Toes in!

[PromiseMe]

I have a terrible habit of turning my toes too far out. I've been trying really hard to correct it lately...

but im wondering if I have some confirmation issues :p to start with.
I sort of walk around like that too (toes slightly out, I believe its called penguin feet) Wouldnt this affect my 'toes out' issue as well??

And when i try REALLY hard to turn my toes in, so that they are facing straight... i feel as if im tensing my ankle. Does this sound correct? (not really right) So how is it supposed to feel if you're trying to turn them in...

any helpful tips or advice!?

Thanks!

[Scarlett 001]

My first suggestion is to look at my thread on wobbly lower legs (posted today). In a reply, Karin provided a link to a good overview article about the lower leg. The article suggests that any number of lower leg issues, toes out included, could be attributed to problems in the "core" strength of rider.

This is the link to the more complete article which is referred to in the article Karin posted.
http://www.horsemagazine.com/CLINIC/Fitness/fitnessindex.html

Just some food for thought, since I noted the article mentioned toes out in things that core strength issues can lead to. Not sure if this is your case, but I thought I would mention this anyhow.

[**KEZZIE**]

Tend to have similar problem myself. My instructor suggested trying to think of putting my big toes in the top of my boot and this does seem to help. Another instructor said to simply try to put more weight on to the outside of the foot/stirrup - too much weight to the inside of the foot will force the toes out.

As you have noted, if you walk around with your toes pointing out there is no reason why you would suddenly stop doing this when on the horse! Your brain would not even register the problem without constant reminders (cue instructor - ''TOES FORWARD..!'')

I know i tend to lean my upper body forward when i walk and to walk all of my shoes over to the inside ( the inside wall of the shoe slowly collapses) so, not suprisingly, when riding i tend to tip forward and point out toes!

I have found that correcting poor posture in everyday life (especially walking) does slowly help to improve riding posture. But it does take constant vigilance to change a lifetime of bad habits. Perfect excuse to think about riding every minute of the day though!

[Mehitabel]

rather than thinking of your toes, think of the whole leg., the reasond for having your toes pointing forward is so that the maximum possible of your leg surface is on the horse. so it has to come from your hips, so that your knees and toes both point as much forward as is possible given the horse is round and not flat.

donlt twist your ankles to do it, think of rotating your whole leg inwards.

[coss]

as mehitabel said, turn your WHOLE leg, take your stirrups away and bring our legs (one at a time) back and turn the WHOLE leg from the hip inwards, then slide the leg forward into riding position, not only will it help turn your toes in but it will also give you a "longer" leg :D
When i had this problem my instructor told me to find a place on my own and walk pigeon toed, really exagerate it and your whole leg turns inwards. it does help but i didn't do it that much as you need a fair bit of space if you don't want spectators :o

[teabiscuit]

i am pigeon toed, i walk that way

but my tootsies still have a nasty habit of turning outwards when riding :o

i feel agreived, as a sufferer of pigeon toedness, the least i could expect is that they have the grace to stay turned in when i'm aboard a horse :p :) :rolleyes:

[Dreamchaser]

Now PromiseMe, you better fix that habit soon so you can win in our show on Saturday!!!!

[KayJay]

I have the same problem. I know where my feet should be, but I've spent years being taught to turn my toes out for balance in other things I've trained for, and now with riding I'm trying to erode that habit and relearn the opposite extreme. (Well, extreme is what it feels like, though of course, it isn't.)