"heels down" is all I've heard in riding lessons throughout my childhood but nobody really cared to tell what that actually means ... I've come across quite a few videos in recent times where people explain how to use your legs correctly. nice video, thank you :)
Ur suposed to have more balance with heels down that's why trainers say it to beginners but more advanced riders don't need to push so much in the stirrups trainer just say heels down to start with because they want you get used to the movement of the horse especially in trot when ur foot can go all over the place if u don't have the correct strength in ur leg yet that's all heels down means
You shouldn't push, if your heels aren't down when your leg is relaxed, then your calf muscles are too short and you should start stretching your calves. It's also good to do hip openers, other leg and arm streches to prevent stiffness, because your horse will most probably feel if you're stiff or unbalanced somewhere. There are many good youtube videos you can follow to get a good starting point or more versatility in your stretches.
When I first learned to ride I was taught the heels down, using the calf to give aids school of thought. When I started up again, the instructor was like keep your toes parallel to the house and squeeze inward and I was like my legs don't bend that way! It took time to build the flexibility and strength to be able to use these more subtle cues, but I love feeling like I can make a quiet request instead of yelling at the horse with my leg all the time. If anyone is working on using the inside of the lower leg and it feels like your ankle is about to snap, that means you're doing it right. Stretch at home and keep at it even if it feels impossible now; it's well worth the effort!
Hello! I was wondering what stretches you recommend to help improve some of that ankle strength/flexibility. I can't get them to stop being sore after 15 mins of riding!
@@squid5900 Hi, you can use the one you've probably heard, to put the ball of your feet on your bottom stair, hold onto something so you don't lose your balance, and lower your heels below the level of the stair. Just a little bit at first, it's not a race, it's about building flexibility safely. I also practice when I'm sitting at my chair, I just put my feet on the little shelf under the desk and flex a little downward and rolling onto my little toe. If you haven't been told that, it really helps put your whole inside leg against the horse. In lessons, just do your best. You don't have to get all the way there with your heels down and your toes pointed forward all at once. Just put your foot where it's relaxed and comfortable, then move it a bit closer to the proper position until it hurts a little. You don't have to crank it all the way every time to make progress. Slow and steady. It's taken me about six months to get my right ankle to where it doesn't hurt, and I'm still working on improving flexibility on the left. It hurt a lot for a long time and I don't think there are any shortcuts there. However, while you're making slow improvements, there are other things you can focus on to propel your riding. You might be feeling like you have to jam your heels down because you don't feel secure in the saddle. I'm a very nervous rider, and I learned that when I start to lose connection with my stirrup, it's because I'm pinching with my knee or inner thigh because I'm nervous. That will cause your leg to shorten and lose the weight in your stirrup. When you lose it, if you get worried about it, then you pinch more with the knee and everything gets worse. So when you feel like your weight isn't pressing down into the stirrup, check your knee!! Here are two videos that really boosted my riding and my ability to leg the weight come through my whole leg. Look up "Improve Your Stability in the Saddle by Riding "On Your Thigh"" from CRKTraining. Distribute more weight onto your thigh to give your ankles a break and keep you from bracing them (which tightens and shortens your whole leg). And if you haven't seen this video, it will change your life: "Top 5 Myths in Riding: "Heels Down!" (Myth 1)" on Equitopia. Think about aiming your heel towards the horse's BACK HOOF. Your thigh will lengthen, your knee will soften, and your weight will come through to your stirrup and you'll be more secure in them without feeling like you have to jam your heels down. I hope those help! Unfortunately there's no way to zip through the process. Don't push too hard stretching at home, and make sure you focus on your whole leg so the muscles can stretch as well. It's easy to focus just on the ankle, but these videos will give you some other ways to improve your security in the stirrup while your tendons improve. The burning WILL stop, eventually. I no longer want to cry after ten minutes, but it took about six months 1-2 rides a week. Use the opportunity to improve other areas of your leg position while you wait!
Bookmouse ahhh thank you so much for this in-depth response!!! This helps clear a lot of things I’ve been doing wrong. I’ll be watching those videos shortly and doing those stretches. Thanks again!
Appreciate Video! Excuse me for butting in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you considered - Millawdon Figure Changing Trick (probably on Google)? It is a great one off guide for discovering a permanent remedy for Bow Legs without the normal expense. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my cousin at last got amazing results with it.
I am training at their stables, and all the lessons are like this - so refreshing and common sense. I followed Callie's videos for a while, and now I no longer hear "Keep Ya Heels Down!!" as I ride by. This is the first time I really interviewed lesson stables, holding them all up to Callie's standards, then found out that CRK/Honey Brook were in my own state nearby!! I really recommend them, great people, great horses, alot of common sense.
Omg thank you so much for this video! The lightbulb that was in my head that was flickering for a while finally turned on! I now know that I was given the wrong leg aids with the back of my calve and heel instead of the my inner side of calve , now I will try this next week when I go riding! Your videos are So helpful, thank you so much! 💕🐴 Also that horse is supper adorable 😍
Thank you! I’ve recently been taking lessons, and they don’t really explain how to use your leg correctly. It’s more kick, and use of the heel. I’m excited to try your method next time!
This is such a great lesson. Thank you! I’ve been working on relaxing my seat, hips, legs and have found in the last couple of weeks that we have had the best sitting trot and I can finally feel her footprints. Your course and my new trainer have been invaluable.
I have an important suggestion that can be very helpful with riding position and especially spine health. For everyone not just equestrians, but it seems especially crucial for us. Look into what is called "forward head posture" I see you have a little bit of this and rounded shoulders. I have gone to a physical therapist and studied this and it is really important for keeping correct alignment of and balance of the whole body, and also preventing pain , injury and health problems. I would love to see a video on this as it relates to correct riding position and freedom of movement ,for relaxation and ease of use of aids and control.
I've been using my ankles way too much. This is the second time I've been taught to use the side of my calf more. Thanks for this teaching. I'm riding tomorrow and will be paying close attention to my leg.
Best explanation of leg aids I've ever seen. I had an excellent instructor when I took lessons but she never explained it as well as you did here. Thank you!!
Thank you for this video! I’ve been struggling with my leg position and have had various tips over the past few months but non that addressed my confusion. I feel that this addressed many of my concenes in terms of my leg position and its impact on my seat.
