Grr, those blasted heels down! And other questions.

[chickflick1066]

I am so bad at keeping my heels down, its a habit for me to creep them up in order to nudge Stumpy's belly. What can I do to improve this? I also have no lower leg stability - i'm all over the shop, especially in canter!

Have you guys got any tips to help me to improve my general position, mainly in trot because canter is a completly kettle of fish!:o

Cheers :)

[bexj]

Can you do any work without stirrups - that will help sort out your lower leg.

http://www.horsemagazine.com/CLINIC/...nessindex.html (I think its the first 4 articles) posted on here yonks ago by VirtuallyHorses really helped me to understand about leg positions

[Stella2]

It may help to visualise the muscles in the back of your legs from thigh right down to heel doing the work - stabilising the legs, having the strength there.

I hope that makes sense!

[chickflick1066]

Can you do any work without stirrups - that will help sort out your lower leg. Eek:eek: I HATE no stirrups - but i guess it has to be done:o

Stella2, that makes sense - thanks ;)

[Morganna]

I have got so used to hearing my RI yelling "heels down" it seems like a perfectly normal part of a lesson these days :D

[teapot]

no stirrups, no stirrups oh and did I mention no stirrups?

Lunge lessons also and I found from having to escort hacks out, hacking out in jump length stirrups and then no rising trot - just hovering absorbing through ankles etc did wonders!

Can't recommend it enough

[LMS]

Yes ditto the no stirrup advice as well as alternating between 2pt & posting. (every 2 letters of the arena switch).
If you dread riding without stirrups, take your feet out during the first 10 - 15 min. As your horse is walking, do exercises that will open up your hip which will in turn lengthen your leg. Once done, when you take up your stirrups, they will feel short. Therefore, a lower heel will happen.
To keep this position, you need to remember to stay relaxed & think that your legs are melting down.
Throughout, when the heels feel like they're rising, attempt the trotting excercise above. If they rise when you are posting, think about kneeling down.

When sitting the trot, hold on to the pommel with one hand (of course) to push & keep your seat deep in the saddle.

[Just.Jump]

From now on, try to give your signals with your lower calves instead of your heels- you will naturally reach down with the heels to strengthen the calve signal, ybut you will no longer be reaching upwards to get to the horse.

[Vicki&Milo]

What sort of boots do your ride in?
I find short boots allow me to get my heels down easier, but also let my legs wobble about, as I result I now ride in long boots, my heels are never as far down, but overall my riding is much more effective!!!
Vicki xx

[Jumping Genius]

i know your feelig whe im in alesson its like heels down toes up but i've just learned to do it. Idont know how i know but ifjust dont even think about it.

[CityGirl]

Actually - I'm going to disagree on the no stirrup thing. I spent most of the winter working without stirrups. And while it's done my seat a world of good & made it much deeper, it's actually made my leg a lot worse. I started pinching at the knee & taking my leg off. After my disaster lesson last weekend, I went to go with a top trainer I know to work on my leg (or lack there of:o ). His recommendation is lots & lots & lots of 2 point to get the leg back underneath me & on the horse where it needs to be.

So I would try & do at least 10-15 minutes in 2 point every lesson if you can.

[LMS]

Actually - I'm going to disagree on the no stirrup thing. I spent most of the winter working without stirrups. And while it's done my seat a world of good & made it much deeper, it's actually made my leg a lot worse. I started pinching at the knee & taking my leg off. After my disaster lesson last weekend, I went to go with a top trainer I know to work on my leg (or lack there of:o ). His recommendation is lots & lots & lots of 2 point to get the leg back underneath me & on the horse where it needs to be.

So I would try & do at least 10-15 minutes in 2 point every lesson if you can.
I was only recommending no stirrups in the warm up, which is usually 10min. as well as at the walk only.

Yes, for many people too much of no stirrup work will give results like yours.

[Baileigh]

You can try doing some exercises in the house to help with your heel. If you have stairs or at least a step, put the ball of your foot on it as if it were a stirrup - stand up into it (one foot only) and push down with your heel - using your calf muscles to stretch down into the heel, work with both legs, and do multiple times per day.

When in the saddle, practise the same thing, use your calf muscle to push your heel down and out, bring your toe in slightly and hold there.

[horseygal7]

Hi, Everyone! I am new here- My name is Jordanne and I am from British Columbia, Canada.

I would suggest trying to make a consistent effort to remind yourself about your heels. I find being aware of the to flex of the calf muscle when heels are down also helps.
Also, like said, standing on a step and dropping your heels helps familarize the feeling and strengthens your legs.

Good luck keeping your heels down!

[Liquorice]

For heels down, no stirrups work won't necessarily help as you don't need your heels down if you don't have stirrups. Try going in xc position, just a bit at a time at first, and build it up.