How do i keep my heels down?

[jcberry]

I always end up with half my boot in the stirrup! How do i keep them down?

 

[the watcher]

Try thinking about keeping your toes up, as a different way of approaching it, and your lower leg still.

 

[jcberry]

oo good idea! thanks!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Also make sure your stirrups are the right length - not too short or (more common nowadays as peeps think long leathers = dressage rider!) too long. Mary Wanless is good on this in her books etc.

 

[jcberry]

ok thanks, i think i have some of her books...

 

[FMM]

Make sure you have your legs in the right position before you start - then find out what causes your leg position to change.

 

[kerilli]

don't grip with any part of your leg, esp your knees... this is the usual reason for heels coming up. keep the knees away from the saddle for a while, until your weight naturally stays down in your heels, then gradually bring your knees closer to the saddle again.
think of your legs being like two wet dishcloths that just hang loosely against the horse, slightly stickily, if that makes sense! don't have tension or grip anywhere in them.

 

[jcberry]

ok Thanks i think thats what i do..

 

[Nudibranch]

Ive seen some stirrup treads somewhere (Robinsons?), and they're angled to help keep your feet in the right position. No idea whether they work mind you, but they look like they would.

 

[skewbaldpony]

Think of opening your hips and tilting pelvis forward. Also concentrate on keeping weight on outside of foot. Agree about stirrup leathers also, long leathers have to be earned, you can't just let 'em down and go all dressage on yerself!

 

[alisonpook]

Rather than thinking of pushing the heel down or holding the toe up try and thinking of 'opening' the angle behind the knee - sounds a bit odd but it worked for me without giving the tension that pushing the heel down can do.