Hip, heel allignment and using my seat. Confused

[Mule]

Hello, I've recently been told that my feet are forward when I'm in the saddle. In other words my hips and heels aren't in allignment. Does anyone know why this is and how I could fix it?

Also when I hold my thighs against the saddle I end up gripping with my knees. But if I leave my thighs off the saddle my seat isn't as effective. Does anyone know how I can still use this part of my seat without gripping with my knees?

I do walk with my heel facing further inwards than the rest of my foot. Think very subtle clown feet 😀 I think this might be related because my knees would naturally be closer together. Is this a likely cause of gripping knees and does anyone have any ideas on how I can overcome this. Thanks in advance.

 

[Wizpop]

Hi mule-what sort of saddle do you have? If it's a GP or anything else that's not a dressage saddle, then you will really struggle through no fault of your own, to get the hip/ heel alignment as the stirrup bars are likely too far forward on your saddle.
If you take your feet out of the stirrups and just let your leg hang down, you will find that alignment. From there, your seat/ thighs will be in a softer, "deeper" contact and you will be able to use them more effectively.
If you could borrow a dressage saddle that fits you and your horse you should be able to feel the difference but you might need practice to get used to it! 😉

 

[blitznbobs]

Hello, I've recently been told that my feet are forward when I'm in the saddle. In other words my hips and heels aren't in allignment. Does anyone know why this is and how I could fix it?

Also when I hold my thighs against the saddle I end up gripping with my knees. But if I leave my thighs off the saddle my seat isn't as effective. Does anyone know how I can still use this part of my seat without gripping with my knees?

I do walk with my heel facing further inwards than the rest of my foot. Think very subtle clown feet 😀 I think this might be related because my knees would naturally be closer together. Is this a likely cause of gripping knees and does anyone have any ideas on how I can overcome this. Thanks in advance.

Firstly sit up straight. Legs swinging forward is usually a sign of lack of balance which in turn is a sign of lack of core strength. This is the one thing I would advocate doing some work without stirrups for. Try to let your leg hang . If that involves not using your seat for a bit so be it. Seat should be applied and removed when needed not used all the time. Anything used all the time becomes ineffective.If your legs are forward you can't be effective with your seat anyway. Get some lessons so that someone can correct you as you go. Don't try to use your leg and seat all the time only when asking for a change. Is your horse well schooled? It's easier to learn all this on a horse that is, or one that's a dope as people tend to grip more when they horse goes a bit quick... which of course is totally counter productive.

 

[Shay]

Your saddle may not be helping you - but you certainly do not need a dressage saddle to get the line of the leg correct!

OP - the seat you are describing is sometimes called a chair seat. It can happen when you are just beginning to ride, if you have a strong horse and adopt that type of seat to balance, because you grip with your knees, because you work too hard to push your heel down, or just through slumping in your saddle. Work without stirrups helps - so does work standing in your stirrups. You simply cannot stand - straight up, not in 2 point - unless your legs are properly beneath you.

The first thing is probably to get a good instructor to help. It is possible that the design of your saddle is not suited to you - but an instructor is cheaper than anew saddle so I would suggest start there. Then lots of work - every time your ride - on being without stirrups and on standing in your stirrups. You might need to start that on the lunge so you can work on your balance without catching the horse in the mouth.

 

[JillA]

If you are anywhere near Devon you could do worse than have a session with Heather Moffett on her simulator. Or if you aren't, find one of her EE trained instructors http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/teacher_find.htm

 

[Bernster]

Yes, I was thinking the feet forward may well be a reaction to being told to get your heels down. Often what happens is people shove their heels down and their feet go forward. Agree sounds like no stirrup work would be a good idea for you, as well as ofc someone on the ground teaching you, with a more biomechanical approach, or who can just explain rider position a bit more clearly!

 

[JillA]

Feet forward generally means you are sitting on your bum as in a chair, rather than your crotch as on a bicycle and your back is rounded,ditto the thighs on the saddle - take hold of the pommel in your right hand and pull yourself forward onto your crotch. Then see how that works and concentrate on getting that established (don't forget homeostasis, the tendency to revert to old established habits for a while)

 

[Wizpop]

Your saddle may not be helping you - but you certainly do not need a dressage saddle to get the line of the leg correct!

YEs you are absolutely right shay! Just getting a bit carried away re the placement of stirrup bars issue which is probably not helping��

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...nd-using-my-seat-Confused#MQ7QikHpBW1aQaws.99

 

[Orangehorse]

Just beware that you don't go the opposite way and start to tip forward with your leg behind the girth. The upright, straight seat is what you are looking for for schooling and dressage, but not for jumping and cross country.

 

[Wizpop]

Yes, as others have said - get someone to help you with your position and then it's practice! The simulators can be very helpful too😊Once you really get the "feel" of how you need to be sitting you will begin to develop the right muscle memory.

 

[Mule]

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. I have been riding in a different saddle that's a bit too big. I slouch when I sit so I'd imagine i do it when I ride. I do sit on my bum in the saddle aswell. I try not to but I think I look a bit like a cowboy 😉
I've been doing Pilates for 4 months so my core has improved. I will do lots of no stirrups and jump position. And look into a simulater if I don't improve. Lots to practice!

