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YOUR EQUESTRIAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED
How can I go about strengthening my lower leg?
Many of us have issues with our lower leg when riding. It might be that we struggle to keep our heels down, or our lower leg slips back when jumping or even that we regularly lose our stirrups. The four exercises outlined here are great for strengthening your legs and establishing them as the base of support.
EXERCISE 1: ON THE EDGE This exercise is particularly valuable for those of us who struggle to keep our heels down. Stand on the edge of a step with your heels hanging off the edge. Lightly rest one hand on the wall if necessary to maintain your
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balance. Then keeping your back straight, flex your ankles to allow your heels to drop below the level of the step. You should feel your calf muscles stretch. Hold this position for about 10 seconds, then step off the stairs and rest for a moment. Repeat this ten times.
EXERCISE 2: TWO-POINT With your body balanced, come out of the saddle into a two-point position. Initially, do this at a walk while you get the hang of the exercise. As you lift out of the saddle, drop your weight equally into both heels and rest your legs against your horse’s sides. Keep your hands off the neck to ensure you only balance with your legs. As you get better at this exercise, you can add in transitions to halt and then walk off again without HQ|159B
