How do you develop a secure lower leg over fences?

Developing a secure lower leg over fences — a leg that maintains its position under the rider's hip throughout the jumping arc without swinging backward or forward or gripping the saddle — requires specific exercises that isolate and develop the leg's independent stability rather than leaving it to develop through general jumping experience. The most fundamental exercise is work without stirrups: riding at all three gaits without stirrups develops the deep, secure leg position that does not depend on the stirrup iron for stability, because without the stirrup the rider must find true balance through the hip and inner thigh rather than pressing down into the iron. Two-point work — cantering in two-point position for extended periods — develops the specific balance and leg stability of the jumping position while maintaining the canter, building the strength and muscle memory needed to hold the position over fences. Gridwork and cavaletti ridden without stirrups or with eyes closed develop the leg's automatic stability by removing the cognitive elements of the jumping and allowing the body to find its own balance. The placing rail — a ground pole before the fence that ensures a consistent takeoff distance — allows the rider to focus entirely on the leg position over the fence rather than on finding the distance, because the placing rail has already determined the takeoff point. Transitions within the canter — collecting and extending the canter stride without the leg's position changing — develop the leg's independence from the horse's pace and energy changes, ensuring that the leg remains stable when the horse adjusts pace approaching or after a fence. Film review is particularly useful for leg development: riders who believe their leg is stable are often surprised by video that shows significant backward movement, and the objective evidence of video allows more targeted correction than relying on feel alone during the jumping effort.