Exercises to keep heels down

[Stelzar]

Hello guys,

I have a bit of an issue with a friend of mine that can't seem to keep her heels down especially when going over a small fence does anyone have any handy tips or exercises to try to get her in the habbit of keeping her heels down.

Would be much appreciated.

Stelzar

 

[Waffles]

A good exercise might be to stand on the bottom stair with just her toes/ball of foot on it, then work with bent knees into a sort of riding position, flexing the ankle. Some people have quite tight achilles tendons and doing this might help stretch them a bit - or at least make it feel a bit more natural.

 

[Stelzar]

Obvioulsy no one else has ever had this problem then when they started riding?

 

[be positive]

Get her to stand in the stirrups, 2 point position while walking then trotting and cantering,this will help give a more secure lower leg position.

 

[K27]

Try getting her to take her stirrups up a hole or even two- as a temporary measure, this will make the lower leg position more secure, think about taking the thigh away from saddle with loose knees and taking the weight down through the knees and heels, with loose ankles. Don't try too hard though as can cause tightness and be uncomfortable!

For dressage/flatwork i was once told it doesn't matter so much if the heels aren't completely down as long as they are level with the toe, but for jumping the lower leg has to be secure!

Has your friend tried the bendy stirrup irons i.e sprengers and the like?...

Gd luck!

 

[Stelzar]

Thank you guys, seems to be when I put a post up no ones interested, will definately try the 2 point position tonight with her, the putting the stirrups up is a good idea too...

 

[oscarwild]

This is the same problem I have. I havent jumped in 12 years and just got back into it with my new mare.
We have been out of action for a few months due to mare falling ill but before this happened I was trying the 2 point position which was starting to work. I also felt that taking my stirrups up a hole made some difference too.

 

[JFTDWS]

Thank you guys, seems to be when I put a post up no ones interested, will definately try the 2 point position tonight with her, the putting the stirrups up is a good idea too...

We all have threads like that. According to the disappointed by reaction to newbie thread, anyway Otherwise quiet threads will end up with thousands of responses like "No idea, but good luck" or "I'm sure I used to do a good exercise for this... Maybe it'll come back to me later..." lol

 

[fatpiggy]

Dunno if I'm not reading the replies right but don't you all put your stirrups up two or three holes for jumping, and down a couple for dressage (especially if using sitting trot predominantly) compared to say schooling or hacking length???

Certainly standing on the edge of a step or kerb and stretching down with the heels is a good exercise, but most people seem to get really hung up about heels down. Just concentrate on keeping the toes flexed up and jobs a good un.

 

[Hels_Bells]

One way is to think toes up, not heels down - amazing how a bit of reverse psychology can help.

Also a bit more advanced but I do classical dressage and my trainer always tells me that you must think down with your whole body and you feet will follow, just putting your heels down on their own doesn't necessarily improve how you ride/your position or your balance, which is why the standing in stirrups exercise mentioned above works well as you're forced to find your balance with your heels down. Sadly once you sit down it doesn't necessarily translate from that exercise to the best seat, so actually riding with no stirrups and ensuring feet are relaxed can work better in the longer term!!!!

Phew - PHD over!!

 

[faith123]

I have the problem where my heels are too far down!!

I was always told if your heels are down you cant fall off lol

 

[Reacher]

I second practicing 2 point position - which i do while hacking - it has made a difference to my jumping lower leg position, though still work in progress (Ive got a lot of years of bad habit to undo)