Riding position - my first "serious" post

[lleeaannee]

i have two major faults with my position!!

1 - my feet point outwards.

They point outwards on the ground too. If I try to turn them in it twists my knees which hurts! Well feels extremely strained. This means that my knees and legs turn outwards and the wrong part of my calf touches the horses sides. The bulge touches the side which then reduces contact.

2 - my seat bones (bum bones) point backwards instead of down

I have a "dip" in the small of my back and when i sit up "straight" this gets worse. When my back dips by seatbones point backwards. Also when i sit up taller my back dips, seatbones go back, bum comes up and I am no longer sitting deep in the saddle.

Does anyone have any useful tips for sorting either of these probs out? One more addition is I have no probs keeping my heels down sothis isnt the reason why my feet turn out.

Thanx if anyone replies!!

[lleeaannee]

I know my stirrups are too short but we had been doing lots of galloping on the beach - thus shorter strirrups. Turning out prob is still apparrent!

[Em 1]

My feet stick out too! It's a standing joke in my family - I walk like a duck! We've been focussing on this during my lessons recently. Standing with your feet parallel e.g at the sink/your desk/whilst watching TV does help. You get used to the twisting sensation you talk about. It is still there but not as bad. The other thing I've found really useful is heaps of no stirrup work. It lets you bring your toes in properly making everything easier! Finally you could use some sort of resistance band to make your feet and ankles stronger. I think ultimately sticky out feet is something we're going to have to live with but practice does make them come in!

Good luck!

[Mehitabel]

i used have duck feet as well. my instructor taught me to grab hold of the big muscle at the back of the thigh and physically pull it so it's facing backwards and not resting on the saddle. this turns your whole leg, rather than trying to do it form your knees. this exercise turns your leg so the flat part of your inner thigh is against the saddle. it's not terribly comfortable at first (read: agony!) but it does the trick and will probably help with the seatbones as well. if you try standing in your riding position on the floor with your toes pointing forward, you should be able to feel the flat bit of your thigh and that's what should be on the saddle. (i've just done it and got strange looks from the people in the flat opposite!) you'll probably find (i did) that you'll have to keep adjusting your leg every few minutes at first, but it makes a big difference to the security of your seat when you've got it.
another thing specifically for the seatbones is to imagine a rope attached to your tailbone and coming out of your bellybutton, and someone pulling on it. almost think of rounding the dip in your lower back to start with. it kind of tucks your bottom in so you're sitting on your seatbones and they aren't sticking out. it's worked if you get off, sit down and your seatbones feel bruised! i've had some sadistic instructors!

[fizz21]

I have the exact same foot problem as you

[intouch]

The feet would not concern me as much as the head!!!

[Elfin]

coo yeah! my feet are sometimes like that, you have to keep looking down to make sure they are not turned outwards, then turn them the right way, it'll feel awkward so you have to persist and it'll soon feel better :)

[lleeaannee]

In-touch - "concern you as much as the head"? what do you mean?

[lleeaannee]

:D

[Maci]

I used to have the same problem as you, and only recently it's gotten better (more with my right foot sticking out). I find that (it may hurt) that if you try to consciously to walk with your feet pointed forwards more, and sit with your feet pointing in (at the computer, for example) that helps. Try to turn in from your hip when you stand (this is my little exercise), one leg at a time, hold it for a few seconds, release and try with the other one.

In the saddle, take your feet out of the stirrups, point your toes down to make your leg go in deeper on the saddle. Or raise your knees to your chest, then drop and point your toes down, and put them back into the stirrup, trying not to turn outwards. I do this at the begining and during my ride, if I feel my leg position has slipped. Eventually, your legs will grow used to this.

Maci :)

[K&K]

i have the seat problem, also - there's a dip in the small of my back and sitting with my spine straight is so hard to do! whenever i try to round the dip i end up rounding my shoulders, too.

[lleeaannee]

Yeah that's mine!!

If my bacK is straight my shoulders are hunched!!

[intouch]

I mean the lack of safety helmet - have fun, but stay safe - wear a helmet!

[K&K]

heehee no one ever has to remind me to wear a helmet - i feel naked without one, english or western!

[kedwards]

I didn't think your feet looked like they were pointing out too much in the picture, it was just that your calf wasn't on the horse. Maybe just working on getting your leg back a bit will help.

I know my toes tend to point out slightly when I'm sitting correctly. They will point way out if I get sloppy and lift my leg too much when cueing, but that's a different problem altogether.

[lleeaannee]

Lol - that wasn't in England it was in Majorca. The only reason I wasn't wearing one was cause it was 43 degrees!!! I had taken out 4 rides that day and couldnt bear to wear one any longer!! The funny thing was that 2 mins after that photo was taken it started thundering and lightening!!!!!!!

PS I always wear hat and body protector in england tho.

[Miriam]

Lleeaannee I have had the same problem as you. My friend used to day that if I did not keep my feet turned in she would atttach the leathers to the girth. The only thing I can suggest is that you keep paractising turning your feet in. If you have a problem with your feet anyway it will be harder. Try to be aware of our position. Since investing in Flexi-stirrups I have found my leg and feet position much better. My biggest problem was keeping my heels down.

[Mossy]

Hi
1 Please wear a hat. Mine is ventilated which helps the heat situation. Galloping without a hat, erm - Rather not thanks, brains are not nice scrambled.
2 Feet Try ridng without stirrups and really wrap those legs round the horse. knees away from the saddle, calves in contact and legs doing Heather's wet dishcloth act. My legs were al over the place untill I deliberatly spend soem time each and every time i ride, hacking or wherever without stirrups and really think about those legs. It hurts, really stretches those thigh muscles but is very effective.

[lleeaannee]

Although I am not supposed to be "here" anymore I thought I would write and thank you all for your help and also tell you the outcome!!

I have been to a chiropractor specialising in horseriding and it turns out hte problem is with my hip alignment - nothing to do with my leg, feet or back!! I was stunned. She helped me to open, twist and thus unlock my hips. The result afer one day has been brilliant. I have to think about it a lot as I slip back into the incorrect was during transitions etc.

Unlocking the hip has in effect twised my whole leg around and I now have forward poining feet and my calves meet the horse at the right point.

Again, thankyou for you're responses - I did try them all out!! Just turns out the problem wasn't where I thought.

[saddlesore]

glad you got your leg "problem" straightened out and glad you popped in for a visit :D :D :D

[kedwards]

Great news! Thanks for letting us know. Almost makes me consider going to a chiropractor myself, I've been toying with the idea for sometime because of neck problems.

[Katie_85]

Hey lleeaanne, that's great! I'm glad you found out; makes one wonder how many riders have position difficulties that are caused by something like that. :)

[lleeaannee]

Cant believe I forgot to mention it - the chiropractor was using the Alexander Technique to help my position. Thought I'd mentioned that - obviously not. I can't thouroughly recommend trying it. It feels funny to start with - like when you have a "huge" ulcer on you're tongue but when you look in the mirror you can't see it!! Eventually my muscles will learn to support my "new" posture.

Thanx again

Lea

x

[lleeaannee]

Sorry