Tips on Putting More Weight in Your Heels?

[Novalynne]

I've recently started taking lessons in English riding, (Specifically, Eventing), and I've had problems with my heels. I have a very hard time keeping them down when I'm doing a posting trot, and when I do snippets of cantering here and there my feet are all over in the stirrups because I don't have enough weight in my heel and I'm unbalanced. Any tips on excersizes (in and out of the saddle, but mostly out because I only have one lesson a week) and other things to help keep my heels down? I'm currently using a dressage saddle if that helps.

 

[Mary Poppins]

Riding without stirrups is an excellent way to lengthen your leg and improve your seat. You are probably losing your stirrups because you are gripping with your upper leg to balance. Either that, or your stirrups are too long in the first place. Your riding instructor would be the best person to advise you, but often it is just down to practice, practice and more practice.

 

[ponylover88]

For out of the saddle stuff I'd be inclined to stretch your calf muscles - you can do both together by standing on a step and letting your heels dangle off the edge. Make sure you're dropping your weight into your heels. Also using a step, put one foot on the second step, knee bent and again drop your knee forwards and weight into your foot to stretch,

In the saddle try doing the frog exercise - so without stirrups lifting both knees up into jockey position, then lift both your legs completely away from the saddle and then down towards the floor. Definitely lots of work without stirrups, and when you have your stirrups make sure they're the correct length for you and rather than think 'heels down' think 'toes up'. You won't grip in the same way with your leg thereby reducing the amount of time you spend struggling with stirrups. As for finding your secure lower leg, an old instructor of mine used to have me either with or without stirrups, with legs in jumping position, knees in knee rolls and up out of the saddle in two point. You know if your doing it right as it bl00dy kills!

 

[squidsin]

If you're on a not very forward going steed, chances are you are gripping with your knees and raising your leg to kick on to keep them going forward. Maybe try a light tap with a schooling whip so you can focus on keeping your legs still? (I say this from experience of riding my own horse, who is wonderfully forward going hacking or jumping, but can't be arsed with schooling at all!)

 

[newforest]

One lesson a week could be one of your problems, your body isn't getting enough muscle memory. You are likely not canter fit.
I haven't done any fast work or jumping this winter, I'm sure once I do again my body will have forgotten, be out of fitness.

 

[Little-red]

I had a problem with this when I started riding again and like you, also have lessons once a week. The most helpful thing my instrctor did was put me on a lunge for a lesson as I have a sneaky left leg which likes to change position at any given chance. This allowed me to do loads of leg exercises and heel work without the worry of controlling the horse I was on around the school - felt like a wally as the 24 year old doing the same thing as the kids on the ponies but it REALLY helped and I was exhausted when I had finished. Left leg still likes to be sneaky every now and then in a canter but it stays put most of the time and I find I don't worry as much about my heels as they settle on their own now.

I also brought a better pair of boots which helped a lot too. Had a cheap pair of joddy boots with next to no grip on them. I now ride in a pair of Toggi Calgary long boots and find my legs and feet feel ultra secure! Would never go back!

 

[MrC]

Forcing the weight into your heels will make your leg position terrible and make you stiff.

I find if you relax and ride slowly with long stirrups especially out hacking it naturally encourages your heels down

 

[AliciaA]

I found when learning the first few months I couldn't keep my heels down - every so often the instructor would tell me to make sure I kept my heels down.
However, I recently started with a new instructor and she told me not to worry too much about keeping my heels down, if they're level it's good enough. I've now found, by not thinking about it and relaxing, my heels are usually where they're meant to be and i lose my stirrups less often.

 

[PePo]

I'm no riding instructor, but to me - the biggest issue doesn't sound like keeping your heels down is the biggest issue.

As a novice rider, it'll be perfectly natural for you to loose your balance as your core muscles probably aren't that strong. Out of the saddle, I'd look at pilate type exercises - specific for horse riders, would be the most beneficial

Lunge lessons would also help you develop more of an independent seat on a horse.

I wouldn't worry about trying to keep your heels forced down - that will just make your legs stiff down the calf, when actually you want your calves relaxed enough to have wrapped around the horse but not 'on' all the time. I try to think toes slightly up, rather than heels down, as I find it helps stop the tension in your calves.

 

[Novalynne]

I forgot to reply, but thank you everyone! I've started practicing once a week, and have been taking with my instructor and using all of the tips that were given! I've found that the longer my stirrups are, the harder it is for me to keep my balance, so I've been working on that. Thank you all so much and I hope you have wonderful days!