Help - Can't keep weight in my heels!

estellebradley

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Hey everyone

I have been riding for a while and consider myself to be at a decent level.

More than ever I seem to have a problem keeping the weight in my heel. I'm pretty sure my stirrups are the correct length. My instructor seems to think it stems from stiffness in my hips and ankles.

Apart from sitting trot with no stirrups are there any exercises that can help? I get so jealous looking at everyone's photos with their weight perfectly through their heels!

smile.gif
 

Lucy_Nottingham

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even though you stirrups are the correct length maybe drop them one or two holes so that, although you have the stirrups there, you have to push down through your legs to reach them, this may mean you can only do sitting trot, but its WITH stirrups! also maybe do stretching exercises ontop of the horse at the start of the warm up so as your horse is walking round take feet out of the stirrups, bring your knees up, then out then stretch them down, when down do the ballet stretches or good toes naughty toes (toes up, toes down, toes up etc) and repeat a couple of times, should help stretch and relax your legs and the joints in them!

I just got made to ride for 2 months minus stirrups! this included jumping!!! but definetly helped me with stretching my legs down and through!

Just keep determination! my problem was one leg not the other! so one leg suffered pain for the others lack of ability! hehe it will come with time!
 

rlhnlk

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You could try shortening your stirrups and doing some work stood up in them. When I learned to ride we used to stand upright then xc position then jumping position and the weight should sit more in your leg and encourage you to push your heels down.
 

Bossanova

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Your weight shouldnt be in your heel, it should be on the ball of your fot down onto the stirrup. If you try putting the weight in the heel then you are likely to end up putting your lower leg too far forward and losing the security of the lower leg.
What you want is a secure ankle and a springy, flexible heel
 

Supanova

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I agree with Bossanova. IMO there is too much of an obsession with heels down. Yes the ideal picture is to have them down but there is no good forcing your heels down at the expense of your leg and seat position. Alot of people force their heels down which just pushes their legs forward and therefore you lose the ideal hip shoulder heel alignment and become unbalanced. The degree of being able to get your heel down also depends on how flexible your hamstrings are which means some people find it easier than others! However after that little rant......working in short stirrups and a jumping position on the flat really does help to get your weight in your heels.
 

Thunderbirds R Gone

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Is it jumping or dressage that you're struggling with?
If it is dressage, then as Bossanova and Supernova said, you really need your weight in the ball of your foot and think of letting your leg 'hang' rather than pushing your heel down, which just tenses up the whole of your leg and will prevent a stable seat.

If it is jumping/xc, then I do think you need slightly more weight in your heel if you are in the jumping seat, or riding at speed. Working out of the saddle, concentrating on dropping your weight into the heel should help, but as previously said, everyone is different depending on how flexible they are so don't try and compare yourself with other riders too much.
 
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