Any friendly tips? :)

L

laura_lor

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I'm getting back into riding after a 5-6 year break, and after a couple of lessons am finding that whilst I KNOW what I want my muscles to be doing, at the moment there just isn't the strength there to always make them DO it - which is incredibly frustrating!

A particular problem is that (particularly in trot) my foot is continually slipping through the stirrup iron, despite me pushing my heels down constantly. Does anybody have any hints or tips on how to avoid this? Also are there any particular exercises that I could be doing to help regain my muscle strength quicker? I can only have riding lessons every few weeks at the moment due to being at university (no local riding school - so travelling home for lessons!).

Thanks for taking the time to read this, white chocolate and raspberry birthday cake available to all.
 
If your feet are sliding through your stirrups at trot it sounds as if you are relying on your stirrups too much, try riding without them and doing rising trot and you'll feel how your thighs work to support your weight instead of your stirrups.

It could also be that your stirrups are a little long and you are reaching for them, so check for that.

A good exercise for stretching the calf muscle is to stand on the edge of a step with just the balls of your feet on it and allow your weight to gently 'bounce' into your heels.

You could also sit on the floor and place the soles of the feet together in front of you and gently push your knees towards the floor which will stretch the inside thigh muscles.

Pilates is also great for core strength. :)
 
I'm getting old :D :D and only ride once in a blue moon, just lazy these days.

If I haven't ridden for a while that happens to me.

I have worked out that for some reason when I haven't ridden for a bit I tend to grip with my knees. No idea why, but I find that once I remember that, I can avoid doing it. Once I stop, my leg goes back to the right position, and it doesn't happen any more.
 
Hi Laura_lor

You might find that pushing your feet or heels down into the stirrup actually amkes you more unbalanced as it pushes your leg forward. This means that you don't have as much contact with the horses sides and as you then try to squeezse the horse to keep him moving you then find your feet slip through. Rather than pushing your heels down, try to imagine you are putting your weight along the outside of your foot, almost towards your little toe -without lifting your heels. This way you should find your leg starts to sit more naturally against the horses sides and you won't have to move it so much to squeeze him therefore keeping your leg still and stopping your foot sliding through the stirrup.

Hope that makes sense-Good Luck

murphysmummy :D
 
Thank you all for the replies :)

It's interesting to see that yoga is recommended - I'm supposed to be giving it a go to try and lower my blood pressure as well, but I've been a bit hesitant to try it. If it will help on more than one level, however, I think I'd be a bit daft not to give it a go!

Rockysmum - interesting to hear that you find it happens when you grip with your knees, I'm wondering if that's the same thing I do as when I dismounted both times my left knee has felt really sore for some reason (and I even have a lovely purple bruise on it this time - although that could also be something to do with the horse I was riding trying his party trick out, and dragging my leg along the wall!)

I'll hopefully be having another lesson in a couple of weeks time, so I shall do some yoga and things before then and see if I can notice a difference! :D
 
touchstone said:
A good exercise for stretching the calf muscle is to stand on the edge of a step with just the balls of your feet on it and allow your weight to gently 'bounce' into your heels.
Click to expand...

^^ this. Helped me the most when getting back after 8 years out of the saddle. It's so frustrating when you have the knowledge but your body just won't comply anymore!
 
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