Toes point down ......

[rabbit]

I've been having issues with my lower legs for a while, and have been doing stacks of stirrupless work. It seems to be working great, as when I take my stirrups back, my instructor has to put them down 1 - 2 holes.

Problem is that I have to put them back up next time I ride as my legs seem to shorten up again....

Last lesson my instructor said that my toes were pointing down (stirrupless) and I need to point them up. Problem is that when I point them up, I feel my muscles tensing.

When I ride with stirrups, my feet slide though, so I guess that is also because point my toes down.

Any ideas/suggestions/comments?

[Hallmarked]

It's quite common for the leg to lengthen after riding without stirrups, but then find yourself back to square one next time you ride. This is because your hip joints get stretched riding stirrupless work but everything shortens back again during everyday life. Sitting on a chair all day (as a lot of us do) doesn't really do your hip joints any favours at all.

You sound like you have quite a bit of tension in your legs anyway, do you wear high heels? You could try circling your toes and flexing them up and down to release your ankles during the day. If you do a search for stretching excercises there are loads of links to useful websites on this forum.

Hope this is of some help. Good luck.

[coss]

i wouldn't say your toes had to point up when you are stirrupless but your legs should hang and your feet should be flat maybe. if you get a chance to stand on a step with the balls of your feet and lower your heels over the edge and go up and down controlled and slowly that will help your calf muscles. it is very common for you to need to lengthen stirrups after no stirrups work and then need to shorten them later in the ride or next trime you ride.
i wouldn't lower the stirrups too much when you take them back as the idea is that your leg will be more secure now that you've loosened your hip. i would only put your stirrups down one hole unless you normally ride very short.