How to Keep Heels Down While Horseback Riding

Keeping your heels down on horseback is essential when riding. This simple act affects your position, how you ride and your balance while mounted. If you have difficulty keeping your heels down, assistance is available. The following steps explain how to keep your heels down while horseback riding.

Instructions

Off the Horse

1. Work on stretching the muscles, tendons and ligaments of your legs so that you are able to keep your heels down while horseback riding.

2. Lengthen your hamstrings (the large muscles at the back of your thigh) by doing hamstring stretches. Stand on one leg with the other crossed before it, with the foot placed on the outside of the other. Bend forward at the waist and try to touch the floor with your hands. Reverse your legs and repeat the process. These stretches will help you to have longer legs, a deeper seat and lower heels when riding.

3. Strengthen and stretch the quadriceps as well as the gastrocnemius and Achilles tendons. Place one of your feet at least 2 feet in front of the other. Make sure to keep your back leg straight with your heel on the floor while you bend your front leg. Hold your arms out to your sides as you do this exercise. Repeat the process with your other leg. These stretches will help you keep your heels down while on the horse.

4. Work on your Achilles and gastrocnemius and tendons by standing on the balls of your feet on the edge of a book that's 4 inches or more thick. Raise yourself up on the balls of your feet, then lower yourself down without allowing your heels to touch the ground. Repeat. As you get more flexible, do the exercise while standing on the edge of a stair. This excerse will make it easier for you to keep your heels down while riding.

On the Horse

1. Make sure that the stirrup only hits the ball of your foot. Too far forward, and your foot can easily slip from the stirrup, and too far back means you will have a hard time keeping your heels down.

2. Keep your stirrup leathers at the proper length. You don't want hem to be too long or too short. Either can affect your seat and the position of your legs, as well as how you ride.

3. Wear the proper boots while riding. The boots should fit you, allow for freedom of movement, and allow you to freely keep your heels down. If this is not the case, get fitted for another pair of properly fitting riding boots.