heels down

[sean2]

Hello, everyone, I am new to this site and new to riding and I'll probably raise a good few tuts and sighs with what I'm about to tell you...I can't keep my heels down and toes up in the stirrups, try as I might. My instructor just keeps barking at me to do it, then 30 seconds later reminds me I'm not. Is there some magical thing that I'm missing? I appreciate it's the most basic of riding procedures, but I'm struggling. I'll be glad of any help, cheers

[Grace O'Malley]

Hi Sean2,

Welcome!

Two things you might want to try on the board:
1) ask the mods to move this thread to the "training of the rider" forum--I think you'll get more response there, as this forum is more for help with using the board.
2) use the search function on the board to look for "heels down" or similiar--I just tried it and got pages of threads.

But before then, do not feel bad about having difficulty keeping your heels down. Everyone does! This is why your instructor carries on reminding you, to help you build the idea into your muscle memory.

I think mostly heels creep up because of tension: you're trying so hard to do so many things at the same time that your legs tense up, grip, and feet come up. The more/longer you ride the more natural it will become.

Enjoy!

Grace

[Lindsayanne]

If your stirrups are in the right place, and your foot is in the right place in the stirrup, gravity should pull your heel down naturally when you relax down into the saddle.

IMO, getting your heels down is the result of a good seat. Instead of constantly correcting the symptom, think about the cause: the other parts of your body affecting how you sit in the saddle.

[galadriel]

Keeping your heels down isn't just about keeping your heels down. When your heels are down, your weight is more balanced, your body is supporting itself, and overall your body is less stiff, able to move with the horse better. So keeping your heels down isn't as simple as you might think! It's about positioning your *whole* body, and using your *whole* body in a manner with which you are unfamiliar.

I've got some more discussion on leg position here:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/300-toes/

[Dash]

I used to always forget to put my heels down and toes up. But once i got the hang of it, it just comes naturally to me now.

[Skib]

Sean, You have some good answers here. But you dont say how old you are nor how fit? Nor how long you have been riding.
Some older riders - I am one of them - are physically unable to ride with their heels down. Or (my teacher points out) stretching the heel down misplaces or stiffens the leg and knee. Some riders may be able to do it on one side but not the other. Or need to ride with one stirrup shorter than the other. So although the routine approach is to tell everyone to put their heels down, for some learners it may be entirely counter productive. So it should not be allowed to worry you.
Far better , as some others have said, to learn to sit relaxed and well balanced on a horse.
From my experience, the insistence on keeping your heels down in UK riding schools has little to do with sitting well on the horse. Student teachers are taught to tell students that, to prevent the foot of the pupil slipping too deep in the stirrup and getting jammed. So it is a safety issue. That still doesnt help if you cant keep your heels down, so you miught consider safety stirrups or toe stoppers instead.

[JOJOBA]

Sean - first off, hi :)
I have been riding since I was little (dont know how old you are at all), and a couple of years ago I went through a phase of just NOT being able to keep my heels down. I'll tell you what worked for me.
My instructor, like yours, always barked 'heels down!' at me, and eventually gave me a tip on how to do it. She said that anytime Im around a step/stair/curb and Im alone, put the balls of my feet on the edge and just gently bounce. The idea is that it gently lengthens your calves out (if it hurts then STOP! Trust me - if you dont you'll feel it the next day!). After a while you should be able to get your heels to the ground off a curb (helps if you live on a quiet road!). Plus you have to keep your balance, as there's no horse to hold you up.
The other thing I reccomend doing is trying to open your knee off the saddle. If you are taking the weight on your knees rather than lower leg then your heel will wobble up. You will find it much easier to relax down through the back of your leg if you open your knees away from the saddle, and slightly back.
Rather than pulling your toes up, as so many instructors say to, try to put hardly any weight in your stirrups with your toes. That way you will HAVE to balance through your heel, plus it will also make you rise softly (give this one time - Im still working on it after being told to do it for months! :p).

I can only tell you what worked for me (and it did, I dont have the problem at all now), I hope you can make use of it :)

Jo
xxx

[sean2]

Jo, thanks for that. I'm 38 now but still fairly fit (playing 90 mins of football a week and training every day, after a fashion) so my legs aren't in too bad a condition – nothing like they were, obviously, but I'll try out those exercises you recommend and hopefully that'll sort out my heel problem. If you hear of someone getting squashed by a car near a kerb in South London, you know I've messed up.

Cheers
Sean

[NoviceNic]

Sean2 - I have too returned to riding in my 30's and have struggled with my heels for 3 yrs. Most of that time I have battles with my confidence but now I have cracked that. My advise to you would be to make sure you have your stirrups the correct length. Then try this for exercise. Standing up in your stirrups in walk and then trot. Excellant for pushing your heels down and also getting your balance. It absolutely kills the backs of your legs. But no pain no gain. :-)

[lola_xx]

hia dont worry bout it im always got shouted at because of it but after a while they just went down i fin u just av 2 get used 2 it
xxxlolaxxx :p

[horsecrazy1972]

hi sean2 dont have much to add to jojoba's thread it was very good advice, i was told pretty much the same by my instructors but like everything else it will take practise, good luck and have fun :D