jumping saddle that allows you the freedom to move your leg forward at the knee a bit. With the knee/thigh rolls of the dressage saddle pushing your leg back because they are too close to the front of your leg, you can suffer a lot in your lower back. Further, your balance and position suffer as you try to ride in balance with minimal angles in your legs. Now, if you bring your knees forward a bit, you still must keep your lower leg under you so you can ride in balance. Legs back is key, however, depending on the horse and the saddle, sometimes that can put you out of balance and you are at risk if the horse makes a sudden stop. Here's where "heels-down" comes in handy. However, most people can't get their heels down and keep their calves back. So, The best thing to do for awhile, while you are learning your balance, is to lean more forward with your upper body so you can crouch in balance with your heels down and legs a bit too forward for good dressage, but just right for you for now.