Help! Really annoying stirrup problem

[sprite]

I have a problem with my stirrups at the moment- i'm losing them backwards towards my heel. It happens mostly in trot, but a bit in canter as well, and is worse on my inside leg. I tend to have trouble keeping my lower leg back and i have a very bouncy horse which i think may contribute to the problem. Also i have problems with the muscles in my lower back after a fall 8 months ago and i have only noticed this happening since then. My legs seem to be more effective if i ride without stirrups, but i can't do too much of this as it makes my back worse. Someone suggested trying the stirrup irons with the pivoting treads- anyone tried these or have any other ideas?

[lady ridealot]

A simple suggestion could be simply shortening your stirrups a couple of holes to help you te keep your heels down. I dont know if this is part of the problem but you could try buying a new pair of boots, perhaps with bit more grip until you find your footing! As for your back problem i have never had a problem with this but you could try buying a back support and see if this helps?!

Hope it helps :)

[galadriel]

You may be gripping with your knees. Gripping with the knees brings the heels up and forward. This can cause difficulties both with keeping your stirrups and with keeping your lower leg back.

I would imagine that gripping could also cause lower back pain; I'm not sure. I am sure, though, that bouncing (due to gripping with the knee) could cause back pain.

You should be using your balance, and pressing lightly with your legs (but not gripping), to keep yourself properly in the saddle. A good way to think of it is to imagine that your weight is coming down through your leg where it touches the horse. You are leaning, but not squeezing with the knee. Your weight should also sink down into the heel.

I have a few more comments in this article:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/300-toes/

[4_white_socks]

Thanks everyone! I have exactly the same problem! I tried shorter stirrups but it doesn't really work for me, I can't ride at all then!

It's been like that since I got some proper riding boots, my walking boots were too wide. The walking boots give me great grip - the riding boots are fairly smooth. I'll try some new, grippier boots, and see how it works out then.

Let us know how it works out! And I'll let you know if anything works for me, to see if it helps you.

[sprite]

Thanks for replies- glad i'm not the only one who does this! I have both long and short mountain horse boots with the stirrup control thingy, so i can't really use my footwear as an excuse unfortunately! Also i'm definately not gripping with my knees, but i think i may be gripping up a bit with my lower leg (and probably turning my toe out) when using a strong inside leg, so i need to learn to stretch down more and use the right bit of leg to give the aid. I was experimenting today and came to the conclusion that i maybe start off with my stirrup too far back- its like towards the back of the ball of my foot. If i moved it to the front of the ball of my foot they stayed in place, at least in trot. Not so great in canter but thats more where the gripping up kicks in.