How to stop pinching with the knees - video clip

[KarenRO]

Ok, I admit to being taught traditional hunt seat in the 1960s, the type where you had to ride with a quarter between your knee and the saddle and prove that it would stay there no matter what!  Fast forward to present.  After a 25 year break from riding due to graduate school and career demands, I started riding again in 2001.  Judging from a recent video clip of me riding my 5-year old Canadian Sport Horse gelding, I'm still pinching at the knees!  I'm riding in a treeless Ansur Excel, with which I have a love-hate relationship with primarily because I can't figure out where to sit in it.   After watching Heather's video, I obviously need help!  Feedback from all would be appreciated.

Karen O 013.avi

Regards, KarenRO

[Heather]

Hmm, Karen, I nearly hit my jaw on the keyboard when I saw the price of that Ansur!

For me, the stirrup bars are too far forwards in relation to the central part of the seat, and you are being put behind the movement. Mind you I have seen an awful lot worse than you! But I think this is why you are not feeling very secure and pinching with the knees.

You need to think about lowering your little toe, releasing the knee, to encompass the shape of the horse. I have a bit of video that I am going to try to upload from my last clinic at Sarahs, just that the broadband here has been even worse of late, and it just breaks in the middle of uploading which is so infuriating especially as it can take several hours, yes hours!- to upload a few mins 

[KarenRO]

Thanks for responding, Heather!  Yes, the saddle was very expensive and I'm kicking myself for buying it now.  I constantly get pitched forward and my lower legs swing back so something is not right.  When I contacted the Ansur rep, she said I was pinching with my knees and tended to ride leaning forward and if I came and took a few lessons with her, that she could fix it.    Yeah, just what I need - another saddle that I have to fight against!  I've gone back to my old Rembrandt Sequel saddle - it is a very minimalist saddle with no blocks and a flat seat but I don't have the pitch forward problem.  I'll try to get some video of how I ride in that saddle.  Looking forward to the video clip you are attempting to upload!     KarenRO

[Heather]

Karen, in rising trot you DO need to lean forwards. In fact I thought you were doing quite a good job considering the placement of the bars on the saddle! If you come upright you will be far more behind the movement. Get me some video of you in your other saddle and also show me the position of the bars etc

[winnieandben]

Heather, is there one of your seat savers that would fit on this type of saddle? 

[Heather]

Yes, I designed one especially for the Ansur after the totally unjust lawsuit. Riders complained it was too wide, no twist, so I made one to er....... 'help, and called it, 'The Ironic Twist'

But sadly it wont help in this case. Karen, does it have velcroed on knee rolls? If so, get a really large pair and put them well back, so as to stop your legs migrating forwards to the bar position. It really helps a lot!

[winnieandben]

 

I find that my seat saver helps me on saddles with forward bars as I use it with suede seat breeches and it helps 'stick' me in the right place so helps keep my legs under me   

[Heather]

I must get my 'Perfector' pad underway, as this is far better than just a SBS Janet!

[KarenRO]

All,

Sorry to be so slow in getting back to this subject.  I still have not had time to have any video made of me riding HobKnob in the Rembrandt.  I did, however, manage to get a few photos of the stirrup bar on the Rembrandt Sequel (probably built in the 1980s) and the Ansur Excel. One big problem....how do I attach photos?  KarenRO

[TashaKat]

Get a Photobucket account, upload photos, copy and paste the 'IMG' code into your post ... job done 

[KarenRO]

Thanks for the instructions!

Here are the photos.  The distance between the front of the saddle and the front of the stirrup bar on the Rembrandt Seuqel is 3.5 inches and on the Ansur Excel, 5.5 inches.  However, note that the Rembrandt stirrup bar is adjustable.  I've never moved it but maybe I should?  The far back placement of the Ansur pulls my lower leg back and tilts me forward although in my original video clip, my lower leg had actually swung forward.  Go figure!  Any thoughts would be appreciated.  KarenRO

Rembrandt Sequel dressage:







Ansur Excel made in 2010:

[Heather]

 I can almost guarantee that when the bar is back, Karen, you will be unconsciously still holding your leg back, as is necessary when the bar is too far forwards. This will tip you on your fork and your lower leg will indeed be too far back. It is something I have to stop people doing on my own saddles! But that is a brute of a bar! The one Barrie Swain designed is much neater. I would be a little worried if the bar is recessed about whether it would create a pressure point for the horse.

The Ansur looks to be further forwards in relation to the central point of the seat, than the Rembrandt- not a help to your own position!

[KarenRO]

Thanks, Heather, for your observations.  The position of the stirrup bars on the Ansur Excel requires the use of leathers that buckle near the stirrup iron, otherwise, the buckle causes a lot of pain.  I'll try to get some video soon of me riding in the Rembrandt so folks can compare the two clips.  In the meantime, I think the Ansur will soon be listed on Ebay!  KarenRO