No Stirrups..

[Method_Acting]

Have you been taught to keep your heels down?

I've been taught with differing opinions on this, I'm confused:confused:

[xloopylozzax]

when i ride without stirrups (not in lessons i dont have them) i dont force my heel down because it makes my leg tense and when they are stiff its hard to sit deep.

i try and keep them level or just above depending how achey i am ;)

[jenmac_85]

I jsut keep getting told by my Instructor to relax my leg and it will naturally fall into position. If you push your heel down, you can tense the upper part of the leg too much and end up with your knees gripping.

Since trying this I have lengthened my stirrups so that I have to relax my legs a bit more and I have found it made a big difference

[EmmaArr]

my RI tells me to relax my leg and let it 'hang' down by Dai's sides.

[princess3681]

I did loads of no stirrup work today with my RI she says to relax the leg but try to wrap it around the horses belly slightly for grip she nevers seems to fussed bout my heels (luckily) :D

[x.fat-pony.x]

Ditto the others....let your leg relax, take deep breaths and it should come naturally!
A technique I remember reading and did wonders for me, is to tense up all your body, then release...you relax places you didn't realise were tense!!! :D

[Method_Acting]

Thanks!

Thats what my current instructor (and the ones at college) teach.

[Wally]

It user to be that you HAD to lift your toe and put the heel down.

These days it is seen as detrimental. If you actually shove your toe down hard for short bursts when stirrupless you'll feel yourself sink inot the saddle, then let your leg hang again.

[chickyd444]

i ride bare back alot and wonder whether riding without the stirrups and bareback methods work the same, for either i tend to let my legs relax, so that i can sit and trot without bouncing off etc

[epallas8]

Whoever told you to not worry about keeping your heels down told you wrong. The point isn't to 'shove' your heels down, rather keep your weight in your heels. Think about stretching down through your heels while reaching up through the top of your head. With your heels down you'll have better balance. Strength should come from your calf, not your knees or inner thighs.

[fimonkey]

This whole business confuses me too, I can ride pretty well without stirrups my legs hang naturally with my toes pointed slightly down, but then give me stirrups and this heel down and toes in business causes me to grip with my knees!.. one day I'll get it... hopefully soon!

[coverblown]

I'm taught to think I have no legs when riding without stirrups. Then suddenly I hear "toes up!" and my legs are back!

[old_woman]

It has long puzzled and concerned me that so many riding instructors - I won't call them teachers, as their teaching skills are frequently sadly lacking - concentrate on the two ends of the human body.

The poor old learner, while bouncing and jolting about endlessly and uncomfortably on a long-suffering RS horse who is inured to almost anything, is constantly berated to do unlikely things with their head, their heels and their toes.

If the instructors had a little knowledge about comparative equine and human anatomy, and the interplay between them, they might be able to teach rather more effectively by focussing on the pelvis, abdomen and thighs. Once they are correct and secure, the rider will be able to do anything they or the RI wishes with their head and feet, including keeping them perfectly still ...

[fimonkey]

Old_Woman, I know what you mean. I have a reasonable working knowledge of humnan anatomy and physiology and when my RI tells me to do change position I automatically think of the biomechanics of doing it (did you know that short and tight hamstrings will prevent the heels down position when the leg is back for instance)?
Unfortunately I have no knowledge of horse biomechanics so cannot picture the two moving together.... These should be an essential component of the RI's education in my opinion.