Heels down

[JCB]

Hello

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice. Despite having had lessons for over a year now and being fairly confident and good at most of it I still have a problem keeping my heels down especially when making upward transitions. My instructor does lots of work with me without stirrups and a lot of standing up and pushing my heels down to stretch my legs but I still have this problem. It is very frustrating because although I don't actually lose my stirrups my feet often slip further through than they should be and then I definitely can't keep my heels down!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Julia

[Bev]

Dear JCB,
I know what you mean but the problem can be caused by a few things. Are you tensing your legs and gripping in which case your feet will fall out? Try keeping your TOES UP and think that way instead of heels down It does work, also maybe you need shorter stirrup leathers while you ride, anyway best of luck.
PS try to relax the lower leg think of ice cream melting down your leg as it lengthens!!

[CLAUDIA]

I have the same problem, but I also do it around the turns sometimes. I know my heels come up when I'm going around the turns because I'm leaning like I'm on a motorcycle, but now that I'm conscious of this I don't do it much anymore. The upward transition thing still haunts me. Could anyone describe the correct way to nudge the horse with the legs to initiate a trot and canter? With a few of the horses all I have to do is give them a good squeeze, but some of them do not care how much effort I put into it; they want to walk!

:)

[JCB]

Thanks for the advice. The length of stirrup doesn't seem to matter as I do it even with jumping length. It is definitely a gripping up problem but no matter how hard I try to keep them down they creep up - I've got a lesson this afternoon so I'll try the ice-cream thing!

[Karin]

JCB I tried something last night that seemed to work. While I was thinking to myself "heels down", I also tried putting a little more pressure on my instep because I have a tendancy to turn my toes out and it seemed to help three-fold. It helped to keep my heels down, my ever slipping foot (particularly on turns) more steady or secure and it brought my knees in closer to hug the horse. Karin

[JCB]

Karin

Thanks for the advice but I'm now confused - my instructor is always telling me that my knees should not be anywhere near the horse.

Can anyone help on that one?

[Marlena]

Hi JCB!

I was wondering about the same thing. I used to take lessons at two different schools where the instructors were giving conflicting advice; one said the knees should be hugging the horse so that if she placed a banknote between the knee and the horse, it should stay put. However, the other instructor said this was old fashioned and that the knees shouldn't be touching the horse. I find myself following the latter...

which one's right?

Marlena.

[CLAUDIA]

I ride in the US, and our trainer has told us something similar to the bankbook instruction. Our knees are to be against the horse, but by no means squeezing the horse. Also, by putting a little more weight on the instep you usually keep your toes pointed more forward and your calves up against the horse. It has taken me TOO long to get used to this, but I think I'm finally getting it! :D

[This message has been edited by CLAUDIA (edited 24 June 1999).]

[KB]

I also ride in the US. I think the idea is to have your whole leg lightly on the horse. If you keep your toes pointing forward generally your knees will touch the horse - you shouldn't be able to see daylight between your leg and the horse. (Easier said than done sometimes!)

[Karin]

Hi JCB and Marlena sorry for the delay. I didn't mean to confuse the issue...I am simply being taught that the entire leg should lightly wrap around the horse and like KB, you shouldn't be able to see daylight between the horse and your leg. Sorry if this is old school, as I have no frame of reference. Sometimes my knees don't touch when I'm on a forward seat (not so much with the flat saddle) and thinking "press in your instep" has helped me... Again sorry for the confusion. Regards.

[JCB]

Thanks for all your advice everyone - I have found a slight improvement when I think about lifting my toes but I'm still struggling to keep them down - I guess I just have to keep practising!

JCB

[Heather]

For flatwork, your heels do not need to be any lower than half an inch below your toes. Too many instructors try to force the heel too low, which considerably reduces flexibility in the ankle. For jumping, the heels do need to be lower, as there needs to be more torsion in the ankle and calf, as the leg acts as a stabiliser when in the forward seat.

If you turn the knee in against the horse, it will force the lower leg out away from the horse's sides.Usually, rider's hip joints are not sufficiently open at first, to easily encompass the eliptical cylinder shape of the horse's body. Therefore it is necessary to open the knee a little away from the saddle, in order to allow the inside of the calf to come into contact with the horse's sides. It may even be necessary to start with, to roll the little toe slightly lower than the big toe, always with the foot pointing towards the front. As the hip joints start to stretch, you will find that the knee points forward again, and the little toe will come level with the big toe. Then, and only then, will the rider have total control over the lower leg, which can be applied with no visible movement.

Heather

[CLAUDIA]

Thank you VERY much Heather! :)

I've been wondering why in the world I have such a problem keeping my thigh against the horse, my lower leg against the horse, and my heels down. But, now I know! It does seem to get easier as time goes on though. I've always been rather flexible, so maybe that's helping me. If only I could have lessons with you every now and then!

Thanks for being here for all the new riders!!!

:) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D :) :D

[JCB]

Thanks Heather - I will try lowering my little toes - I am stiff through my hips (so I've been told!) and I do have the problem that my lower leg will not wrap around correctly which from what you say is down to the hips not being flexible enough. I end up working very hard through my legs with hardly any response from the horse at all because my calves are too far off his sides.

Thanks to everyone for the advice - I've got a lesson this afternoon so I'll be putting it all into practice!

JCB