Foot position in stirrups

[Alexh]

Should I have the balls of my feet on the stirrup irons, or the front of the heel up against the stirrup?

[tbtess]

I always ride with the balls of my feet on the stirrups, thats how i got taught anyway so if its wrong i'm stuffed! :eek:

[Alexh]

Thanks - I thought so, but my wife suggested it was safer to use the boot heel and natural curve of the sole to stay in the stirrups!

[casey]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/casey2312/Tiffjpegcropped.jpg

I usually have my toes on the edge. But it should be the balls of the feet. Here are mine :)

Edit to add, if you use the natural curve. You will be unable to properly keep the weight in your heels. Plus an emergency dismount will be difficult.

[Bay Mare]

Thanks - I thought so, but my wife suggested it was safer to use the boot heel and natural curve of the sole to stay in the stirrups!

:eek: No, you're right, having your foot right in the stirrup like that means that you may end up stuck in the stirrup when you come off. I once caught my toe in the stirrup as I fell, it was only a nanosecond but my life flashed before me. Even before I started thinking 'ow, ow, ow' I was thinking 'oh nooooo, my foot's stuck'.

[hanbrad]

lol sorry i shouldnt laugh

[vimto92]

Balls of your feet on the iron with heels down.

[Laurence E. B-B]

Balls of your feet on the iron with heels down.
Absolutely correct. This position allows flexion through the ankle and also helps to keep the seat in the saddle. I use this position for all flat work and show jumping. Out hunting I slip the foot home in the stirrup; to the boot heel. What discipline of riding are you doing?

[vimto92]

English riding and I am a beginner so normal flatwork at the moment.

[joosie]

I would definitely say the ball of your foot. My best friend has them right on her toes but I find that way to difficult!!

[ponylover88]

...

[cvb]

its not just about safety (although this IS a big factor !). It is also about balance and feel.

Mark Rashid says: we have 3 balance points in our feet. One in the heel and one either side of the ball of the foot.

In a stirrup we "lose" the heel one - so it is KEY that the remaining 2 balance points are on the stirrup. We teach this as being the broadest part of the foot on the stirrup.

This is NOT because you are using the stirrup to lean on etc, but because of balance and how your body feeds back about where you are. It all relates to where our nerves etc are.

One further point from Mr Rashid - female hips joints are different to male. As a result the angle of our femur is different and this means we often struggle to get our feet "level" and hence lose a further balance point in the foot ! Because we have to work harder for the level foot, it affects the muscles in our legs (and often creates tension !).