Heels & Hips Help (please!)

[Dizzle]

I’ve just read back though the notes on the assessment for my NVQ, a couple of things stood out on my riding assessment.

Firstly, it said I was “tight thought the hips, although this improved after work without stirrups” and “tendency to draw heels up when applying aids”

So any advice on how to work on the heels and hips please?

 

[BobbyMondeo]

I find that when people draw their heels up its because they are thinking of giving the aids with their feet not their leg. Try thinking of giving the aid with your lower leg and trying to "scoop" the horse up underneath you with them.

Dont have any tips for your heels, sorry. I have problems with my hips too so am looking forward to some advice on here

 

[ISHmad]

Best advice re the hips is to think mentally about the horse moving your hips so that you flow with him or her. Doesn't mean you sit all floppy or anything, just that you are then in natural rhythm with the horse. I would suspect that once you are more fluid in the hips the drawing up of the heel will sort itself out.

Good luck with your next assessment.

 

[Dizzle]

Ah, the old "squeezing like a tube of toothpaste" analogy for the heels?? That makes sense actually, will give it a go in the morning. Leg not foot!

 

[BobbyMondeo]

Yeah the old tube of toothpaste trick! I find it really usefull!