aghh my feet wont stay in the stirrups in canter!

weesophz

weesophz

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i dont why it happens :( i can feel my feet slipping out, so i push my feet and heels down but i end up just sitting really stiff and end up unbalancing myself and the horse.

what can i do to stop it happening?! its really annoying and i feel like i must look so stupid
 
you're not the only one. I have a bad habit of drawing my heels up in canter and lose a stirrup. I can generally get it back but it's annoying as I know i'm doing it but cant seem to help it sometimes!
 
maybe do some work with no stirrups, or put them down a hole till your not searching for them any more, and try not to grip with your thighs
 
its more often than not whatever leg is on the outside.. dont know if i lean to the side or anything, no ones ever really commented when ive asked for help..

i will give that a go rhodders thanks
 
Sounds like you are clamping with your upper leg. Take away your reins, you'll be amazed at how this will force you to engage your core and help stabilise your lower body!
 
Billie1007 said:
Sounds like you are clamping with your upper leg. Take away your reins, you'll be amazed at how this will force you to engage your core and help stabilise your lower body!
Click to expand...

so should i get someone to lunge me while i try it out? fox tends to veer towards the gate and cut corners with no steering haha so it wouldnt be difficult otherwise. thanks!
 
I always, always, always ride my first 20 minutes with no stirrups - you have no choice but to be balanced, you stretch your legs out and when you put your feet back in you feel so much more secure
 
I do this too! My problem is what has been described, gripping with the thigh and not sitting deep enough. I did a no-stirrup lesson with an instructor a few weeks ago, and stirrups came back at the end and I was surprised to be saying they needed to go about two holes longer for me to feel comfortable having spent 20-30 minutes developing a much deeper seat, and becoming much more flexible in my lower back.

If you have an experienced friend/instructor/enough cash for a lesson it might be worth giving it a go! :)
 
Are you sat in the deepest part of the saddle and not slightly gripping with your knees?
Could it be the balance of the saddle that isn't quite right or just simply the action of the horses canter that's not allowing you to sit deep and go in motion of the canter perhaps, some horses have a nicer canter to sit to which helps, sitting up and looking forward and relax your shoulders and arms, don't let your leg swing back too much and relax your ankle. Maybe try some flexi irons that tilt a little to help.
 
Plenty of non-stirrup work, making sure your putting your weight through your hip, knee and down to your heel. Make sure your not gripping with your knee or upper leg.

Other good exercises are standing up in your stirrups and holding it, for a few circuits each time your ride, again making sure your not gripping with your knee. This makes you put your leg in the correct position and also teaches you to keep your weight down in your feet. From here, you can then do the exercise where you raise up on your tip toes whilst standing in your stirrups, and then lifting your toe and lowering your heal as slow as you can without falling back down in the saddle.

These are exercises my instructor gives me anyway. Also, it takes 21 days for muscle memory to develop, so don't be disheartened if this isn't a quick fix! Give it time and dedication and you'll be there in no time :)
 
Try to keep your feet and calves in the same position on his sides in all paces, including canter, and think about hula hooping in time to his canter so that you absorb the movement through your back. I had exactly the same problem until I had some physiotherapy which put back 3 vertebrae that were out and also worked on the muscles of my back that were scarred
from an old injury - I couldn't absorb the movement in my lower back so I was compensating by gripping. Try hula hooping off horse to check that you have mobility?
 
I haven't read all your replies, but I suggest you try 'heels away' or 'heels out' rather than 'heels down' - the former 2 give you the correct contact wiith your inner lower leg and inner thigh, and your lower leg should envelope the horse with the ankle acting as a shock absorber and soft. You need to relax your thigh and try and lightly brush the saddle with your bottom. Do not arch your back, but close your stomach slightly so you use the correct lower back muscles. I hope that description may help you :)
 
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Triska, what treatment did you have? I have tissue scarring and feel it every day, have spent thousands on osteo/chiro/accu, but nothing fixes it... Sorry to hijack!
 
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