A very good video with advice that really helps. When I started riding and the instructor said "heels down" they never mentioned it was a case of relaxing, and not forcing, your leg down. I used to struggle in canter because I was used to pushing down on my feet, which meant I was always bouncing out of the saddle. But now that I relax my leg and think about getting contact with my thigh it has gotten so much easier. And it was your videos that taught me the importance soft being soft and relaxed.
I truly like my trainer, however, she is Hunter jumper / Dressage. I consistently stop using her from time to time because she's very into the heels way down - its extreme - and keeping my horse consistently on the bit / vertical which she does with all her show students. She knows I'm of the older generation & have absolutely no desire to ever show again. I did it when I was young and it was very unpleasant for me. She consistently insists that I ride the same way as her show students. There are many other instructors that teach at our barn but they all seem to be exactly from the same school of thought. I'm so very happy I have your TH-cam's to refer to since you teach the exact way I wish I could find someone to teach me. My horse and I truly only need to learn how to work in sink when it comes to balancing and keeping each other fit. Thank u for your videos.
This really helps! I am in the process of training my horse. He is just now learning leg cues and I need to focus on how I give that cue so we can work together. Thank you so much for this video! This is my first horse and with the help of an incredible trainer I am riding him and he is learning to move forward. This will help.
When I first started riding I was never corrected and learned to stand in the stirrup for posting and ended up on my tipy toes all the time so the only way I could give leg aid was with the heal. Switched trained to someone amazing but its hard to change old habits. this is really helpful as I am having trouble with leg aids while out of the seat (up part of posting). Thank You!
Watching this video i'm thrilled to have it confirmed i've been able to develop my riding and and am using my legs correctly considering i'm pretty much self taught with only a couple of dozen lessons in my 50 years of riding... Enjoying these videos and so thankful to have access to them
Thanks , Callie! That has never been truly verbalized to me before-although I eventually figured it out. I love how you break down aids and explain them!
Just discovered this great video. These are just the problems I seem to have at the moment. I ride a lovely school horse quite responsive, and went through this with my instructor today. I've been pushing my heels down too much in rising trot which causes me to get stuck in the movement and not be able to comfortably give leg aids. I don't seem to have this problem in sitting trot, or canter, apart from keeping her going in canter but not worried about that as I'm just getting used to it! This video is so helpful, thanks Callie!
Excellent information for me to remember now that I'm back in the saddle. I had someone take a video and I saw how my toes were pointing out and I was definitely not using my legs as much I I know I can. Thanks again!!🐎
Definitely going to try this next time. As a trail rider it's sometimes hard not to use your heels on horses that are a lot of times dead to the feel of subtle leg aids but I'll definitely try it especially on the forward moving horses as I know I do use the back of my calf. I do try to keep my feet facing forward and not to push my heels right down anymore which is how I was taught also.
I had polio when I was three. It affected my left Achilles tendon and lately my trainer has diagnosed that the excessive "heels down" of my right foot is because I'm working so hard to lengthen my left leg so my left heel will go down. But today we really focused on exactly what you just demonstrated - thinking more about the ball of my foot and providing stability by maintaining the correct line from hip to ankle. I'm quite sore from today's lesson ;-), but I also feel like I understand better what I need to focus on and work on strength/flexibility. Thank you for an excellent video lesson!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. You always present things in such a clear and concise way. I think my legs are mostly in the correct position, but I never feel like I have good contact because they are so short. If a horse has a big, round barrel, it's even more of a challenge. I'm lucky in that one horse I ride is very sensitive to feel, so all I have to do is think it and use the slightest touch and he's on it. It's difficult, however, on other horses that aren't as sensitive to feel. Also, my old trainer used to frequently say to me, "Heels Down", yet when I did this to her satisfaction, it not only hurt my shins, but I could feel my legs stiffen up. It all felt incredibly uncomfortable and I can't help but feel my heels were too far down. I guess that's why I like bareback so much. I can just let my legs hang naturally, and I have good contact through my seat and legs. I rarely do this though, because I'm not convinced it's comfortable for the horse. Do you have any suggestions? Sometimes when using an English saddle, I lengthen the stirrups a bit and it seems like it helps, but maybe all I'm doing is throwing myself out of proper position.
I am really enjoying your videos and advice. I rode for many years (before there was youttube and internet LOL!) . Even went to college for a few semesters in VA for stable mgmt and riding. Then I had kids and didn't ride for 20+ years. I am leasing a horse once a week and trying to regain my seat and balance etc. I am finding your videos to be very insightful. So, thank you. I appreciate your time and effort.
As a beginner in English riding I had been struggling so much getting out of alignment every time I gave a leg cue! I’ve been at it a few months so I’m getting better and more comfortable, but keeping my body flexible but also aligned is still a work in progress. So, going into a canter I lose my balance if the horse I’m on has a larger stride and I need to use stronger leg cues or my heels. I really get what you are saying though, and if I combine these techniques with the one I learned from your older video about thigh contact and motion, I should be able to fix my balance issues quite a bit when changing gaits! Thank you so much!!
I’m a very physical learner. Your videos are great, but I feel like I need to be in an actual lesson to truly understand. How can I go about finding an instructor in my area who understands the physiology of riding, not just reteaching what they were taught?
If you have a regular trainer send them the link to this video. If they understand that this is what you need to succeed and how you learn then maybe they can explain it to you?
Perfect video. I needed this! I push my heel down cus I always hear 'heels down' but it throws my balance off, and then I'm gripping with my legs to compensate and can't tap the horse properly and now I know it restricts the horse going fully forward.
i think this was very helpful. I have talked to my trainer about how I lose my leg position when do an upward transistion. I have been using more of my heel than whole leg/lower leg. I will try these techniques. Thank you as always.
Good info im a senior still learning but i dont really use stirrups been riding in my yard in bareback pad feel weird using stirrups i can see how hard to keep contact if pushing down with stirrups
Was soo lucky last year when I have learnt in 3 weeks more then in my entire life. This young girl tought me to use my body to direct the horse not just kicking and pulling reins. But i suppose it is difficult to explaine novice so kicking or pulling is simpliest clue .
Thank you very much. I am a self taught with friendly advise rider. your advise is so very helpful thank you I look forward to utilizing your instructions the next time I ride.
