How Do I Stop My Feet Slipping in the Stirrups?
i am constantly putting weight into my heels as my riding instructor tells me, but when changing gaits or after working a gait consistently for awhile the balls of my toes slip out of the right position (often sideways or forwards) and i often loose the comfortable stirrup hold and sometimes loose the stirrup completely (mostly when i move into the canter).
advice please? i never bothered with this problem when i was trail riding, it’s just now in the dressage arena.
Dressage Arena
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This happens with many riders. There are a few things that could be the matter. First, make sure that your stirrups aren’t too long. It may be just that when you lengthen them for dressage you aren’t used to such an elongated leg. You say that you often loose your stirrups when your cantering. As you ride the canter with your seat in the saddle, make sure that you are not clamping your knees and thighs. Let your weight sink down in your heels and the balls of your feet, but don’t push your heels down. In dressage, a heel that is jammed down will cause the heel and knee to lock, causing your leg to pull up and often causes the rider to loose their stirrups.
For sure shorten your stirrups or drop them completely. It sounds like you are reaching into them if they are slipping around. It helps me if I also think about putting weight down through my knees and thighs so that my center of gravity is lowered and I am not jamming just my heel down – which tends to result in a locked lower leg and calf.
Lots of riding without stirrups and then regathering them will help them mentally feel shorter as well – which can be a big help!
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