Penguin feet, Pic included

Degan

Degan

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Basically I've somehow managed to get into the habit of riding with my toes sticking outwards :/

Any ideas as to how to sort this out would be greatly appreciated :)
Thankyou.

Oh and here is a picture to try and show said penguin feet, sorry its not very clear on this pic.

044-1-1-1-1.jpg
 
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Doesn't look too bad to me, although I think I ride with my feet pointing in too much. Don't worry I know someone who rides like that A LOT worse.
 
An old instuctor of mine said to try and balance on your little toe (like a ballerina!! I was only 8 at the time) It worked for me!! Your feet don't look bad at all!!
 
firstponyMinto said:
I'd be more worried about your horses front feet than yours,
they don't look quite right
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your concern, i can assure you they dont look like that now, this was at least a year ago(cant quite remeber when). He has typically bad welshy feet which hadn't been managed properly and had got long in the toe and flat which almost ment he was down on his heels if the makes sense.
 
It's not your toes that are the problem it's your thighs - if you look, you thigh is rotated so it the more back part in contact with the saddle. If you lift both of your legs away from the saddle and try and get your inner thigh in contact with the saddle, your toes should follow. Just trying to turn your toes in will only make your knees and ankles sore...
 
Inky_and_Sunny said:
It's not your toes that are the problem it's your thighs - if you look, you thigh is rotated so it the more back part in contact with the saddle. If you lift both of your legs away from the saddle and try and get your inner thigh in contact with the saddle, your toes should follow. Just trying to turn your toes in will only make your knees and ankles sore...
Click to expand...

agree, i have the same problem,
but i also have dropped arches in my feet (shud av taken up dancin as a child lol)
so i dont think that helps!

wudnt worry about it, lots of ppl do it and urs arent even that bad!!! :p
 
Inky_and_Sunny said:
It's not your toes that are the problem it's your thighs - if you look, you thigh is rotated so it the more back part in contact with the saddle. If you lift both of your legs away from the saddle and try and get your inner thigh in contact with the saddle, your toes should follow. Just trying to turn your toes in will only make your knees and ankles sore...
Click to expand...

Thankyou i will try that, definately makes sense :)
 
Degan said:
Thankyou i will try that, definately makes sense :)
Click to expand...

No probs!

I had 20 years of being told to turn my toes in, then I had one lesson with a good instructor who told me I needed to open my hips and turn my thighs in.

How simple!

Another thing I learned in that lesson was the art of stopping with your seat - just clench your bum cheeks... Simple! Nothing complicated despite people claiming it's almost an art :rolleyes:

She also taught me how to neck rein and do almost a spinny circle - no training necessary for the horse - it just works! I can't explain it though :(
 
Hi, personally i think its to do with your thigh and knee position,i may or may not be right with this but: i find my legs are encouraged to fall into this position when riding in a gp or saddle with a knee roll. I was brought up from a very very young age in the show ring using straight cut knee roll-less saddles and can now say that they do help form a much more correct leg position as you are required to grip a lot more with the thighs esp the lower regions preventing your knees rotating outwards and henceforth your toes too.

So it could be that you have your stirrups are a little short pushing too much of your knee on to the knee roll, try sitting a little further back in your saddle dropping your stirrups down hole (as when you have shorter stirrups you are more inclined to grip with the back of your thighs and your knees twisting your lower leg outwards) and sit deep with the main concentration being to grip with your inner thighs ...

Just a thought... :)
 
Im not sure i thought you were on about your horse not looking gd Take a look at our web site [Commercial URL removed]
 
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carmmaponys said:
Im not sure i thought you were on about your horse not looking gd Take a look at our web site [Commercial URL removed]
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Hmmm, she's asking about her own feet!

Out of idle curiosity I looked at your website. I think it needs some serious proof reading/editorial work. It really isn't giving a good impression at the moment.
 
Personally if your trying to fix something like your foot position you need good boots. The ones you are wearing in the picture don't allow ample ankle flexion I really do not like rubber riding boots. I know long leather ones are expensive but you can't beat a good pair of joddy boots and chaps!
 
Are you still riding in that bit, I always thought that if you were using the bottom ring of a gag you should have a second rein on the bigger bubble? As the way you have it is set up very severe.

Sorry
 
Kokopelli said:
Personally if your trying to fix something like your foot position you need good boots. The ones you are wearing in the picture don't allow ample ankle flexion I really do not like rubber riding boots. I know long leather ones are expensive but you can't beat a good pair of joddy boots and chaps!
Click to expand...

Thankyou, and yes i dont have those anymore, they didnt last very long anyway. So i have boots and gaiters :) which i agree are much better.
 
toffee44 said:
Are you still riding in that bit, I always thought that if you were using the bottom ring of a gag you should have a second rein on the bigger bubble? As the way you have it is set up very severe.

Sorry
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Thankyou for your concern, and yes i totally agree about it being quite severe on that set up, however it was the only thing that was safe enough to take him out in as his breaks were interesting to say the least. This picture was taken a while ago when i still felt it necessary to ride him in that bit for field and road work, however we were building up an agreement :) shall we say with a snaffle in the school (I didnt mind so much not having breaks in an indoor).
And i am happy to report that we now do everything in a loose ring snaffle and have control :)
 
Inky_and_Sunny said:
It's not your toes that are the problem it's your thighs - if you look, you thigh is rotated so it the more back part in contact with the saddle. If you lift both of your legs away from the saddle and try and get your inner thigh in contact with the saddle, your toes should follow. Just trying to turn your toes in will only make your knees and ankles sore...
Click to expand...

Ditto this.
It can be quite painful to start with - at least it was for me! As in, muscles were being used in a way they weren't used to. But once you get used to it, you will find it very incomfortable to sit the way you are now!
 
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