I have found that if I think about pushing down on the top of my knee it sets my lower leg into the correct position. And my heel goes down as well! Much easier concept for me.
I always struggled to keep my heels down, and I started pushing against the stirrup to get them as far down as possible. People always say "squeezing is better than kicking" but squeezing never seems to work for me. I feel bad jamming my heels into their sides, so this video will definitely help!
Absolutely fantastic! I had been taught to ride with my heels down and toes out. Trust me - it does not work! By softening my legs and being lighter in my feet I actually feel more connected to my horse. Happy horse, happy rider. Thanks for this great video.
I have very strong and firm legs. It's very rare that my legs are sore after a ride. Depending on the horse I'm riding, I might use my seat, my calf, or my heel to get the horse to move forward. For example, I ride a 3-year-old gelding and he's good to respond to my heel, but he doesn't always respond to my seat or calf. If he's about to break I can usually use my calf or seat to keep him moving, but he typically likes to go at a slower pace, so to get him moving I usually use my heel (and spurs) and gently bump until he begins to move forward, then I release that pressure. Another horse that I ride is a Halflinger mare (she's about 10-years-old) and she's very sensitive to leg pressure. I have used spurs on her once and they weren't necessary. She's good to respond to a simple cluck or just a slight touch of the calf. I am bad, however, about pushing my heels down in the irons, which often causes cramps in my shins. I am currently trying to get in the habit of letting my stirrup leathers down (my trainer tells me they're too short) and allowing my legs to relax. The only problem I have found with longer stirrup leathers is I typically lose my irons while cantering because of how I hold on with my thighs. I have had to change the grips on my irons to help me keep them. Staying firm in the saddle is no longer an issue for me (probably because of how I hold on). So my current goal is to let my legs hang longer, allow them to relax, and not to lose the seat I've worked so hard on.
try trotting and cantering bareback some! i used to ride bareback and allow my legs to swing back and forth. this prevented me from gripping and i had to keep my seat balanced in order to stay on. it helped me tons so might be worth a go for you as well☺️ losing your stirrup is due to your toes creeping down and heel up, like you said, because you grip with your thigh. you could always try shortening them a hole or two and practicing two point just to get a better feel for the canter though:)
I rode a horse, who is in general very forward seeking. I have basically just resumed horse-riding after a few years break, so there was a lot to get a brush up on, but some of it had also still stuck from before my long time break. Last time, I got the horse into canter. But it felt more like a galop. I felt it a bit too fast, and was having a hard time steering the horse without pulling in it's mouth to get her out in the corners. My instructor told me to be careful to not twist my upper body outwards. At first, I didn't exactly understand, and intended to find her to ask. But as I drove home, that evening, I evaluated my ride, up in my head. I thought about that maybe I could have controlled the horse better, if I had used my knee and thigh to sort of blocking her, from cutting so much off the corners. Another thing I was thinking about, was something I noticed about the bridle. The bid seemed quite small. Does the size have something to say as to how sharp the bid is? I could assume that a horse could have too small a bid in the mouth. Knowing the instincts of a horse, if something is being uncomfortable for it, it will try to escape. One last thing, is there's another horse, who does protest quite often. According to what is said, it's rather new. Is there something about horses are testing limits and boundries, to see where can they escape, if there's something they don't want to do? Or is it something in the signals of the horse, that some people have no attention to normally? How could you for example get the horse to walk if it suddenly were backing? I noticed few weeks ago, when the horses were to canter, this one, were kicking out with the hind legs. It ended with the instructor sitting on it, was, not sure if I can say, ripping, in the reins, but using a sudden movement from the hand, as to say: "hey! I mean it" I'm thinking, if it had been more progressive, to get the horse in on the middle, get it to slow down, and make it back a few steps, and then try again, if that would have helped more. I won't make myself too much of an expert, as I have just noticed and observed it all, and just started riding in the place. So it's limited what I know about each horse individually
This helps alot, i have also have always heard "heels down" and have always felt so tence in the saddle, I also ride western so the saddle is bigger and I'm a small person so now I know that I need "more contact" instead of tenceing up and trying to put my toes in the air XD
The incorrect use of the leg by bending the knee like humans are use to and turning the toes out and gripping the back of the calf and heel on all the time is way way too common. It’s seen a ton in the hunter / jumpers. I think it is a type of insurance policy for the rider to stay on when they feel unbalanced or insecure. I always wonder WHY the instructors that teach the beginners and intermediates are still teaching the old school and incorrect kind of pony club ways of kick kick kick grip grip grip and getting away with it. It’s just causing so many bad habits and poor riding and then when those young riders grow up and become teachers and instructors, they continue on to teach the incorrect biomechanics and use of the Aids. Think a lot of it is laziness and under educated instructors or instructors that are not fully trained with an educated eye for the details that are important in the fundamentals or basics of riding.
kathy mik people teach this to beginners so that they can actually get the horses to go. 100% proper use of your leg is too subtle to teach early on, people don’t understand it and can’t do it, especially little kids who weigh nothing and have short attention spans. Then as they get more balance, feel, and strength you correct them but tbh most people figure it out naturally as their riding progresses.
Honestly, I never actually had trouble keeping my heels down ever since I’ve first started riding. My heels were always down. Honestly, I was started off as a natural rider and that’s what my trainer told me
My problem is when im asking for a trot or canter . I'm lifting my heels to touch the horse because its nearly impossible to make him move only when using calf. And actually my foot(the heel and the ankle) is too under the horse - so its impossible to touch him with just a squeeze . And i find it really hard to keep my balance when lifting heels to push him forward. Any tips?
@@equestriandreamer5250 Good point. I've been taught to measure them using the length of my arm but, maybe slightly shortening them will help. Thank you.
Spurs wont help! You should only use them when you have very good leg control. Try using a whip instead. Also your seat needs to be right in order for your horse to understand what you want. When i want to go quicker I try and lock my hip slightly, so I dont allow my hip to make a backwards motion, at the same time i slightly clench my butt muscles and add leg. Dont squeeze but rather „kick“ (more like tap) multiple times with your leg if your horse doesnt react. If necessary tap them with the whip, gently, no hitting. Make sure your hands give rein slightly. If you feel that you are the source of the problem try using your voice so your horse can understand what you want easier. Also take lessons! Any good trainer will be able to help with this. Practise makes perfect. Dont try and become a pro overnight, wont happen. When you expect too much too quickly you will become frustrated and maybe even unfair to you horse, avoid this at all costs! Good luck and the best to you!
