The Knee, an Inescapable Help

The knee, an inescapable help Over the years, in the endeavor to master equestrian skills, we have passed through many phases. Depending on your age, you may remember some of them. Each phase had its merits, none proved to be the panacea it seemed at the beginning. The phase of the DRAW REIN, of the CHAMBON/GOGUE, of the EXAGERRATED CREST RELEASE, of hours and hours of nothing but LONG AND LOW,OF ROLLKUR( which stands alone in that it has no merit at all). We have learned all these and take some part of many in given instances..EXCEPT the last. Now there is a new phase which needs to be discussed. The phase of THE OPEN KNEE. The popular success of this concept is based on incorrect or incomplete information. I will explain in two ways...first the form and what is the result on the riders position. A rider has two important muscles in the thigh; the muscle running down the front of the thigh, which should be close to the horse, and the muscle at the back of the thigh which should never lie between the thigh bone and the saddle. This "back of the thigh «muscle is unstable, worse in a woman than a man and will never support a steady position. The position of the thigh affects greatly the position of the seat in the saddle. Normally, the rider’s weight is distributed evenly on three bones; the pubic bone and the two pelvic bones. This is the NEUTRAL position, allowing freedom to the horse and agility to the following rider. Once the knee is open, the thigh turns, the back muscle comes between the thigh bone and the saddle and the rider finds himself firmly on the two pelvic bones only. Heavy, not agile, pushing down on the back, this position can never be neutral. OR EASY for a horse to carry. But...enough of form! When I was young I remember well the comment of my good friend GEORGE MORRIS, who said "Form comes from function". That really makes sense. A rider who learns function will always have a good seat. The function of the knee and thigh is largely un taught today. In dressage one is taught quite early to think of the leg in two parts...the heel, the calves, the spur. This part controls all the lateral work, flying change, canter and acceleration. The thigh and knee controls piaffe, passage, extended trot (and of course middle trot). As one practices this it is inevitable that it becomes obvious that the firmer the thigh and knee, the LIGHTER THE SEAT. The movement is enhanced. But jumpers! You say! Two important functions of the thigh and knee are. One can "channel" a wandery horse, or a green one or a timid one much better with the thigh and knee that with the calves and heel because the horse is not necessarily accelerated. If the distance is good and the speed appropriate, but the horse is "floating", as they say in France, he is best to be reinforced with the thigh and knee. The master of this was ALAN SMITH in my memory, and we discussed it a lot. Another very important function of the thigh and knee is to control the weight placed on the saddle. There are innumerable possibilities of SITTING on a horse. Rarely can one place 100% of the weight of the rider on the saddle of a moving horse without changing the quality of that movement. With an open knee there are only two positions. Off the saddle, or 100%in it. With a well-placed thigh and knee the weight is carefully controlled. Lighter is better to me, heavier is necessary SOMETIMES. The modern seat is lighter than the older method because up the sport and the horse have changed! One must be flexible. Accidents happen and a stumble or a rail down can destabilize a rider with an open knee. When the rider FALLS into the saddle, the horse loses a lot of confidence. The function is more important than the form. George Morris was absolutely right in his idea. The form, however should be understood. It reinforces the information given. I believe this phase of THE OPEN KNEE to be just that and, in light of more complete information and function of that MOST IMPORTANT part of the leg, a better compromise can be reached. Julie Ulrich December 2016 .

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