BODYZONE.
IT’S GOT legs IN OUR TOP-TO-TOE GUIDE TO RIDER BODY TRAINING, WE’VE REACHED THE LEGS. ANDREA OAKES LOOKS AT THE ROLE THE LEGS PLAY AND HOW, WITH SOME SIMPLE TIPS AND TWEAKS, RIDERS AT ALL LEVELS CAN USE THEM TO MAXIMUM EFFECT.
T
he magic line from shoulder to hip and heel is considered the gold standard in dressage, describing the perfect positioning of the rider’s legs in relation to the body. If your reflection in t e arena irrors reveals a kink in this vertical alignment, with your lower leg creeping forwards or back, or
are meant to be, Bobby suggests adopting a standing squat while unmounted. “In a basic squat, not too low, your legs will be where they should be when you’re in the saddle,” she explains. “You cannot force the lower leg into the correct place if there are problems
THE MAGIC LINE FROM SHOULDER TO HIP AND HEEL IS CONSIDERED THE GOLD STANDARD IN DRESSAGE even rotating outwards, where might the problem lie? “Most issues with the lower leg relate to basic balance,” says Grand Prix rider and coach Bobby Hayler. “If something is awry with your leg position, look up before you look down. Investigate the upper body for clues; if you’re crooked on top, your hips and your heels will be wrong.” To understand where things
further up the body, so the aim is a balanced, neutral position, with your weight distributed equally across your seat bones and down through each leg. “Your legs are there to keep a positive contact, to link to the hand and the hand to the bit,” adds Bobby, emphasising the vital role they play in creating energy and direction. “When we think
74 // Issue 7 2021 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
ABOVE: THE ‘MAGIC’ LINE FROM SHOULDER TO HIP AND HEEL IS CONSIDERED THE GOLD STANDARD IN DRESSAGE.