I've noticed that in majority school saddles I cannot find alignment because either stirrups or knee blocks are pushing my leg forward or actually pulling my leg forward and I end up in chair position. to correct this I need to work hard against saddle and my body, and usually end up with hip pain and tension.
Hi ! First of all I love your channel. Can you tell me please, how do i get more knee pressure in the saddle? (my leg moves away during the jump, and I lose the confidence to ride).does the saddle or the pants have an influence?
You just explained my issue with using my legs aids when jumping. I get restricted hips movement, therefore my horse senses that and stop jumping! I do feel that I have a problem with my lower part mechanic and I need your help, please.
To me you are being to technical for me, I am a visual person. Show more close-ups of leg clues in action and the results. How much leg pressure, are they intermittent or do you hold the pressure? What are the positions we need to learn etc.This is not meant to be critical, I really want to know. You speak very well.
Always being told heels down & I then don't feel like i am giving leg aids correctly or which leg yield means what??? I would love a step by step on using each part of leg to tell the horse what I want him to do. Thx great video.
I think show jumpers usually use their legs calmly and properly with their heels down. Dressage riders often pick upwards with the heel, and have "spasms" in the legs. Why? I can't imagine it being any easier or having any advantage at all.
I know my eq is good, but it’s my saddle seat that I am not comfortable in. I’m struggling to find a saddle that will fit make me feel secure, I’m 5’1 and have been trying to look for months now. I hate the forward feeling my saddle gives me. What do you recommend ?
I have noticed that if you stiffen up your legs, the horse will come out f his rhythm and get faster. I also know that I’m not stiff unless she starts moving out faster, then I try to squeeze her to slow her down.....
My coach never properly explained to me how I should use leg cues in a rising trot I am still slipping in the stirrups because I picked up the tendency to pull my foot back and up just so that I can use my heels without rotating my legs Now I know what exactly is my mistake
I tend to draw my leg up as most of my calf does not reach the barrel. I have long legs and I ride in a dressage saddle. Although my horse is also very tall his barrel is somewhat round and most of my lower leg is not resting against anything, it's just suspended in the air. My leg always feels unsteady causing much frustration on my part. Any advice is much appreciated.
I have long leg as well and what helps me is shortening the stirrups a hole or 2. Maybe try shortening your stirrups and see if that helps? Just a suggestion.
When I had my lessons they made me push so hard on the stirrups... One dude took my ankle and twisted it so hard I couldn't walk for a week 😣I mean, more so than normally xD
I’m totally the toes out and heels in girl. Also the horse I ride doesn’t like it if you constantly have your leg on him, so I make sure my legs never touch his sides less I want him to canter. I know there’s gotta be a better way to keep my leg off him, rather then just kind of having them hover there. If that makes sense, I can’t think of a better way to word it
603Equestrain these kind of horses need leg though! I have one like this. You will never be able to move up the levels if you cant ride the horse with leg. What helped with my mare is shortening and lengthening her steps. Even if just at a walk at first. Try and communicate to your horse that leg is nothing to be scared of and that it doesnt mean to run off. If you want i can explain the exercises that i do with my mare. Nonetheless, best of luck to you! 😊
All I've ever heard is HEELS DOWN! or USE YOUR LEG! or BE IN CONTROL OF THAT HORSE! When they tell you to shove your heels down but relax when riding. Use your leg but don't tell you or show you how. Control that horse that they've just plonked you on that you've never ridden before and have no bond with whatsoever 🤦🏻♀️
I dont get it!!. A good rider feeds natural on a horse, learning to ride, & use of aids. Of course a good instructor teacher proper position. When they say a rider is a natural, it means the rider is with their horse 100%. Helps not hinder it. These videos are questionable. Ive been taught by professionals. On the forward seat. I jump & foxhunt. Been with horses since 5yrs old years. And over 45yrs with horse 24/7.
"heels down" is all I've heard in riding lessons throughout my childhood but nobody really cared to tell what that actually means ... I've come across quite a few videos in recent times where people explain how to use your legs correctly. nice video, thank you :)
Same!
Ur suposed to have more balance with heels down that's why trainers say it to beginners but more advanced riders don't need to push so much in the stirrups trainer just say heels down to start with because they want you get used to the movement of the horse especially in trot when ur foot can go all over the place if u don't have the correct strength in ur leg yet that's all heels down means
same it’s always heels down and i still don’t get it though
@@rv9612 ... it's just the weight of your legs in the stirrups, don't push. If you push down with your heels your legs will move forward.
You shouldn't push, if your heels aren't down when your leg is relaxed, then your calf muscles are too short and you should start stretching your calves. It's also good to do hip openers, other leg and arm streches to prevent stiffness, because your horse will most probably feel if you're stiff or unbalanced somewhere. There are many good youtube videos you can follow to get a good starting point or more versatility in your stretches.
When I first learned to ride I was taught the heels down, using the calf to give aids school of thought. When I started up again, the instructor was like keep your toes parallel to the house and squeeze inward and I was like my legs don't bend that way! It took time to build the flexibility and strength to be able to use these more subtle cues, but I love feeling like I can make a quiet request instead of yelling at the horse with my leg all the time. If anyone is working on using the inside of the lower leg and it feels like your ankle is about to snap, that means you're doing it right. Stretch at home and keep at it even if it feels impossible now; it's well worth the effort!
Thanks so much for the tip! I’m a beginner rider, I’ll try this out during my third lesson this weekend.:)
@@crispykett knowing this from the start will make YEARS of a difference. Good luck!
Hello! I was wondering what stretches you recommend to help improve some of that ankle strength/flexibility. I can't get them to stop being sore after 15 mins of riding!
@@squid5900 Hi, you can use the one you've probably heard, to put the ball of your feet on your bottom stair, hold onto something so you don't lose your balance, and lower your heels below the level of the stair. Just a little bit at first, it's not a race, it's about building flexibility safely. I also practice when I'm sitting at my chair, I just put my feet on the little shelf under the desk and flex a little downward and rolling onto my little toe. If you haven't been told that, it really helps put your whole inside leg against the horse.
