Sticky out feet - just me?

HollyWoozle

HollyWoozle

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Why is it that my feet stick out sideways when riding? Whenever I look down, they seem to look fine, but then I see a photo and they look as if they're sticking out at right angles!

Please can someone tell me that A) it's not just me and B) I can learn not to stick them out like a muppet?
 
its your thigh thats doing it. if you can change the way you sit in the saddle and rotate your thigh so that the front part of the thigh is gripping the saddle more this should help turn your knees in and therefore your feet.
Either that or ride racehorses for a while and then your feet will naturally turn in!! :D
 
This is my first post so hope I'm doing this right!
I recently got a new instructor who has altered my dressage position (legs slightly further back, body slightly more forward) but as I have been riding in my 'old' way for the majority of my 10 years of riding, I am still finding it difficult to keep (this sounds really bad, my position wasn't awful before but it is now more correct, especially for dressage). I have noticed my feet are sticking out a bit when I squeeze/kick as I am trying to wrap my leg around my horse more and not grip with my knees/thighs. I have to really focus on my leg position to keep them correct, but with my feet not sticking out.
You are definitely not the only person that does this! I would reccomend having lessons (or asking your instructor to help if you already have one) or maybe getting an expeienced friend to watch you ride and point out when your feet stick out!
Hope I've helped a little :rolleyes:
 
I am a penguin too :)

I've found that taking my spurs off helps - mother of ALL sins I know but I was flicking my heels in periodically so taking the spurs away is curing two problems - reliance on spurs and sticky out feet. I had a lesson today with a new instructor (with no spurs) and afterwards I mentioned my feet were a problem, and she said I hadn't turned them out once - subconsciously I must have known there was no point!

I was also told by another instructor to focus on pushing my little toes down into the stirrup (without collapsing ankle out to the side) as I was turning my ankles in slightly which was also causing my feet to go sidewards. Like others have said, it comes from your thighs as well... I have lots to work on!
 
cuppatea said:
its your thigh thats doing it. if you can change the way you sit in the saddle and rotate your thigh so that the front part of the thigh is gripping the saddle more this should help turn your knees in and therefore your feet.
Either that or ride racehorses for a while and then your feet will naturally turn in!! :D
Click to expand...

I am very confused now! I have been told not to grip with the thighs and knees :confused: :/
 
Thanks for the replies! I do have lessons once a week at the mo but we're usually focusing on not tanking around the school rather than what my feet are doing. :p I find it very difficult at the moment to get the various parts of my body coordinated - Belle is hard work in the school and I'm constantly trying to think what my legs, hands, body etc. are doing and it's hard to get them all in the right place!

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one and thanks for the advice. Tired of my feet and legs looking ridiculous when I try so hard!
 
Rb1 said:
I am very confused now! I have been told not to grip with the thighs and knees :confused: :/
Click to expand...

sorry, not written very well...im not saying grip with the thighs and knees, just rotate them so that they are touching the saddle (Able to grip) like being knock knee'd. also try bringing your legs back a bit - underneath you rather than in front of you, this will bring your thigh back round.
 
cuppatea said:
sorry, not written very well...im not saying grip with the thighs and knees, just rotate them so that they are touching the saddle (Able to grip) like being knock knee'd. also try bringing your legs back a bit - underneath you rather than in front of you, this will bring your thigh back round.
Click to expand...

Ahh I see thanks! Yeah that sounds good, I just got a bit worried that I was being taught something 'wrong' again :rolleyes:
And I would love to ride racehorses! :p
 
I found that I used to do it (only noticed when we started getting out and about so I had pics to look at)! For me it was because I was concentrating too much on heels down - then ping, out go my toes! Now my instructor has been working on my position (like cuppatea said with the thigh) and bringing my legs under me the prob has resolved. I think some of it came from having 'heels down' drumed into me when I was little - not so much heels down, as just heels not up!!
 
Take you feet out of stirrups and lift your whole leg away from the saddle and grab your inner thigh from behind, then let your thigh fall flat on to the saddle, to some extent the thigh will "cling" to the saddle!
Peeps who ride a lot have flat inner thighs, this will develop over time.
Your instructor will be looking for balance not gripping with the legs, that is the way peeps are taught to develop riding style.
I find it difficult to put my weight in to my feet, and have to concentrate on that, it is difficult to get out of bad habits, but not impossible. Make sure you try to help your instructor here, as sometimes they sort of give up if it appears the pupil keeps going back to old habits.
 
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