Thigh Position & Influence

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, the saddle can limit us in training particularly if it hinders the thigh. This can only be realized when a fuller expression of the thigh is experienced! Most people focus on the efforts of the calf and heel and do no much consider the importance of the thigh. In dressage we are told it is most correct to ride with well let down thighs. This one description, I believe, has done damage to our understanding of how to ride and train with minimal hand and leg aids.
The thigh bone is the longest bone of the body and is surrounded by the strongest muscle we possess. In healthy and moderately fit individuals it is able to rotate inward or outward, can swing forward and back, and move sideways out from under the torso or tuck in toward the other thigh. Essentially it can move in many directions because of the way it connects into the hip. The pelvis houses the powerhouse of energy(or dan tien) and can send important messaging out through the thigh. When not on a horse, all day long without our even knowing, we use our powerful thighs to stabilize ourselves in motion and against forces we do not think about. So why when we are in the saddle would we not continue to use the thigh?
Let's start by looking at the effect of a simple rotation of the thigh. An 'open' thigh, where the underside of the leg is slightly more in contact and the knee points slightly outward, opens the front of our lower abdomen(dan tien area) and allows a release of energy forward and invites more energy from the hind quarters to move up and forward. Unaware of this we could inadvertently create more forward motion than the horse can manage without compromising balance. With awareness, however, we can open the thigh this way(especially one at a time)to invite the corresponding hind leg forward as needed.
A 'closed' thigh, where the front side of the leg rolls more inward(releasing some of the underside contact) and the knee points slightly more toward the horse, closes some of the release of energy from the pelvis and has the effect of 'retarding' the hind quarters slightly. This is very useful when we want to have a slowing effect of forces in one direction without resorting to the use of the hand. So we can actually help control forward motion through the turning of the thigh---inward to slow the horse---outward to advance the horse and individually to likewise affect the same-sided hindquarter. There are many occasions when I see a rider push harder with the calf and to get a mechanical advantage they turn the knee outward. I have to wonder.....might that push not be so necessary?! Perhaps the touch of the calf can be greatly reduced if we just use our intent through the open thigh. Horses do go much better when they feel less pressure against their ribcage!
The next position to consider is the 'pushing' thigh that moves against the saddle. This has a lateral effect away from the push. The opposite to this would be the 'drawing' thigh. I seldom see this used except by very good riders. The thigh is lightened and taken slightly sideways away from the saddle and has the effect of leading the horse's shoulder on the same side into the direction the thigh moves toward. Very useful on the outside in shoulder-in and on the inside in half-pass.
The thigh can also be positioned more horizontally or vertically. A horizontal position affects lift of the shoulder and can create a raising of the shoulder and forearm on the same side while a more vertical thigh affects a 'retard' on the shoulder. The passage can improve in lift in front by the horizontal usage of the thigh. In canter an inside more horizontal thigh can help indicate more lift up of the foreleg. Add an opening of the same thigh and now the inside hind leg will jump up into this lively canter stride.
These thigh variations affect the rider in subtle ways as well which suit the messaging of intent. An outward turned open thigh narrows the lower back on that side and sinks us down closer to the horse to stimulate him better. An inward turned closed thigh widens that side of the lower back and helps us draw the horse up more underneath us.
In conclusion: we can affect the vertical and horizontal forces, bridging the hindquarters to the shoulders to bring about yin and yang posture variations in the horse by simple and subtle changes within the thigh itself. At first the changes you might experiment with will be slightly awkward feeling but as you progress, try to find ways through the mind to execute them with minimal effort and with less gross movement.Then feel the difference this makes in the fluidity of your horse's motion and how it improves elasticity and athletic scope as you move toward ultimate collection.