toe stoppers

[madge]

Hi, as someone who has been riding now for about 8 months (at age 35) I wondered if anyone had tried toe stoppers. I do tend to find my foot goes forward and this is very unbalancing (I know I'm not keeping my heel down) - I have been jumping quite a lot recently and am currently nursing a rather tender tailbone after coming off on landing last week (lovely jump but i didn't stop!) - haven't perfected the flying dismount yet and suspect I'm going to need it!

Anyway I've had a look at the toe stoppers in the shop and think they may help me to work on correct positioning and balance (as well as stopping me getting dragged!)

Any comments welcome.

[HairyCob]

If your feet are going too far forward in the stirrups, then toe stoppers are a great idea, especially for someone who is relatively new to riding- they should stop you getting into bad habits!

I have only tried them once, and as a rider of some years experience (not all good!) and with several thousand bad habits, not least of which riding with my foot too far forward to be classically correct, I found that the toe stoppers made me feel like my foot wasn't far enough into the stirrup.

I know at least one other NR (Shakari) who also found this with them- in fact when I met up with her and Tinkerbell on Dartmoor in the summer for a hack, she asked the riding school staff to take the darn things off before we headed out!

Having said that, I also know riders who swear by them- and as you said, if you happen to take a tumble, you aren't going to be dragged by the stirrup if you've got a pair! Been there, done that- not a lot of fun!;)

[NZhorserider]

They're really good for safety, but I find them really annoying to ride in myself.

[No_Angel]

I bought a pair for my mum as she has a tendancy to let her foot slip through the stirrrup while cantering. First time I rode in them I hated them, but I rode in them again and they were better, and my leg was more secure, not that I have a problem with my legs but it just felt more around the horse. I rode out with them the other day on my horse, she has arthritis and the hack before reared up because she got confused and stressed, I ended up on the floor and she legged it, I was just thenkful I had my foot out of the stirrup, otherwise I could have been dragged! Im thinking about investing in some myself.

[JaniceH]

I used to have a problem with my foot going too far through the stirrup, so I bought a set of these and I found that within a couple of lessons that I felt so much more balanced with them. My foot stayed in the right position, and so if I ever rode without them, my legs had 'trained' themselves to stay in the right place. Then I saw a child get dragged at the school I rode at. It was an experience I never want to see again. After that I NEVER rode without them, even when my feet stayed in the right position, I wanted the security of knowing that I would never get dragged if I fell off. As they are velcro closing they came on and off the riding school horses in a matter of seconds so they were really easy in that way too, I put my name on the bottom of them in tippex so I didnt lose them. My riding school really liked the look of them and now stock them in their tackshop.

My son rides too, and he NEVER ever rides without them, it helps his postion, but I know he is safe.

As for the not feeling that your foot goes through enough, you have to have the right size toe stoppers as there are 12 or so different sizes depending on the size of stirrup. If its a riding school horse, I just measured a few of the adult ones and took an average, I think mine were 4 1/2 inch ones.

[Bay Mare]

I hate the damn things but I can see where they would be useful and how they are safe.

Even if you decide to go for them I wouldn't see them as a 'solution' to your problem, you will still need to work on a correct position anyway :)

With regards to jumping, personally I would work on my leg/foot position before I started jumping. A secure seat on the flat can only help you when you're jumping, it's bad enough trying to get a good jump position without starting at a disadvantage :) and it's a nightmare trying to correct bad habits! For some reason it's VERY VERY easy to learn bad habits but incredibly difficult to unlearn them.

[Mehitabel]

we use them for clients who haven't brought the right footwear - trainiers or shoes with no heel. they certainly have their place, but they're not a substitute for learning conscious control of where your legs are.

[Runrigluva]

Hi all,
I was just wondering that when you buy toe stoppers does your foot not fall out of the back of the stirrup?It migth sound silly but does it?Any relpies welcome!! Thanx Runrigluva

[HairyCob]

I just bought some Barnes Buckles, which seem like a good compromise on the fear of getting dragged thing- Basically they are a 'gadget' that goes between the stirrup leather and the stirrup, and if you fall and your foot gets caught, they come apart, releasing the stirrup (with your foot in it!) and stopping you getting dragged.

Endorsed by Matt Ryan and Avon Riding for the Disabled amongst others, so figured they were worth a try!

[carrimclaren]

I have a habit in canter of pushing my foot forward but i cannot stand toe-stoppers. I will freely admit that they give me lazy foot syndrome. I don't concentrate on pushing my weight into my feet when i have them on as i know i don't need to.

I've stopped wearing them now and am just concentrating on sorting out my seat, the more secure my seat becomes the more my feet are sorting themselves out.