 

[oldie48]

Being tight in the hip flexors can also affect your position, ask your pilates trainer to suggest some exercises that will help.

 

[Mule]

Good idea

Being tight in the hip flexors can also affect your position, ask your pilates trainer to suggest some exercises that will help.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Instead of thinking "heels down" think "toes up", it stops you pushing your feet forwards. If your feet naturally turn out there's no harm in riding with your feet in a "10 to 2" position (like on a clock) instead of pointing them straight forward, which might help you stop gripping with your knees if you're currently trying to contort your legs into an unnatural position. The other thing that causes legs in the wrong place is stirrups of the wrong length. Too short (for flatwork) and you'll naturally adopt a more jumping style positon, or if you're a novice rider more likely a chair seat. Too long and your legs will come forward as you subconsciously reach for the stirrups to stop yourself losing them constantly.

To stop slouching, first find your seatbones (the bottom of your pelvis) by sitting on a hard chair with your hands under your butt, palms down so you're sitting on your knuckles. Wiggle about until you can feel your seatbones. Once you know where they are you can feel how slouching makes your seatbones point forward and arching your back makes your seatbones point backwards. You want to think about keeping them pointed downwards towards the floor.

You'll also find you grip with your legs, or they're in the wrong place, or your heels come up etc, if your upper body isn't in line, even if your seatbones are where they should be. If you're weak through the core or used to slumping in daily life, it's easy to let your shoulders (and sometimes head/neck) slump forwards, especially if the horse is strong or inclined to lean on the bit. If you're naturally round-shouldered in your posture you might find it almost impossible to get your shoulders back where they should be without becoming very tense or arching your back, in which case to become a better rider you'd need to work on your posture in daily life too.

The pilates will help correct any posture faults you might have as well as improving your core strength.

 

[Mule]

Found my seat bones and have them pointed downwards. I feel so tall! You've described my posture perfectly. My shoulders are very rounded.I'm going to turn over a new leaf. No more slouching.
I have also started riding with longer stirrups. It makes sense that my feet would be reaching forward for them. Thank you. I love h&h wisdom

Instead of thinking "heels down" think "toes up", it stops you pushing your feet forwards. If your feet naturally turn out there's no harm in riding with your feet in a "10 to 2" position (like on a clock) instead of pointing them straight forward, which might help you stop gripping with your knees if you're currently trying to contort your legs into an unnatural position. The other thing that causes legs in the wrong place is stirrups of the wrong length. Too short (for flatwork) and you'll naturally adopt a more jumping style positon, or if you're a novice rider more likely a chair seat. Too long and your legs will come forward as you subconsciously reach for the stirrups to stop yourself losing them constantly.

To stop slouching, first find your seatbones (the bottom of your pelvis) by sitting on a hard chair with your hands under your butt, palms down so you're sitting on your knuckles. Wiggle about until you can feel your seatbones. Once you know where they are you can feel how slouching makes your seatbones point forward and arching your back makes your seatbones point backwards. You want to think about keeping them pointed downwards towards the floor.

You'll also find you grip with your legs, or they're in the wrong place, or your heels come up etc, if your upper body isn't in line, even if your seatbones are where they should be. If you're weak through the core or used to slumping in daily life, it's easy to let your shoulders (and sometimes head/neck) slump forwards, especially if the horse is strong or inclined to lean on the bit. If you're naturally round-shouldered in your posture you might find it almost impossible to get your shoulders back where they should be without becoming very tense or arching your back, in which case to become a better rider you'd need to work on your posture in daily life too.

The pilates will help correct any posture faults you might have as well as improving your core strength.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

If you want to ride with a longer leg, don't just drop your stirrups down if you're not used to riding long. Cross your stirrups over in front of the saddle and ride without them for 10min, when you take them back they'll probably feel too short, that's the time to lengthen them. After a while your legs will shrink again and you'll need to either shorten your stirrups again or go without them for another 10min. Gradually you'll get used to riding with longer stirrups for longer periods of time. When you're very used to it and habitually school with longer stirrups, don't forget that for jumping/galloping you'll need to put the stirrups up more than the hole or 2 that you've been used to doing, because you'll be starting off from a longer place than before.

 

[ponydi]

Standing in the stirrups in all three paces and on both reins, whatever length you ride, will help. Don't grip with the knee or thigh to help!

 

[windand rain]

One way to get the right postion and actually feel it is to put your legs over the front of your saddle hutch forward as far as you can then drop your legs back under you you should feel you are sitting on the flat part of your pelvis neither too far forward or too far back. sit up straight while you are doing it ride without stirrups and when you take them back drop them then not before or you will be reaching for them gradually work them down about 3 holes as usualy this position is from constantly riding too short you will feel lighter and more secure too once you get used to it. A good instructor should be able to show you how

 

[Mule]

Went hunting today. I sat up straight, with my seat bones pointing to the ground and I was in perfect balance! Onwards and upwards. Thanks everyone