After having watched a video of me riding today! how can i...

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Brambridge04

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Stop by bloody heel creeping up!

I noticed my stirrups look like i am riding pretty short, and my legs look a bit bunched up, although i feel comfortable and when i hang legs down they are on my ankle bone.....

But my god dont my heels keep popping up!
 
cc14

cc14

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I have the same habit, my toes go out and my heels go up...I have no idea I am doing it until I see it on camera!

First thing is to keep recording yourself so you know exactly when you are doing it.

Secondly, work without stirrups will naturally lengthen your leg.

Thirdly, an instructor once told me to put all the weight on the outside of your foot. Really helps keep my toes in, and after no stirrup work, my heels naturally sit lower as well.

I would show you a pic of me doing it, but I will get mobbed, as I was going in for a pat after a flying change so I look like I am mid jumping position!
 
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Umbongo

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I have the same problem. I had a lesson on friday without stirrups to help lengthen my leg and it worked wonders in just the half hour lesson.

Take feet out stirrups and fold them over. I did exercises such as tucking my legs up like a jockey and really stretching them all the way back down a few times. lifting my foot up behind me and grabbing my toe, and really push your knee towards the floor. gently swinging you leg from you knees, and then again but from your hips.

Lots of trotting, start with a few strides, then to walk etc. Then trotting without stirrups but really point your toes up and heels down. Had a bit of a canter as well on both reins. Make sure your stirrups are at a decent length and pop back in.

Make sure you have a good horse to do this all with :)

My instructor could see I was struggling so we did this, and my legs were transformed for the rest of the lesson, no more gripping with my knee.
 
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Archiepoo

Archiepoo

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i had the same problem when my back was bad, didnt realise it was related to my heel raising until id had back surgery and didnt do it anymore! i used to use wedge stirrup treads (with the wedge on the outer of the stirrup) it keeps your thighs in the right position and stops you turning your toes out and your heels up:)
 
Mince Pie

Mince Pie

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Umbongo said:
I have the same problem. I had a lesson on friday without stirrups to help lengthen my leg and it worked wonders in just the half hour lesson.

Take feet out stirrups and fold them over. I did exercises such as tucking my legs up like a jockey and really stretching them all the way back down a few times. lifting my foot up behind me and grabbing my toe, and really push your knee towards the floor. gently swinging you leg from you knees, and then again but from your hips.

Lots of trotting, start with a few strides, then to walk etc. Then trotting without stirrups but really point your toes up and heels down. Had a bit of a canter as well on both reins. Make sure your stirrups are at a decent length and pop back in.

Make sure you have a good horse to do this all with :)

My instructor could see I was struggling so we did this, and my legs were transformed for the rest of the lesson, no more gripping with my knee.
Click to expand...
Totally agree - but it WILL hurt the first couple of times!
 
Archiepoo

Archiepoo

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Hi brambridge04 you can buy the wedge treads for fillis stirrups from ebay or dressage shops. if you use the largest end of the wedge on the outside it holds your thigh in the right place (showjumpers use them like this) if you use the largest end of the wedges on the inside it holds your calf against the horse (dressage riders use them like this) i found my they worked best for me with the large end of the wedge on the outside as my thigh rolls out on my weak leg and my toe would stick out, the wedges improved my position enormously .suppose it would be trial and error as to which way suits different people:D
 
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wattamus

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I used to do this- still do on occasion, i just used to focus on my heels and keeping them down and i also got some sloping stirrup treads which really helped. I really focussed on rides as my horse was really good and would take herself if i pointed her in the right direction :D Eventually it just came naturally- untill i stopped riding for three months then got back on :p
 
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CrazyMare

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Cortez said:
Usually a risen heel is the result of gripping with the upper thigh or knee, a symptom of general tenseness.
Click to expand...

My take too!

I'd also take a guess you sometimes tip forwards a touch? You need to find your seatbones, and open your hip, so your thigh can 'hang' long in the saddle.
 
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CrazyMare

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Usually its because you are tilting your pelvis forwards slightly. Try halting, and feeling where your pelvis is, and moving slightly until you find your boney bits!

Think of sitting tall, and pulling your belly button to your spine - you will feel your pelvis change angle. Careful not to pull your belly button in too far, or your pelvis starts to tilt backwards.

Play with that a while in halt/walk, then take the feeling into trot and canter.
 
little_critter

little_critter

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I was told to loosen up my ankles and the rest of my leg by keeping my feet in the stirrups and lifting my heel up for a count of 3 then drop it down for a count of 3 - repeat until loose. The stirrup should not move back and forth as you lift / lower you heels - keep the stirrup in riding position and only move your heel.
Mind you - I'm terrible for gripping in canter - my stirrups slip back and start clattering around. I have to stop trying so hard and let the horse do the work.
 
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