A friend took a video of me yesterday and it was just… blah. My lower leg is wiggling around as I post, much more than it feels like it is. My trainer doesn’t particularly nag me for this so I was sort of surprised how bad it looked, and I want to improve it.
Other than “just hold it under you” what can I visualize or what exercises can I do to stabilize my lower leg at the posting trot?
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A lot of the time that means your saddle is not the best fit for you and you are fighting the saddle as you move around so look into that. If that isn’t the case you can try stability leathers. I recently rode in some and didn’t really notice much difference but we had a para rider message us saying how much it helped her permanently injured leg stay where it is supposed to be so apparently it can help if you have an imbalance
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Try putting your stirrups up a hole or two.
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Make sure that your saddle is balanced correctly front to back. When balance is correct you are able to sit quietly and have independant use of all other body parts.
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Instead of posting up down, up down, try posting up up down, up up down. Stay in two-point for two beats instead of one. When this becomes effortless your leg will be more solid. It takes a lot of work to develop an instinctual leg.
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Thanks for the response. I hope it’s not the saddle because I feel like I’ve been in perpetual saddle hell trying to find the right thing to fit my horse (which I think I’ve got!) and me (a very distant second priority). I saw a recent thread about stability leathers in the hunter ring, so I’ll check that out next.
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Thanks for this exercise, I will try it. I do typically ride the canter in my half seat and my leg is much more stable than at the posting trot (per separate video from another day). It will be interesting to see the effect of this!
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Riding without stirrups can be beneficial. It keeps you from bracing against your stirrups and encourages you to ride with your seat and balance instead of using stirrups as much.
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I’ll second this.
When I find my leg moving as I post, it is usually because I am putting more weight in the stirrups in the “up” phase of the post than in the “down” phase of the post.
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Leg training exercises out if the saddle also helps.
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Be very aware, or have good eyes on the ground if you post without stirrups. It is really easy to develop knee pinching - and that’s a hard habit to unlearn.
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Thanks, I need to do this more. My green bean is a little too green to make me want to do this with him, but I can borrow a lesson horse occasionally.
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Thanks, do you have any specific exercises you would suggest?
You can get the same strengthening effect posting without stirrups at the walk.
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This exercise is maddening at first. You have to forget everything you’ve known about posting since the third grade. The first time I did it w an instructor I was a complete mess. The next time, on my own, it clicked. Now it’s a favorite. So don’t be down on yourself if it takes a few rides to nail it.
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Thank you for the empathy! 
I second the up up down exercise, it’s great! Also just living in 2 point. I tell my students to not push the heel down, but relax the ankle so your weight in 2 point goes all the way into your heel, lowering your heel without stiffness. Your knees and ankles are your shock absorbers, so they should flex with each step of the horse at the trot and canter. You should be able to ride in 2 point w/t/c with very little effort, and that all has to do with finding the right balance point in your upper and lower body. Up up down helps tremendously with this.
For off the horse exercises - squats and deadlifts. Squats strengthen your quads and posterior chain (glutes, hamstrings, and a little bit your calves), deadlifts do the same PLUS your core - front and back - abs, obliques, lats, and back. Ideally get a trainer, but if you can’t, watch a million videos and start with way less weight than you think until your form is 100%. Strengthening your legs and core makes it easier to stay still in the saddle - it feels effortless instead of work to stay in the right position.
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I second (third?) looking at saddle fit. I get it. Saddle fit issues are the. absolute. worst. I’m dealing with fit issues with my horse, in which the absolute perfect saddle for me is crippling for him. So I am shopping for both of us again. But there are some saddles that just make my leg start swinging. When I find that right fit, I feel like a bomb could go off under me and my leg will remain in place. Finding that saddle that you don’t have to fight (or it doesn’t fight you) is life changing and you know it nearly instantly. Obviously horse fit is of highest priority, but just like horse fit, a saddle that does not fit you will not ever fit you. And you will always fight it.
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I find that visualizing putting my calf on (not squeeze, just contact) and turning my toes out just a titch helps my leg get grip.
I also love the up up down exercise mentioned above.
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Yes, the pinchy pinch happens quickly and is really hard to undo!
As a modifier on that, try posting with one stirrup. Pay attention to how it changes your balance and feel. Is it easier to drop the stirrup on the inside, or the outside? Great exercise that improves stability and leg, without the dreaded pinches!
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