heels down - why?

[darkhorse123]

After 3 years of lessons ive been told this and have never ever questioned why
Now Im trying to master canter - but tbh am not enjoying it

I dont feel safe so grip with my legs (calves) - hence bounce in the saddle

I feel daft asking my instructor - but if you dont grip with your legs what the hell keeps you on?

When you canter what makes you feel safe? Heels down, deep seat or both - ps i do try both but once it starts I feel im loosing a stirrup so grip and then end up being bounced around!

If someone could explain the mechanics of sitting to canter - what keeps you on it would really help

 

[Lolo]

I really struggle. You keep your heels down because it keeps your calf muscles taught, so you can make precise aids.

What keeps you on in canter is a deep relaxed seat. You need to open your hips and go with the movement- if you can, try cantering stirrupless holding the pommel and letting your legs swing loose. It gives you an idea of how you can stay on without needing your legs or hands at all really.

 

[HollyB66]

My instructor would put me on a lunge line and make me canter without stirrups, that worked!

Although as I generally hack I tend to stand in my stirrups when we canter and totally take my weight off her back - am I bad

 

[jumpingjasper]

Hi, i am also struggling with learning to sit to canter at the moment. Allthough its a lot better than it was! Like anything else in life practice is important... i was scared of cantering (am still alittle bit if pony is in a energetic mood!) and so tensed up like you are describing. I have found as time has gone on my muscles have got stronger so i can hold it for longer each time. Also has your instructor gone through with you how the horse moves in canter etc. im sure after 3 years they would have done. But i find i have to focus on moving in the saddle ever so slightly to kindof absorb the movement of the canter and therefore stay sat. Not as much absorbing as a sitting trot but i found just sitting still would see me bouncing about all over the place. Hope that makes sense!!!!

 

[PapaFrita]

Heels down keeps your centre of gravity low, allowing for a deeper seat and making it easier for you to balance on your horse. Your legs should, ideally, hang close against your horse's sides, but not 'grabbing' or holding you on. It should be like a gentle hug, if you like. Balance will keep you on, and it comes with practice.

 

[darkhorse123]

ty all - i really think it would be more comfortable - for me and my horse - if i sat up to canter but i do want to learn it properly ie sit to it.
I do sometimes think i am trying too hard - ooooooo its so difficult isnt it. I guess it is just practice and practice.

My current instructor keeps her horse at my yard and we have a very small unkempt (ie boggy in parts )school so go out to canter on specific fields and bridle paths

 

[spookypony]

Can you ask to have some canter lessons on the lunge line? That way, the worry of controlling the horse is taken away, and you can concentrate on your balance and the movement. Good to learn without stirrups, holding arms out to either side, etc. etc.!

 

[dumpling]

I think the canter on the lunge would suit you so you can feel it but don't have to keep the horse going. I remember as a beginner bouncing around but somehow you get used to it and you learn to sit. I remember doing canter without stirrups for the first time and got bounced off! Haha.

It's hard to explain but you just need to relax, open your hips and go with the pace. I've been riding for years so I don't force my heel down , my feet just sit horizontally in the stirrups. Your heel shouldn't be forced down anyway. I imagine if your still learning though you're being told that so you exaggerate it and therefore your toe won't go down.

 

[Stacey6897]

Can you do a sitting trot? It's not really about gripping, it's about not bouncing, if you grip, you're tense, so you bounce, if you relax, you can go with the movement, the same muscles you need to relax to sit to the trot stop you bouncing

To identify these muscles, do rising trot with no stirrups, if you do that til your legs ache, you've figured out which are your gripping muscles, these are the ones you need to relax, leaning back while you're sitting helps you sit deeper too

Lots of practice, it's about training your muscles to do something they're not used to

 

[intouch]

It keeps the weight coming down through your heels - they should be flexing in canter rather than jammed down. If they are raised, your weight will come up into your upper body and you will become unstable.

http://youtu.be/Fbbm_U9MdPc

 

[darkhorse123]

phew cantering with no stirrups and arms outstretched???
lol im sure to fall!!!
I will ask - I can do sitting trot quite well - ive never ever done rising trot with no stirrups - though i might well suggest tryng this -
again ty everyone, fab suggestions - but im still a bit at canter with no stirrups and arms outstretched - lol thats a challenge!!!

 

[Holly Hocks]

Can you do a rising canter? It's quite hard to do a rising canter with your heels up so you would have to keep them down in order to maintain the sit and rise. If you lift your heels in rising canter you will unbalance at the top of the rise. You could then sit for two strides instead of one and then increase the amount of time that you sit to the canter. My riding instructor many moons ago used to tell me to "5h@g it don't 5h!t it". You need to let your pelvis move to the movement of the canter (at least I think that's what she meant LOL!!)

 

[HollyB66]

phew cantering with no stirrups and arms outstretched???
lol im sure to fall!!!
I will ask - I can do sitting trot quite well - ive never ever done rising trot with no stirrups - though i might well suggest tryng this -
again ty everyone, fab suggestions - but im still a bit at canter with no stirrups and arms outstretched - lol thats a challenge!!!

If you are on the lunge and trust your instructor you will be okay, but you need to relax and just go with it.

