This tip will blow your mind.... // Rider position

If you have a problem with your lower leg being too far forward, this tip might help!
Many of us have been instructed to ride with our heels down, but sometimes riders push their heels down too much causing their lower leg to jut forward. Instead of thinking "heels down," think more "heels back." If you bring your heels back toward your horse's tail, your legs will be under your body in more of a correct rider position. Heels back, everyone!

This video gives a tip to riders about the correct way to place their legs while riding. This video gives reasons why riders should ride with their heels back instead of their heels down. The position of the rider's leg position effects the rest of their body position. Riders riding with their legs in the correct position are able to ride more effectively because it effects the position of their seat.

Deanna Corby with Deanna Corby Dressage is a dressage trainer, riding instructor and dressage competition judge based out of Waxhaw, NC, just outside of Charlotte. Deanna offers riding lessons and horse training to students and horses of all ages and experience.

[sarahhicks]

Hello and thank you for posting this video! I started riding in a dressage saddle last year. I've had some lessons and repeatedly hear "heels down!". What happens when I try to do that is I actually lose my balance more. I am not relaxed in my bum. When I don't try to force my heels down I feel so much more connected with my horse. Forcing my heels down seems too tense for me. I DO want to keep my leg long, as it were. So that's what I focus on, not so much my heels. Thanks again! Like your videos very much!!

[mortmort]

As a hunter jumper... I just try to think about pushing my legs as long as possible. Rather than forcing the heels down, i almost imagine that the stirrups arent even there and think about reaching as far down with my legs as possible. Coming from someone who notoriously loses their stirrups, its been really helpful for me!

[heatherh]

My physiotherapist was telling me that I should think about toes up rather than heels down in order to have my muscles engaged in a way that encourages my lower legs to lie quietly at the horses side. She used the term ' reciprocal inhibition'.

[DARKhorses]

I was always getting yelled at about heels down and never understood, 😆

[stoneycreekhomestead]

I just came across this video and decided you are my new best friend! Yes, quit jamming your heels down! I still get students who have been taught that outdated theory... It boggles my mind that it is still taught today. Thank you Deanna for bring it up!

[bethpeer]

Yes!! I heard somewhere recently to think about keeping your toes up instead. Makes a world of difference!

[horseclub.official]

You helped me improve my whole riding journey from this vidio!! My teacher only screams to put my heels down…. Looks like your right! Thanks so much you made this vid!❤❤❤❤

[whatsuppup]

My instructor yells at me to force my heels down even more than the already are and it always messed me up :/

[stephaniekoiner]

I recently started riding English after riding Western my entire life. This video helped me SO MUCH in getting my leg in the correct position! Love your videos. They are so helpful!

[christianamericandominican]

Butt down. Heals back. Love this. Thank you.

[TEN-S]

My mind was blown so hard that it scared the hell out of my horse, LOL! Now I have to go watch another video on how to calm down a spooked horse, LOL!

[Sweetblonde]

I've been told to shoot my heels back and down towards the horses hocks and that helped me a lot!

[deathhound]

thanks for pointing out i figured out my feet have been too far forward and now i can fix it. i haven't been riding for long this really helps

[elliexoxo]

I am a psg dressags rider training towards grand prix in the uk and i also find this tip very helpful: stand at the end of a table, with a book slightly off the end, move just your pelvis/hips to the book and that is your basic position in sitting trot

[erinonfire]

This was really helpful! I've gotten a bit of a habit of keeping my heels so far down... like really really down! It just feels normal when they're like that haha cause its a habit! Im working on making them a little flatter ;)

[kayaspence]

I am so thankful I found this video, I have always been taught to ride in such a fashion that my lower leg is very far in front of me. While I was preparing one of my barn owner’s new horses to be used in the lesson program, I found that he responded to my leg much better when it was farther back, where it was supposed to be, though I didn’t know this at the time. My barn owner was watching me one day and asked if he went better with my leg in that position, I said yes. She told me that it was incorrect and just to tap his side behind my leg with a crop. Perhaps this is because I rode him in a forward cut jumping saddle, I’m not quite sure.

[Mercisauruss]

I had this problem today with my lesson instructor. I can’t keep my legs under me for the life of me when I push my heals down but when they’re not pushed down I can keep my legs under my and post so much better. Idk how to convince her that this isn’t the move for me

[eskkcsd]

I showed this to my instructor, and pointed out that he teaches everyone to put their heels down but he doesn't do it himself. Guess who earned 2 hours of alone time with her horse- this gal!

[Blackspirit]

Have some balance issues on my first riding lesson. I give it a shot because we work with the same sattle. Thanks for that tip!

[StrongandWomanly]

MIND NOT BLOWN. I thought every rider was taughtt this??