In lessons, just do your best. You don't have to get all the way there with your heels down and your toes pointed forward all at once. Just put your foot where it's relaxed and comfortable, then move it a bit closer to the proper position until it hurts a little. You don't have to crank it all the way every time to make progress. Slow and steady. It's taken me about six months to get my right ankle to where it doesn't hurt, and I'm still working on improving flexibility on the left. It hurt a lot for a long time and I don't think there are any shortcuts there.
However, while you're making slow improvements, there are other things you can focus on to propel your riding. You might be feeling like you have to jam your heels down because you don't feel secure in the saddle. I'm a very nervous rider, and I learned that when I start to lose connection with my stirrup, it's because I'm pinching with my knee or inner thigh because I'm nervous. That will cause your leg to shorten and lose the weight in your stirrup. When you lose it, if you get worried about it, then you pinch more with the knee and everything gets worse. So when you feel like your weight isn't pressing down into the stirrup, check your knee!!
Here are two videos that really boosted my riding and my ability to leg the weight come through my whole leg. Look up "Improve Your Stability in the Saddle by Riding "On Your Thigh"" from CRKTraining. Distribute more weight onto your thigh to give your ankles a break and keep you from bracing them (which tightens and shortens your whole leg).
And if you haven't seen this video, it will change your life: "Top 5 Myths in Riding: "Heels Down!" (Myth 1)" on Equitopia. Think about aiming your heel towards the horse's BACK HOOF. Your thigh will lengthen, your knee will soften, and your weight will come through to your stirrup and you'll be more secure in them without feeling like you have to jam your heels down.
I hope those help! Unfortunately there's no way to zip through the process. Don't push too hard stretching at home, and make sure you focus on your whole leg so the muscles can stretch as well. It's easy to focus just on the ankle, but these videos will give you some other ways to improve your security in the stirrup while your tendons improve. The burning WILL stop, eventually. I no longer want to cry after ten minutes, but it took about six months 1-2 rides a week. Use the opportunity to improve other areas of your leg position while you wait!
Bookmouse ahhh thank you so much for this in-depth response!!! This helps clear a lot of things I’ve been doing wrong. I’ll be watching those videos shortly and doing those stretches. Thanks again!
I'm 65 relearning how to ride the right way. This has been very helpful. I can't wait to try this my next lesson. Thank You!
U go girl x
I'm rooting for you!! It's never late too learn how to ride a horse, it's a fun activity to keep yourself busy too
You're comment is so motivating ! I'm 38 about to have my 3rd lesson and I want to do this for the rest of my life
I am 65 and was thinking of doing horseback riding again! 😊 I will for sure
Do this course people it was super beneficial to me as an adult beginner rider
Bruh, I always jammed my whole heel into horses, after 5 years of reading I finally was taught to keep my leg like this
Appreciate Video! Excuse me for butting in, I would appreciate your thoughts. Have you considered - Millawdon Figure Changing Trick (probably on Google)? It is a great one off guide for discovering a permanent remedy for Bow Legs without the normal expense. Ive heard some incredible things about it and my cousin at last got amazing results with it.
omg same
I had been using my heel to give leg cues but it really upset my balance. Now I'm looking forward to doing it right!
I am training at their stables, and all the lessons are like this - so refreshing and common sense. I followed Callie's videos for a while, and now I no longer hear "Keep Ya Heels Down!!" as I ride by. This is the first time I really interviewed lesson stables, holding them all up to Callie's standards, then found out that CRK/Honey Brook were in my own state nearby!! I really recommend them, great people, great horses, alot of common sense.
Omg thank you so much for this video! The lightbulb that was in my head that was flickering for a while finally turned on! I now know that I was given the wrong leg aids with the back of my calve and heel instead of the my inner side of calve , now I will try this next week when I go riding! Your videos are So helpful, thank you so much! 💕🐴 Also that horse is supper adorable 😍
Thank you! I’ve recently been taking lessons, and they don’t really explain how to use your leg correctly. It’s more kick, and use of the heel. I’m excited to try your method next time!
This is such a great lesson. Thank you! I’ve been working on relaxing my seat, hips, legs and have found in the last couple of weeks that we have had the best sitting trot and I can finally feel her footprints. Your course and my new trainer have been invaluable.
I have an important suggestion that can be very helpful with riding position and especially spine health. For everyone not just equestrians, but it seems especially crucial for us. Look into what is called "forward head posture" I see you have a little bit of this and rounded shoulders. I have gone to a physical therapist and studied this and it is really important for keeping correct alignment of and balance of the whole body, and also preventing pain , injury and health problems. I would love to see a video on this as it relates to correct riding position and freedom of movement ,for relaxation and ease of use of aids and control.
I've been using my ankles way too much. This is the second time I've been taught to use the side of my calf more. Thanks for this teaching. I'm riding tomorrow and will be paying close attention to my leg.
Best explanation of leg aids I've ever seen. I had an excellent instructor when I took lessons but she never explained it as well as you did here. Thank you!!
Thank you for this video! I’ve been struggling with my leg position and have had various tips over the past few months but non that addressed my confusion. I feel that this addressed many of my concenes in terms of my leg position and its impact on my seat.
A very good video with advice that really helps.
When I started riding and the instructor said "heels down" they never mentioned it was a case of relaxing, and not forcing, your leg down.
I used to struggle in canter because I was used to pushing down on my feet, which meant I was always bouncing out of the saddle. But now that I relax my leg and think about getting contact with my thigh it has gotten so much easier.
And it was your videos that taught me the importance soft being soft and relaxed.
I truly like my trainer, however, she is Hunter jumper / Dressage. I consistently stop using her from time to time because she's very into the heels way down - its extreme - and keeping my horse consistently on the bit / vertical which she does with all her show students. She knows I'm of the older generation & have absolutely no desire to ever show again. I did it when I was young and it was very unpleasant for me. She consistently insists that I ride the same way as her show students. There are many other instructors that teach at our barn but they all seem to be exactly from the same school of thought. I'm so very happy I have your TH-cam's to refer to since you teach the exact way I wish I could find someone to teach me. My horse and I truly only need to learn how to work in sink when it comes to balancing and keeping each other fit.
Thank u for your videos.