 

[bobreader]

To get confidence lengthen your stirrups before you start and when you ride think TOES UP at walk and trot before you start trying to canter. Toes up and pointed out slightly uses the tendon in the front of the shin and relaxes the other muscles in the leg therefore bringing the horse much snugger into your seat. Allow the movement of the horse to rock your hips/pelvis, dont try to push the horse. Throw your hands forward and slouch your back.
Not pony club pretty but will give you the confidence to sit at canter and it can be refined once you have the confidence, to often people are forced into the percieved correct position before they get their confidence.
If all else fails get you instructer to take you out and find a nice hill and canter up it, again this will give you confidence as the horse wont dissapear and its movement will be more rounded making it easier for you to find your position.

 

[Silent Knight]

If there is anything that your instructor has asked you to do that you don't understand, ask.

You are paying good money for 'instruction' not a 'go on a horse'. You will progress much more quickly is you understand what you are being asked to do.

It sounds like your instructor will be assuming that you already know these things. Don't be embarrassed, you are there to learn.

If these are group lessons that you are having, try to invest in a few private. It will be money well spent.

 

[Tnavas]

Moving with the canter and not bouncing is a combination of relaxing, muscle control and a horse with a nice canter.

Ask if you can have some lunge lessons - without stirrups is best as it allows you to stretch legs down.

An exercise I use for riders having problems with canter is to reach behind and hold the back of the saddle and hold it firmly to your backside. Keep your upper body tall and you will then feel the whole movement of the canter.

Heels go down in varying degrees depending on what you are doing, you may notice that many dressage riders only have their feet level rather than heel down - this helps you apply the aids with softness and with more effect. Riders that force their heels down too far tighten their legs so that applying the aids becomes difficult and tiring.

Heels down when you are jumping help to secure the seat along with a shorter stirrup.

 

[4x4]

Hi Bob, you must be bored!

 

[Kat]

I would suggest going to a decent riding school for a few lessons so that you can ride in a proper school on a schoolmaster horse and get used to the movement with less other stuff going on. A lunge lesson on a schoolmaster would also be helpful.

It is difficult to learn if you don't have suitable space and suitable horses (sometimes you need a different one for a specific task) it also concerns me that you say you have been having lessons for three years but are only just learning to canter. While I wouldn't want to see someone rushed I wonder whether your instructor is the right instructor for your level. I think if you went to a riding school for a few lessons you might find that the instructors are a bit more used to riders at your stage of riding.

 

[Oliver12]

I struggled for ages with this one too. After I'd been on a Heather Moffett simulator course I was much improved. A real breakthrough was her advice (and it's also mentioned in her book) to try riding without stirrups with toes pointing down and calves lengthened and relaxed. In fact if you watch old cowboy films, the indians all have toes pointing down. It really helped with me anyway.

 

[Kaylum]

Also try in the school a circuit of standing up in your stirrups whilst trotting. Agree with everyone else lunge lessons are brilliant.

another reason for heels down is so they dont slip through your stirrups.

If you find english riding hard have a go at western riding. Its a totally different experience.

 

[paddy555]

why not find somewhere with a mechanical horse simulator and have a couple of lessons

 

[Spotsrock]

It is supposed to pull all your weight down into your lower leg which anchors you deeper into the saddle.

If you gripped with your calves on my boy you would never get out of gallop!!

It might help if you visualise all your weight as a peice of lead in your heel and really focus on sitting relaxed and tall but allowing your heel to drop low because of the 'lead' in it rather than forcing your heel down which will make you tense and defeat the object.

Good luck and stick with it!

 

[mollichop]

I refer to the heels as 'anchors'. Think of dropping the anchors down for stability/security in the saddle.

Also, you may have heard your instructor use the term 'lengthen your leg'? the more lower leg you have in contact (down and around) your horses sides, the more of your leg he/she can feel so less pressure is required.

Not allowing your heels to lift above your toes will help with your balance as it will prevent you from tipping forwards - this should help you absorb the canter movement better. Can you watch some experienced riders or your instructor?

Agree, lunge lessons on a horse with a comfortable canter should help

 

[councillor]

Generally, if your heels are up your knees will be gripping and your shoulders will be forward, putting you in front of the movement, and therefore off balance.
I would rather people didn't think Heels down as it tends to allow tension into the body (or should that be more tension) sit on your horse in a position where is it were to magically disappear you would land on your feet. I would rather see a more level foot in the stirrup with a relaxed knee and the lower leg underneath the rider than either a forced down heel (often causing the lower leg to move forward onto the shoulder, this in turn putting the shoulders back (behind the movement) or heels up, causing the result mentioned earlier.
once you can maintain this position in a forward sitting working trot (less scary than canter) you will find it easier to maintain in canter. As others have said try to practice your canter on the lunge with a good instructor. Remember in canter the pelvis remains supple to absorb the movement, try avoid the rocking shoulders thing that many do as that is a sign of tension in the pelvis and incorrect use of your core muscles and in my opinion this is what needs to develop in order to improve balance and deepen the seat.

 

[nikCscott]

No shame in a neck strap - it will help you keep balance without pulling on the mouth and allow you to work on your seat.

I've been riding for years and have gained a 'solid' canter position through years of no stirrups, but my new horse had such a sort bouncy canter (almost looked like a bronk) he was throwing me out of the saddle, my trainer rode him and he used the martingale neck strap (and said he was the post uncomfortable horse he's sat on!) I now use a nylon neck strap all the time for when he puts in a huge jump or gets excited- it helps me sit deeper to deal with the issue.

So in short i'd try neck strap and when ready no stirrups. Good luck! x

 

[darkhorse123]

ty so so much everyone - brill advice and explanations as usual - I will speak to my instructor about working on the lunge