Keeping heal down.

[Tiia]

I could do it but after 5 months of no riding I really can't do it! It's so annoying because I'm trying to concentrate on riding but I keep having to think of that.
Any tips?

[Skyhuntress]

Hehe, I think its the bane of every riders existance and some point or another ;)
First of all, just be aware of it. Check every so often to see if your heal is down, if not, correct it
the other thing you can do is some work in 2point at w/t/c where you can get more weight into your heals.

Just practise. It'll come

[Wally]

Forget about it for a while, don't hink of it as keeping your heel down, your heel can be parallel with the floor, or your heel a teeny bit ,lower, but do not force it. Leg your leg drop without force, shove your heel down your bum will come out of the saddle. Sit on your bum and let your legs hang. It'll come by itself.

Like most things stop trying so hard! ;)

[xtremehorseyfan]

Make sure the stirrup iron is on your toes as this will help your ankle bend. Try and keep thinking about keeping your heels down, practise makes perfect!

[NoviceNic]

Im 3 yrs into my riding and still have bad heels....:o

[Ollie Bears mum]

hey if any help was looking at some recent piccies of me riding, and it looked as tho I was holding onto the saddle, which I wasn't, my hand position is now that bad, and thats after almost 30 years of riding.

[aussieannie]

I could do it but after 5 months of no riding I really can't do it! It's so annoying because I'm trying to concentrate on riding but I keep having to think of that.
Any tips?

Try stretching your calf muscle off the horse everyday.
Turn your toes forward in standing and slowly bend your knees over your toes.Only go to a comfortable postiton.
If you cant do this on the ground you will never achieve it in the saddle.
The body must be trained off the horse before attempting positions on the horses.
I am a BIG fan of Pilates for horse riders.

[Bay Mare]

You could try stretching exercises if your calves are really tight but otherwise I agree with Wally, forget about them, work on your seat and letting your legs just hang and drape lightly around the horse. You don't need to have your heel down for flatwork/dressage, as long as your toes aren't pointing down. As Wally said, forcing your heels down pushes your seat out of the saddle and your lower leg forward, it also creates tension which is the opposite of what you want.

Pilates is a great exercise for riders but it's important to learn how to do it properly with an instructor as the movements are very subtle and you can easily get it wrong.

[Miki]

I know doing it is torture but no stirrup work will help you. Do as much as you can without hurting yourself or using all you time. Try some bareback if you can to put a twist in it. You don't even have to post just focus on keeping your heels down and legs in the right position while you do this.
Two-point is also really helpful and a combination is the best.

[Skippys Mum]

Change your focus. Instead of worrying about heels down, try thinking of "toes up" (gets the same result and we've found it easier with the kids)

[horse_crazy]

oltanate between rising trot and two point. rise for a half a lap of the areena,then switch to two point for the other half and so on. it really gets your heels and legs in the right porsition, and also helps with keeping your waight down in the stearips. I also agree with not thinking about it to much, I tend to think about what I'm doing to hard then it all gos to pot!

[Crazy Mare]

I would agree with not trying to force it.

I have a problem with keeping my heels down and find that when I try to force it my legs come too far forward and my whole position is effected.

No - stirrup work has helped with lengthening my leg and has helped me improve my position generally but still have the same problem with my heels.

My RI tells me that as long as my heels are not higher than my toes everything is ok.

[inhs]

I've found that after lots of FUN riding about - hacks, hunting, cantering while standing in stirrups, jumping, pony club games etc - you're heels automatically go down, as I find its the most secure way I have to ride when I'm doing the more energetic fast moving stuff.

Do you work on this as all outside from normal flatwork? By improving your balance & independent seat I reckon your heels go where they need to be :)

[FelineWolf]

I have this problem myself, I would try to forget about it but it's having a big effect on the rest of my riding :(
I don't get my heels down, so my stirrups end up loose and too far down my foot (if I don't lose them completely) then I try and get the stirrups back in the right place and end up tensing my knees which stops the horse and I (not expecting it and being too busy with my stirrups) end up collapsing forward and losing all my posture and all the horse's impulsion!!!
I've tried putting them up, putting them down, doesn't make a difference so I must assume the fault lies soley with me. I will try doing more no stirrups and bareback work (though I've always done quite a lot of the no stirrups work anyway- I quite enjoy it) and I will definitely start trying some of the ground exercises.
Speaking of which- anyone got any more excercises for off of the horse? :D

[allthegearnoidea]

I can honestly say that the best thing any one told me was stop pushing heels down. Just try to keep them level. Its virtually impossible to have your legs back in the correct position and have your heels down ( unless you are a mega flexible grand prix dressage rider). Forget about your heels for a bit, infact think more toes up;)

[tommy's_girl]

This has been my biggest problem in riding.