This really helps! I am in the process of training my horse. He is just now learning leg cues and I need to focus on how I give that cue so we can work together. Thank you so much for this video! This is my first horse and with the help of an incredible trainer I am riding him and he is learning to move forward. This will help.
When I first started riding I was never corrected and learned to stand in the stirrup for posting and ended up on my tipy toes all the time so the only way I could give leg aid was with the heal. Switched trained to someone amazing but its hard to change old habits. this is really helpful as I am having trouble with leg aids while out of the seat (up part of posting).
Thank You!
I use my whole calf to give a"hug" to his barrel when asking him to move forward. It works well on my OTTB. I am enjoying your videos.
Watching this video i'm thrilled to have it confirmed i've been able to develop my riding and and am using my legs correctly considering i'm pretty much self taught with only a couple of dozen lessons in my 50 years of riding...
Enjoying these videos and so thankful to have access to them
Thanks , Callie! That has never been truly verbalized to me before-although I eventually figured it out. I love how you break down aids and explain them!
Just discovered this great video. These are just the problems I seem to have at the moment. I ride a lovely school horse quite responsive, and went through this with my instructor today. I've been pushing my heels down too much in rising trot which causes me to get stuck in the movement and not be able to comfortably give leg aids. I don't seem to have this problem in sitting trot, or canter, apart from keeping her going in canter but not worried about that as I'm just getting used to it! This video is so helpful, thanks Callie!
Excellent information for me to remember now that I'm back in the saddle. I had someone take a video and I saw how my toes were pointing out and I was definitely not using my legs as much I I know I can. Thanks again!!🐎
Definitely going to try this next time. As a trail rider it's sometimes hard not to use your heels on horses that are a lot of times dead to the feel of subtle leg aids but I'll definitely try it especially on the forward moving horses as I know I do use the back of my calf. I do try to keep my feet facing forward and not to push my heels right down anymore which is how I was taught also.
As a brand new equestrian, I ty Callie for Lao your enlightening videos !
I had polio when I was three. It affected my left Achilles tendon and lately my trainer has diagnosed that the excessive "heels down" of my right foot is because I'm working so hard to lengthen my left leg so my left heel will go down. But today we really focused on exactly what you just demonstrated - thinking more about the ball of my foot and providing stability by maintaining the correct line from hip to ankle. I'm quite sore from today's lesson ;-), but I also feel like I understand better what I need to focus on and work on strength/flexibility. Thank you for an excellent video lesson!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. You always present things in such a clear and concise way. I think my legs are mostly in the correct position, but I never feel like I have good contact because they are so short. If a horse has a big, round barrel, it's even more of a challenge. I'm lucky in that one horse I ride is very sensitive to feel, so all I have to do is think it and use the slightest touch and he's on it. It's difficult, however, on other horses that aren't as sensitive to feel. Also, my old trainer used to frequently say to me, "Heels Down", yet when I did this to her satisfaction, it not only hurt my shins, but I could feel my legs stiffen up. It all felt incredibly uncomfortable and I can't help but feel my heels were too far down. I guess that's why I like bareback so much. I can just let my legs hang naturally, and I have good contact through my seat and legs. I rarely do this though, because I'm not convinced it's comfortable for the horse. Do you have any suggestions? Sometimes when using an English saddle, I lengthen the stirrups a bit and it seems like it helps, but maybe all I'm doing is throwing myself out of proper position.
I am really enjoying your videos and advice. I rode for many years (before there was youttube and internet LOL!) . Even went to college for a few semesters in VA for stable mgmt and riding. Then I had kids and didn't ride for 20+ years. I am leasing a horse once a week and trying to regain my seat and balance etc. I am finding your videos to be very insightful. So, thank you. I appreciate your time and effort.
As a beginner in English riding I had been struggling so much getting out of alignment every time I gave a leg cue! I’ve been at it a few months so I’m getting better and more comfortable, but keeping my body flexible but also aligned is still a work in progress. So, going into a canter I lose my balance if the horse I’m on has a larger stride and I need to use stronger leg cues or my heels. I really get what you are saying though, and if I combine these techniques with the one I learned from your older video about thigh contact and motion, I should be able to fix my balance issues quite a bit when changing gaits! Thank you so much!!
I’m a very physical learner. Your videos are great, but I feel like I need to be in an actual lesson to truly understand. How can I go about finding an instructor in my area who understands the physiology of riding, not just reteaching what they were taught?
If you have a regular trainer send them the link to this video. If they understand that this is what you need to succeed and how you learn then maybe they can explain it to you?
Great lesson! I was always told to keep my heels down and struggled to feel balanced.
Perfect video. I needed this! I push my heel down cus I always hear 'heels down' but it throws my balance off, and then I'm gripping with my legs to compensate and can't tap the horse properly and now I know it restricts the horse going fully forward.
i think this was very helpful. I have talked to my trainer about how I lose my leg position when do an upward transistion. I have been using more of my heel than whole leg/lower leg. I will try these techniques. Thank you as always.
Thank you so much for this i had been having trouble moving the horse forward because they don't really explain how to do it. This helps a lot :]
❤ you are the best teacher.
U DESERVE THE WORLD FOR THIS VIDEO TYSM HELPED ME A LOT
Thanks Callie, it's always so interesting to hear your insightful knowledge that help me change and fix decade old habits.
Great little video! Think I learned more on this video than all the others I’ve tried. Thanks for explaining so it’s easy to understand
Good info im a senior still learning but i dont really use stirrups been riding in my yard in bareback pad feel weird using stirrups i can see how hard to keep contact if pushing down with stirrups
Was soo lucky last year when I have learnt in 3 weeks more then in my entire life. This young girl tought me to use my body to direct the horse not just kicking and pulling reins. But i suppose it is difficult to explaine novice so kicking or pulling is simpliest clue .
Very helpful - I am new to lessons and appreciate this.
All your videos are super helpful for my riding thanks for sharing 😊
I wish my trainer would be as nice as u and explain as good as u
Thank you very enlightening!
I'll be definitely trying this next time I ride , Thank you
Thank you very much. I am a self taught with friendly advise rider. your advise is so very helpful thank you I look forward to utilizing your instructions the next time I ride.
I have found that if I think about pushing down on the top of my knee it sets my lower leg into the correct position. And my heel goes down as well! Much easier concept for me.
