Toes sticking out!!!!! Any advice/tips/exercises?!

BorgRae

BorgRae

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 September 2010
Messages
461
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
I have an issue...

Me and my boy are coming along great and in the last 4 years I/we have improved immensely! However, one thing I can not seem to change, is that my toes REALLY stick out! (absurdly so!) :o

My instructor said it seems to be my hips that are the issue (I do have stiff hips), and we're going to start working on this in my next lesson.

However, in the mean time, does anyone have any exercises/tips for helping me to keep my bloomin toes in/loosening my hips?!?!

(I'd post pics, but really don't know how! Just imagine the worst sticky out toes ever and you're about there! lol!)

Strawberries and Cream for anyone that can help! :)
 
It may well be your hips, but can also be other things. Do you think hard about riding with your heels down? If so you can end up pushing your legs forward and your toes end up pointing out. If instead you think more about riding with your toes up, rather than heels down, it can help. Sounds crazy, but it helped me!
 
TangoCurly said:
It may well be your hips, but can also be other things. Do you think hard about riding with your heels down? If so you can end up pushing your legs forward and your toes end up pointing out. If instead you think more about riding with your toes up, rather than heels down, it can help. Sounds crazy, but it helped me!
Click to expand...

I do probabaly push my heels down as opposed to pull toes up, although must admit, I probably don't think about it as much as I should :o I will definitely try and concentrate on pulling my toes up! Thank you! :)

Any other ideas?
 
Try thinking heels out not toe in & you will find it easier to have a forward facing toe ! Really it works & has helped several people I've told with the dreaded turned out toe.
 
Some yoga or Pilaties classes to open up your hips maybe ??

Also when I ride - and this could be wrong - I try to imagine sitting on a ball and wrapping my legs around the ball (this can help you stop gripping with your knees too) you neeed to wrap your legs around the middle of the ball rater than to front or the back or it will just pop out from underneath you ( I hope that make sense !!)
 
That makes a lot of sense thank you. I guess I just need to stay really focused on keeping my leg position. I used to grip with my knee's quite badly, then someone said to think that I had an egg between me knee and the saddle. I don't really grip with my knees now, but the toes still stick out!! Grrr! Maybe my knees are too far out as well?!?!
 
I also remember when I was pony club age having to do a pre lesson warm up in the saddle !! Feet out of the stirrups then pull your foot up to jocky position twist your knee out and push your foot down 5 times - that must have been to open up the hips !!
 
Ladylina83 said:
I also remember when I was pony club age having to do a pre lesson warm up in the saddle !! Feet out of the stirrups then pull your foot up to jocky position twist your knee out and push your foot down 5 times - that must have been to open up the hips !!
Click to expand...

Oooh, I'll remember that one! Thank you! :)
 
One exercise I find particularly useful for stiff hips which is where I think your problem will be originating from, is to bring bring your knee up in front of you, open it out to the side, hold for a moment and then allow you leg to relax back into it's natural position in the saddle. You can do this with one leg at a time or both together, you do have to keep your upper body straight and not lean to one side to help draw your leg up or lean back if you do the exercise with both legs at the same time. I have found this exercise is good for opening up your hips.

A friend at work used to have major problems with pointing her toes out and no matter what exercises she was recommended they would not sort the issue out, after having physio on her hips there has been a drastic change in her position and I believe it could be something worth considering if you are continue to struggle.
 
Sounds daft and not very practical, but riding in an arena where I used to catch my toes on the post and rail as they stuck out cure it a little! Also wearing spurs as if your heels are turned in because your toes point out it makes you do all kinds of daft things with your horse and you start concentrating on heels out! :)

The hip exercise is realy good and helped me with my position/seat too :)
 
My toes have always stuck out when I ride, but its because of my muscle memory. I have an extra bone or a misshapen bone or something on the outside of both of my feet which affects the way I walk and so my muscle development! Maybe you are having the same problem? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top