Something thats really helped me was tying my stirrups. You get some string (i use shoelaces) and tie the stirrup to the girth, leaving about a 5-6 inch gap between them. It keeps your leg in position and makes it easier to push your heel down.

But it really will just take a long time. I'm still working on it after like 4-5 months, and its just getting better.

Good luck!

[pureXchance]

ive been riding for ages and my heels are terrible. but they are getting better, thank goddness. try standing up in the saddle while riding down the long side as this will atomatically push your heels down and then when you sit back down keep it like that. also push your toes in, i found that a big help coz my toes used to make right angles with the ponys sides. sit deep in the saddle and try to keep your leg long.

also put your stirrups up a hole or two more than you would normally.

good luck!!!!!!!:))

[Em 1]

I'd agree with all the above advice but just to add my two penn'orth - I find that if I haven't been riding for a while my calf muscles contract. I tend to gently stretch them by standing on the stairs on the balls of my feet. Then I slowly and gently let my heels drop. I hold this for a couple of seconds and then raise myself so my feet are vertical again. It works a treat for me but as others have said, you need to be very careful to not strain yourself.

[Iron Maiden]

I have this problem, I'm OK on a horse that goes forward well but on something behind the leg I'm terrible!

It may not be your lower leg though. Your heel can pull up because your hip or your knee closes, both have the effect of shortening/folding up your leg so your heel pulls up. I try to visualise all these joints being open and my leg hanging long. It works sometimes anyway...:o

[epallas8]

First thing - check your leg position. It's harder to get your heel down when your lower leg is too far behind. Make sure your stirrups are hitting right at your ankle too, that way your ankle will flex as it should and your toe will lay out accordingly. Your iron needs to be placed properly too. Working without stirrups does absolutely nothing for your heels - two point is best for gaining flexibility. Make sure, though, that when you go into two point that your eq. doesn't fall apart (back flat, shoulders back, eyes up and hands still) as you'll have too much going down to put most of your effort into putting your weight in your heels. Practice makes perfect, so keep at it

[Packhorse12]

I suggest as well as checking leg position you need to check your seat (pelvis) position. I suspect that you have it slightly tucked under you which is making you a little unbalanced so you maybe grip slightly with your leg /calf/thigh/knee or something which means your heel comes up automatically.

Start by sitting on a stool at home if you can (as though sitting astride a horse) - not too high but not a little stool either one. keep your feet on the floor now take the weight slightly off your seat bones so that you clear the seat of the stool, and get someone to remove the stool from behind you. You might need to adjust your seat to get your balance and it is this kind of balance which is most likely not quite right on the horse.

It is your seat position which gets you to balance correctly. Remember how that pelvis is placed and positioned when the stool is removed because that is how you need to place it when you sit down on mounting the horse - dont change it as you adjust your stirrups. When you have the seat right your legs should just kind of hang in the right place (in most saddles anyway)

Maybe that will help a bit - let us know.

[aussieannie]

I could do it but after 5 months of no riding I really can't do it! It's so annoying because I'm trying to concentrate on riding but I keep having to think of that.
Any tips?
pull your toes up it has the same effect but different thought process. stretch out of the saddle. it will be easier to get then.

[vimto92]

Okay,

First of all, what is your leg position like? If your gripping with your knee then no you won't have flexible ankles with your weight in them. Your lower leg should be wrapped gently around the horse like a wet cloth, and your knee and thigh away. Then focus on keeping your heel level to your toes and if possible just under - if you force the heel down it will throw your leg forwards and give you the wrong position entirely.

Secondly, when at home, place the balls of your feet on an edge of a step and slowly lower your heel, then hold for a few seconds and lift your heel back till its level. A few of these each day will help the flexibility of the calf muscles, therefore helping what you want to acheive.

xx

[justsampson]

I had the same problem (and have been riding for 15+ years!) and the best suggestion I've ever had was to stop worrying about it- it will come but sometimes it just takes time. Work on other things and continue doing stretchs, make sure your hips are open, knees aren't gripping, etc.. Also get some flexion stirrups. Some may see them as cheating, but I wouldn't trade my 4-F sprenger stirrups for anything. Also hit the gym- I worked on building muscles up at the gym and noticed a huge difference in riding... My trainer and I have accepted that my heels will never be perfect. Best of luck and hope that helps!