I'm ready to get to the barn, mount up and check my leg pressure! Thanks!
excellent video, thank you
I always struggled to keep my heels down, and I started pushing against the stirrup to get them as far down as possible. People always say "squeezing is better than kicking" but squeezing never seems to work for me. I feel bad jamming my heels into their sides, so this video will definitely help!
Thank you for the great advice!
Absolutely fantastic! I had been taught to ride with my heels down and toes out. Trust me - it does not work! By softening my legs and being lighter in my feet I actually feel more connected to my horse. Happy horse, happy rider. Thanks for this great video.
I have very strong and firm legs. It's very rare that my legs are sore after a ride. Depending on the horse I'm riding, I might use my seat, my calf, or my heel to get the horse to move forward. For example, I ride a 3-year-old gelding and he's good to respond to my heel, but he doesn't always respond to my seat or calf. If he's about to break I can usually use my calf or seat to keep him moving, but he typically likes to go at a slower pace, so to get him moving I usually use my heel (and spurs) and gently bump until he begins to move forward, then I release that pressure. Another horse that I ride is a Halflinger mare (she's about 10-years-old) and she's very sensitive to leg pressure. I have used spurs on her once and they weren't necessary. She's good to respond to a simple cluck or just a slight touch of the calf. I am bad, however, about pushing my heels down in the irons, which often causes cramps in my shins. I am currently trying to get in the habit of letting my stirrup leathers down (my trainer tells me they're too short) and allowing my legs to relax. The only problem I have found with longer stirrup leathers is I typically lose my irons while cantering because of how I hold on with my thighs. I have had to change the grips on my irons to help me keep them. Staying firm in the saddle is no longer an issue for me (probably because of how I hold on). So my current goal is to let my legs hang longer, allow them to relax, and not to lose the seat I've worked so hard on.
try trotting and cantering bareback some! i used to ride bareback and allow my legs to swing back and forth. this prevented me from gripping and i had to keep my seat balanced in order to stay on. it helped me tons so might be worth a go for you as well☺️ losing your stirrup is due to your toes creeping down and heel up, like you said, because you grip with your thigh. you could always try shortening them a hole or two and practicing two point just to get a better feel for the canter though:)
Very helpful ! Thanks a lot♡
I love your videos so much😍
I rode a horse, who is in general very forward seeking. I have basically just resumed horse-riding after a few years break, so there was a lot to get a brush up on, but some of it had also still stuck from before my long time break. Last time, I got the horse into canter. But it felt more like a galop. I felt it a bit too fast, and was having a hard time steering the horse without pulling in it's mouth to get her out in the corners. My instructor told me to be careful to not twist my upper body outwards. At first, I didn't exactly understand, and intended to find her to ask. But as I drove home, that evening, I evaluated my ride, up in my head.
I thought about that maybe I could have controlled the horse better, if I had used my knee and thigh to sort of blocking her, from cutting so much off the corners.
Another thing I was thinking about, was something I noticed about the bridle. The bid seemed quite small. Does the size have something to say as to how sharp the bid is? I could assume that a horse could have too small a bid in the mouth. Knowing the instincts of a horse, if something is being uncomfortable for it, it will try to escape.
One last thing, is there's another horse, who does protest quite often. According to what is said, it's rather new. Is there something about horses are testing limits and boundries, to see where can they escape, if there's something they don't want to do? Or is it something in the signals of the horse, that some people have no attention to normally? How could you for example get the horse to walk if it suddenly were backing?
I noticed few weeks ago, when the horses were to canter, this one, were kicking out with the hind legs. It ended with the instructor sitting on it, was, not sure if I can say, ripping, in the reins, but using a sudden movement from the hand, as to say: "hey! I mean it"
I'm thinking, if it had been more progressive, to get the horse in on the middle, get it to slow down, and make it back a few steps, and then try again, if that would have helped more. I won't make myself too much of an expert, as I have just noticed and observed it all, and just started riding in the place. So it's limited what I know about each horse individually
Does anyone noticed that Catfish was almost sleeping at 4:38 ? 😂
This helps alot, i have also have always heard "heels down" and have always felt so tence in the saddle, I also ride western so the saddle is bigger and I'm a small person so now I know that I need "more contact" instead of tenceing up and trying to put my toes in the air XD
Would you say squeezing or kicking is best to go more forward? Your videos are so helpful
The incorrect use of the leg by bending the knee like humans are use to and turning the toes out and gripping the back of the calf and heel on all the time is way way too common. It’s seen a ton in the hunter / jumpers. I think it is a type of insurance policy for the rider to stay on when they feel unbalanced or insecure. I always wonder WHY the instructors that teach the beginners and intermediates are still teaching the old school and incorrect kind of pony club ways of kick kick kick grip grip grip and getting away with it. It’s just causing so many bad habits and poor riding and then when those young riders grow up and become teachers and instructors, they continue on to teach the incorrect biomechanics and use of the Aids. Think a lot of it is laziness and under educated instructors or instructors that are not fully trained with an educated eye for the details that are important in the fundamentals or basics of riding.
kathy mik people teach this to beginners so that they can actually get the horses to go. 100% proper use of your leg is too subtle to teach early on, people don’t understand it and can’t do it, especially little kids who weigh nothing and have short attention spans. Then as they get more balance, feel, and strength you correct them but tbh most people figure it out naturally as their riding progresses.
I always like your knowledge
You don't see a flat hunt bridle much anymore, love the classic look.
Honestly, I never actually had trouble keeping my heels down ever since I’ve first started riding. My heels were always down. Honestly, I was started off as a natural rider and that’s what my trainer told me
Idk know why put I like to watch ur videos even tho I don’t have a horse 😭 anyway I love ur videos!!
My problem is when im asking for a trot or canter . I'm lifting my heels to touch the horse because its nearly impossible to make him move only when using calf. And actually my foot(the heel and the ankle) is too under the horse - so its impossible to touch him with just a squeeze . And i find it really hard to keep my balance when lifting heels to push him forward. Any tips?
I have this problem too and am open to any suggestions. I wonder if using spurs would help so we don't work so hard and loose balance??
Also your stirrups could be too long? Maybe try and shorten them a hole or 2?
@@equestriandreamer5250 Good point. I've been taught to measure them using the length of my arm but, maybe slightly shortening them will help. Thank you.
