Toes out in Canter

[WhiteIceGem]

Does anyone else have a problem with their feet in canter? My instructor keeps telling me to 'point' my toes to the front in canter, cos i'm a bit 'Ten to two' if you know what i mean! My leg position, seat etc are all fine when i'm in canter but its just my toes that stick out, and its not because i'm trying to use my heels to keep the impulsion, i'm still using my legs ok. Problem is worse when jumping with shorter stirrups than flatwork, is this the problem?
i tend to do it just as much without stirrups too.
Have i just got strange legs????

[Em 1]

You may have tight hips. I used to have really bad 'duck feet' until I learnt some exercises to open the hip joint (rather like when you do the splits sideways). Try lifting your legs away from the saddle, hold for a couple of seconds and relax. You can also try taking your feet out of your stirrups, lifting your legs so your knees touch above the pommel, then taking your leg down and back so your leg turns in towards the horse's side.There's no quick fix but over the last six months my feet have really started to point more at 3mins to 1 rather than quarter to three!!

[Horsegal014]

I have the very same problem. In lessons I have been told to point my toes in, but in doing it feels like I lose contact with the inside of my leg and my hips lock up. Interestingly enough, at a clinic I went to the other day, the man pointed out a girls toes (which were pointing outward) and asked everyone in the bleachers to stand up (this is something to try at home) First stand with your toes parallel to each other pointing forward. Move you hips forward and backward, side to side. Now point your toes out slightly. Now move your hips around, feel the difference? When your toes are facing outward slightly it opens your hips for free-er (hmm, new word?) movement. (could very possibly be an equitation 'feau-pas' but funny how that works! )

[Ipsa]

If you are young it can be impossible for you to have your toes pointing forwards due to narrow hips etc of the rider and the shape of the horse.
A lot of instructors especially jumping these days advocate having a slightly toe out position with relaxed kees to improve the stability of the lower leg position.
Trying to point your toes straight will not fix the problem- the fixing needs to come from another part of your body.

[Ruffiane]

Ipsa, THANK YOU for that advice. I would see other riders and it seemed they had their toes out WAY more than I did, but my trainer critizes meif they're out too much. But I'm going to try what you said.

Does anyone else have really thick calves from all of this? Mine are like steel now, but they definitely are bigger!

[pipkin]

I also do this as well!! I have got a bit better recently as i am more aware of me doing it but my instructer told me it's sometimes because i tense up my leg and i don't even realise it! But then if i think about it and when i really relax my leg my feet just rest on the horses side, it's really weird because i don't realise my leg is so tensed up! Also i think the type of saddle and the type of horse can effect it too! that's what i have been told anyway!
Julia xXx