Help teach my toes where they should point!

[sandi_84]

Had a lesson on the hairy one today (accidentally jumped a cone when my steering at speed failed ha ha! ) and the major thing my instructor kept shouting was "point your toes in!" because they have a habit of pointing out. She says to practice circling my ankles inwards when I'm sitting on the couch or in bed as that will help supple them up but was wondering if you had any other pointers to give my pointers?

 

[Ginger Bear]

Make sure your thighs are what grip and not your knees.. Your knees should be in on your knee roles, no gap between your thigh/knees and saddle.. It will give you a much more secure seat and you will only be able to get a secure seat when your toes point in..

 

[cheeryplatypus]

Make sure your thighs are what grip and not your knees.. Your knees should be in on your knee roles, no gap between your thigh/knees and saddle.. It will give you a much more secure seat and you will only be able to get a secure seat when your toes point in..

^^^^do this^^^

Thighs def the key, I also grab the fat behind my thigh and pull it out the way to help the thigh get on more...btw I'm not overweight but it helps to move the back of the leg out

 

[sandi_84]

^^^^do this^^^

Thighs def the key, I also grab the fat behind my thigh and pull it out the way to help the thigh get on more...btw I'm not overweight but it helps to move the back of the leg out

Sorry this made me giggle
Thanks guys i'll give it a shot tomorrow

 

[Ginger Bear]

Have you heard of Mary wanless? Her book, ride with your mind explains it really well.. When you get it right & have practice you will almost feel like you are neeling on your saddle & your thighs are so secure that you could almost rise in trot with no stirrups..

 

[sandi_84]

Have you heard of Mary wanless? Her book, ride with your mind explains it really well.. When you get it right & have practice you will almost feel like you are neeling on your saddle & your thighs are so secure that you could almost rise in trot with no stirrups..

I haven't heard of her before but I'll definately look up the book for when I have a few spare pounds. Usually I'm a show me in practice learner but I find it helps to have the theory behind it too, thanks Ginger Bear

 

[Littlelegs]

Put a straw at the very edge of where your thigh meets the saddle when your sat correctly & concentrate on keeping it there. ( no cheating lol, put just the very end under!)

 

[Little Claybrooks]

have to say i never found pointing toes in was helpful, but asking people to push their heels out - now this sometimes works!!

 

[SusannaF]

I just had a classical riding lesson and was told that my toes pointed outwards because I put wayyyyy too much weight on them - weight that should be on my thighs.

 

[sandi_84]

Well had a ride on the hairy one after work today and really tried to concentrate on keeping my knees turned in using my thighs and subsequently keeping my toes in, I think I did ok but I had no one on the ground who could shout at me when I lost concentration which I did probably more frequently than I realise Just read the new comments, the one about the straw sounds like fun might give that a go tomorrow if I get the chance to ride, thanks everyone!