The key to safe and effective cross-country riding is a secure lower leg and impeccable balance, so you can use your core and seat to influence the horse, rather than always going to the hand. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Olympic event riders Ginny Elliot and Nicola Wilson to share their top tips to help you improve your position
Some riders have incredible balance and a lower leg that never moves across-country whatever the conditions and whatever they jump. How can you become one of them? We asked Olympic event riders Ginny Elliot and Nicola Wilson to share their top tips to improve your cross-country riding position so you can ride stronger, safer and smarter.
“I used to watch videos of top riders, particularly Lucinda Green , who had the most superb lower leg. I tried to analyse how her leg was so brilliant and copy it, although I don’t think I quite managed it,” says three-time European and double world eventing champion Ginny Elliot, who’s a big fan of self-analysis.
“In those days, we had a video camera and I would watch myself back and analyse it. I would go over it saying, ‘that wasn’t great. Why wasn’t that great?’ I think that was one of the reasons why we did quite well because I was never good enough, I had to be better.
“Today with mobile phones you have access to videos of yourself which you can watch instantly and that’s an incredibly important tool. Being critical on yourself isn’t a negative; it’s a positive because you’re going to get better from it.
“You have to accept your mistakes. If there had been a problem, I always asked myself, ‘what did I do wrong?’ and I tried to learn from it. I never said, ‘what did the horse do wrong?’”
Exercises to improve your cross-country riding position without a horse
Like self-analysis, several exercises to improve your cross-country position can be done from the comfort of your own home.
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"}
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