In the last edition of Horses and People magazine I wrote about ankles. Now I am going to write about knees and what they should and should not do when riding.

When first learning to ride, many people were taught to ‘grip with the knees’. In fact, in the good old days, people were often made to ride around with a coin or a dollar between their knees and the saddle so that they could learn better grip! This came about because of the largely unscientific teaching methods that were common in the past.

Good riders that have emerged from that era are usually good riders because they have learned, by trial and error, how to ride well despite what they were taught. Consequently many good riders today still teach what they were taught rather than what they actually do! If you want to find out what good riders do when riding ask them to verbalise as they ride. This often surprises them as they realise that they do not always do what they think they do!

Gripping with the knees actually makes the rider less secure. When riding correctly the weight of the rider (on a moving horse) should be able to transfer downwards and be absorbed by the knees and ankles. If the rider grips with the knees their movements are blocked at that point and the kinetic energy that should travel downwards into the ankle and be dispersed, instead pops the rider upwards out of the saddle. This leads to the rider feeling even more insecure and gripping even harder!

During flat work the knees should touch the saddle but not grip. In fact the whole leg should drape around the horse without inward pressure (unless giving an aid). The thigh should be at 40 to 45 degrees from the vertical. The lower number for more experienced riders and the higher number for less experienced riders.

Many riders ride with stirrups that are too long and are unable to utilize the dip and spring action of the joints (see last months article). As a rider rises to the trot the angle of the knees should open and close without any undue moving up or down. The thigh should behave like an upside down pendulum on an old fashioned clock, with the knee staying still and hip moving forward to describe part of a small circle. Therefore ‘rising’ to the trot is not a very accurate term for what the rider actually does.

If the rider literally goes up and down they tend to get left behind the movement. If instead they work on getting their thigh to work correctly, rising becomes much easier and smoother. The knee joint’s can suffer while riding but can also be improved through riding in many cases. As riding (like swimming) is a non load bearing exercise the joints get a work out without the jarring that occurs through running for example (what a great excuse not to run!).

If you are experiencing pain you need to see a joint specialist. You may need to support your knees in the short or even long term while riding. It is possible to buy knee braces that have been designed for riders (I think Professional Choice make one). The key is to take it slowly if you are returning to riding and allow the soft tissues to strengthen gradually.

Again, warming up before you get on the horse and stretching the legs before you get off are a good way to reduce injuries. If you have weak/problem knees be very careful when you dismount that you do not land heavily on locked knees. Dismount slowly and carefully with the knees bent.

Happy riding!

Disclaimer: While the author and publisher have taken all appropriate care to ensure the accuracy of this articles contents, no liability is accepted for any loss or damage from or incurred as a result of any reliance on the information provided in this article.