@@octoberjubilee9866 np! Yeah I been taught that too but it’s easier if your stirrups are shorter but not too short
Spurs wont help! You should only use them when you have very good leg control. Try using a whip instead. Also your seat needs to be right in order for your horse to understand what you want. When i want to go quicker I try and lock my hip slightly, so I dont allow my hip to make a backwards motion, at the same time i slightly clench my butt muscles and add leg. Dont squeeze but rather „kick“ (more like tap) multiple times with your leg if your horse doesnt react. If necessary tap them with the whip, gently, no hitting. Make sure your hands give rein slightly. If you feel that you are the source of the problem try using your voice so your horse can understand what you want easier. Also take lessons! Any good trainer will be able to help with this. Practise makes perfect. Dont try and become a pro overnight, wont happen. When you expect too much too quickly you will become frustrated and maybe even unfair to you horse, avoid this at all costs! Good luck and the best to you!
that might be the calmest horse ive seen
I've noticed that in majority school saddles I cannot find alignment because either stirrups or knee blocks are pushing my leg forward or actually pulling my leg forward and I end up in chair position. to correct this I need to work hard against saddle and my body, and usually end up with hip pain and tension.
Hi ! First of all I love your channel. Can you tell me please, how do i get more knee pressure in the saddle? (my leg moves away during the jump, and I lose the confidence to ride).does the saddle or the pants have an influence?
I tried the link to join your balanced riding course but the page will not load? Love your training sessions!
You just explained my issue with using my legs aids when jumping. I get restricted hips movement, therefore my horse senses that and stop jumping! I do feel that I have a problem with my lower part mechanic and I need your help, please.
To me you are being to technical for me, I am a visual person. Show more close-ups of leg clues in action and the results. How much leg pressure, are they intermittent or do you hold the pressure? What are the positions we need to learn etc.This is not meant to be critical, I really want to know. You speak very well.
Always being told heels down & I then don't feel like i am giving leg aids correctly or which leg yield means what??? I would love a step by step on using each part of leg to tell the horse what I want him to do. Thx great video.
I think show jumpers usually use their legs calmly and properly with their heels down. Dressage riders often pick upwards with the heel, and have "spasms" in the legs. Why? I can't imagine it being any easier or having any advantage at all.
I wished this teacher would be in Missouri.There is no equestrian center over here
Oh my gosh thank you 😂😊
I don’t see the link mentioned in the video.
So nice
I tried this out and it works! My trainer thought I was vastly improved and asked where I had been practising!!
WOW ..... I was TECHED so wrong !
I know my eq is good, but it’s my saddle seat that I am not comfortable in. I’m struggling to find a saddle that will fit make me feel secure, I’m 5’1 and have been trying to look for months now. I hate the forward feeling my saddle gives me. What do you recommend ?
How do we get stronger? Are there any exercises we can do at home?
How do find the force to do posting trot if it’s not from the heels down?
I have noticed that if you stiffen up your legs, the horse will come out f his rhythm and get faster. I also know that I’m not stiff unless she starts moving out faster, then I try to squeeze her to slow her down.....
LOVE CATFISH!!! Great Video Thank You!!
My coach never properly explained to me how I should use leg cues in a rising trot
I am still slipping in the stirrups because I picked up the tendency to pull my foot back and up just so that I can use my heels without rotating my legs
Now I know what exactly is my mistake
I tend to draw my leg up as most of my calf does not reach the barrel. I have long legs and I ride in a dressage saddle. Although my horse is also very tall his barrel is somewhat round and most of my lower leg is not resting against anything, it's just suspended in the air. My leg always feels unsteady causing much frustration on my part. Any advice is much appreciated.
I have long leg as well and what helps me is shortening the stirrups a hole or 2. Maybe try shortening your stirrups and see if that helps? Just a suggestion.
I have a hard time noticing my alignment while posting.
Could someone please explain to me that what are leg cues.I’m a rider but I’ve never heard of this.
I keep doing pony club kick and idk how to stop it I can’t kick properly 🤷🏽♀️
I'm not sure what part of my leg to use for what aids.
When I do rising while riding,my legs go forward and I loose my aids ,how can I correct this ??
When I had my lessons they made me push so hard on the stirrups... One dude took my ankle and twisted it so hard I couldn't walk for a week 😣I mean, more so than normally xD
I was taught to use my heel as if I was trying to squish a bug. I’m confused.
Yeah, I also struggle of where I need to kick the horse. My legs go to high up in the air to kick the horse
I’m totally the toes out and heels in girl. Also the horse I ride doesn’t like it if you constantly have your leg on him, so I make sure my legs never touch his sides less I want him to canter. I know there’s gotta be a better way to keep my leg off him, rather then just kind of having them hover there. If that makes sense, I can’t think of a better way to word it
603Equestrain these kind of horses need leg though! I have one like this. You will never be able to move up the levels if you cant ride the horse with leg. What helped with my mare is shortening and lengthening her steps. Even if just at a walk at first. Try and communicate to your horse that leg is nothing to be scared of and that it doesnt mean to run off. If you want i can explain the exercises that i do with my mare. Nonetheless, best of luck to you! 😊
He’s a school horse. So I’m not sure how much I could really do with him, as he’s not mine
@@AIngle1991 Try and talk with you trainer if you can. If you just never tough him with the leg he will only get more sensitive if that makes sense.
Are you spell my leg and my heel to get my horse to go. That’s what I was taught.
Using Some cues would have helped me.
I know I use it so badly that I absolutely can't go into the canter
All I've ever heard is HEELS DOWN! or USE YOUR LEG! or BE IN CONTROL OF THAT HORSE! When they tell you to shove your heels down but relax when riding. Use your leg but don't tell you or show you how. Control that horse that they've just plonked you on that you've never ridden before and have no bond with whatsoever 🤦🏻♀️
I dont get it!!. A good rider feeds natural on a horse, learning to ride, & use of aids. Of course a good instructor teacher proper position.
When they say a rider is a natural, it means the rider is with their horse 100%. Helps not hinder it.
These videos are questionable.
Ive been taught by professionals. On the forward seat. I jump & foxhunt. Been with horses since 5yrs old years. And over 45yrs with horse 24/7.
this actually helped me a lot!