Position tips (toes in, thumbs on top!)

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Walrus

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I recently got OH to video me riding which, whilst great to be able to see what's going on, was also not pretty with the dawning realisation that whilst pony is super the jockey leaves a lot to be desired!

Two big noticable things were that I turn my toes out (think penguin feet!) and my hands turn inwards slightly and don't remain level.

Now I can tell myself about these problems till I'm blue in the face and if I remember (along with everything else in the school!) then I can correct them. But I'm wondering if anyone has any helpful hints, tips, exercises or visualisation techniques to correct these faults, especially the feet thing - I was a bit of a special kid and walked with my toes turned out and had to have insoles in my shoes and we have some fabulous photos of me riding aged about 11 with my toes pretty much at right angles to the poor pony. Not quite that bad now but I would quite like to turn them in or at least have them pointing in the right direction!

Thanks

:)
 
Don't worry too much about your hands turning (slightly) inwards - if you hold your thumbs directly on top as per the BHS way, your wrist position becomes more rigid, which isn't what you want at all. (Tip from a classical dressage instructor that set my mind at rest!).
 
Coffee cups! I actually had lessons on a mechanical horse with cups with water in - the cause of much hilarity as you can imagine. When our hands start to turn sis & I call 'coffee cups' to each other.

As for your feet - following a broken ankle, I've struggled to keep my left ankle in the right postiion, which is very annoying as the unbroken right one is ALWAYS in the correct position. A new physio has recommended orthotics to wear in my riding boots - perhaps that would help you too.
 
Walrus said:
I recently got OH to video me riding which, whilst great to be able to see what's going on, was also not pretty with the dawning realisation that whilst pony is super the jockey leaves a lot to be desired!

Two big noticable things were that I turn my toes out (think penguin feet!) and my hands turn inwards slightly and don't remain level.

Now I can tell myself about these problems till I'm blue in the face and if I remember (along with everything else in the school!) then I can correct them. But I'm wondering if anyone has any helpful hints, tips, exercises or visualisation techniques to correct these faults, especially the feet thing - I was a bit of a special kid and walked with my toes turned out and had to have insoles in my shoes and we have some fabulous photos of me riding aged about 11 with my toes pretty much at right angles to the poor pony. Not quite that bad now but I would quite like to turn them in or at least have them pointing in the right direction!

Thanks

:)
Click to expand...

With regards to toes, my yo and instructor gave me a great tip and it really works.... I've always struggled with my Lower leg etc. she said to me to focus on making sure your inside leg is touching the side of the horse, not the back of your leg. If you do this, your toes naturally point forward. Focus on the legs not the toes.
 
Is it just your feet that turn out or does it come fom higher up? Sometimes it can be tightness in the hips that turns the whole leg out rather than just the feet themselves
 
Thanks all - will write down the suggestions and try them next time - like the weight in the elbows idea.

Have been back and studied the photos and videos again: toes point in the same direction as my knees. If you viewed us from above they would be at 10 to 2 on the clock face! I think it's the whole leg that needs to turn in - will try focussing on the inside of my leg touching his side. Come to think of it I usually end up with the classic white grease mark right down the back of my boots so definitely leg rather than foot issue.
 
If your whole leg is turning out, try this tip, when you first put your feet in the stirrups, pull leg away from the saddle and get hold of the back of your thigh and move it out from the saddle, while putting your leg back in place. I hope that makes sense, I know what I mean, but aren't sure I explained it well :D
 
I call it teacups, & I have actually made people ride on the lunge with plastic mugs. Other thing that helps is sticking a whip under your upper arm, or piece of paper. Same for feet, stick something on the inside of your knee that will slip if you turn your foot out. Whips are handy, but make sure its not high under your thigh or it won't fall when you turn your knee out. With kids I shout 'knees please Louise', which gets abbreviated to me shouting 'oy Louise' if they need reminding. And I now know a few older teens (who I taught as kids) who immediately check their positions at shows or in warm ups if they hear someone shouting Louise.
 
You need to work on your muscles, if they are tight in the wrong areas they will cause your toes to point outwards.
Try a good sports massage and possibly Pilates or Yoga.
 
hi walrus i use the wedges on the outside it helps keep the knees and ankles in the correct position which in turn keeps the feet correct -i ride very long and its what works for me ,if the wedge is on the inside i believe it keeps the calf against the horse but doesnt help with feet.:)
 
Maybe try some of the old classic leg stretches without stirrups when warming up; knees up to chin then slowly drop down, stretch legs forward then out to the side (hold) then roll back. Anything that opens up your hip and relaxes/stretches the leg will help. Sounds like you're maybe gripping with calf so be careful not to start gripping with knee to get leg turned in. These types of habits are so difficult to get out of yourself. Good luck ;)
 
The only thing I have going for my riding is my leg position, ok and maybe seat, but the rest is cat. My leg position all came down to an instructor in college, who literally shouted it into me. She stopped me from gripping with my knees, a habit I'd picked up from hunting. It really was amazing, the transformation in my leg position has never left me, and that was 14/15 years ago. I hacked out at the riding school today, and my friend and instructor actually commented on my leg position, considering I dont ride out very often. It's my claim to fame. xx Loosen the knees and it gives you a natural leg position. xx
(and, dont wear rubber riding boots, you cant have proper position in rubber riding boots). x
 
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