Heels down - I want to improve my riding!

clevelandbay

clevelandbay

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 March 2009
Messages
138
Visit site
As you're a knowledgeable lot on here, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me. I've been riding a few years now (learned in my late thirties so still consider myself a "new" rider). I know I'm making progress but do get frustrated with myself quite easily.

I struggle to keep my heels down, which in turn leads to other faults. Just wondering if anyone had any tips/exercises to remedy this which they've used and which may help me? I obviously find it easy enough to keep a reasonable position in walk, and not too bad in canter but it's the trot I struggle with mostly.

Any tips/advice etc will be much appreciated.
 
also its toes up not heels down, uses different muscles and is easier to do :p

I wouldn't be too much emphasis on it either, so long as you are at least 'flat' and not heels up that is often more than enough.

If your stirrups are too long it will be too difficult too!
 
I used to have this problem and would also draw my legs back all the time (especially if tense) and I actually found lengthening the stirrups just a hole made it easier - I think I had them too short initially, even though my instructor said they were right.

I have done a lot of work without stirrups (and still do occasionally). I do feel much more comfortable with them longer and find it easier to have my leg in the right position this way (I might just be odd, however!) If I look at pictures/vids of me nowadays, my position is better even though stirrups look 'too long' - dressage style :D:D . I do sometimes put them up a notch or two when we are going out.

I have also been told that the feet should be parallel to the ground, rather than tilted backwards.
 
Thanks for your responses guys. I will definately try to do more work without stirrups (which I hate!).

I will also look into having a lunge lesson too as a couple of people have suggested this.

The stirrup length is an interesting point. I've taken my stirrups up a hole recently, and find it much easier to keep my knee and heel down in canter since I've done this.

I wish there was a riding equivalent of those courses you go on that guarantee to get you through your driving test. You go away for a week and come back - tada! It's a nice thought, but in the meantime, I'll keep plugging away.
 
i'd keep your stirrups for now, since riding without them if you're not comfortable like that will probably make you tense your legs, which is the last thing you want.
you need to have a phase, probably a couple of months, of riding with your knees totally off the saddle, pointing outwards a bit it necessary, not touching the saddle at all. then you CAN'T grip with them, and your weight will be able to travel down to your heels. once the 'not gripping with the knees' is a secure habit, you can gently close your knees back against the saddle.
so sit up there 'froggy style' for a bit, and it WILL pay dividends. let your toes point out too, for a while. it's worth it...
i taught someone who gripped with her knees and in spite of being the perfect build for a rider (tallish, long skinny legs) she fell off all the time when she first started coming to me for lessons. within a few months she had a super-secure seat and had stopped falling off (the most important thing!) and was also a far more effective rider overall, because she persevered, stopped gripping with her knees, and allowed her weight to travel down to the safest place - as low as possible.
you can feel this even at halt, if you grip with your knees and raise your heels you will feel where your weight is, if you let your knees and toes turn out and your weight drop downwards, you'll feel where it ends up.
hope that helps.
 
I had a lesson with an amazing dressage teacher at Camp last year. I was horrified at riding in front of him (and others) as I consider myself to be a dreadful rider :p

Keeping my heels down naturally after having it drummed into me at an early age - but I struggle with my lower leg swinging.

He was extremely kind and explained he had the same problem but he solved it by KEEPING HIS TOES IN.

He said 'toes in' locks your lower leg into place and anchors you in the saddle.

It's worked a treat.

Needless to say I was amazed by how accessible and easy to understand he was for a 'happy hacker' like myself :)
http://www.activerider.co.uk/trainers_detail.php?id=69
 
Stop thinking about it - it's amazing how much things go wrong when we focus on them. Like others have already said don't try to force your heels down and you will probably start to feel the weight going in the right direction.
 
kerilli said:
i'd keep your stirrups for now, since riding without them if you're not comfortable like that will probably make you tense your legs, which is the last thing you want.
you need to have a phase, probably a couple of months, of riding with your knees totally off the saddle, pointing outwards a bit it necessary, not touching the saddle at all. then you CAN'T grip with them, and your weight will be able to travel down to your heels. once the 'not gripping with the knees' is a secure habit, you can gently close your knees back against the saddle.
so sit up there 'froggy style' for a bit, and it WILL pay dividends. let your toes point out too, for a while. it's worth it...
i taught someone who gripped with her knees and in spite of being the perfect build for a rider (tallish, long skinny legs) she fell off all the time when she first started coming to me for lessons. within a few months she had a super-secure seat and had stopped falling off (the most important thing!) and was also a far more effective rider overall, because she persevered, stopped gripping with her knees, and allowed her weight to travel down to the safest place - as low as possible.
you can feel this even at halt, if you grip with your knees and raise your heels you will feel where your weight is, if you let your knees and toes turn out and your weight drop downwards, you'll feel where it ends up.
hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Oops - just read this reply and noticed you recommend toes out.

Didn't mean to disagree with you.

I am a terrible rider, so I'd listen to the above rather than my ramblings :p
 
Kerilli - not heard of that approach before but it sounds as if it might work for me, I will speak to my instructor to ensure I'm doing it the right way.

And yep, I guess knees down is a better mantra than heels down as it is the knee that's the problem!
 
Oberon, I have to say I agree with you on the 'toes in' - once my instructor pointed this out to me my whole leg relaxed and my feet found the right position naturally.

Op - I always find work without stirrups helps, but don't overdo it so you start to tense up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top