Comments - Tips To Help Your Put Your Heels Down When Horseback Riding - Barnmice Equestrian Social Community2024-03-29T09:13:36Zhttp://www.barnmice.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=1773158%3ABlogPost%3A184357&xn_auth=noI'm curious? After a 20+ year…tag:www.barnmice.com,2010-01-09:1773158:Comment:1848192010-01-09T19:23:44.787Zsplashhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/splash
I'm curious? After a 20+ year hiatus from riding I returned some seven years ago. Regarding the long leg, heel down issue I am sadly missing a few terms that were used to teach me to ride as a teenager in the 70's.<br />
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I began riding Western and we were taught what was called then a "balanced seat". A term missing into todays venacular unless it somehow relateds to todays "centered riding" something I am unfamiliar with? Essentially we were taught to have a long "loose" leg with heels down. My…
I'm curious? After a 20+ year hiatus from riding I returned some seven years ago. Regarding the long leg, heel down issue I am sadly missing a few terms that were used to teach me to ride as a teenager in the 70's.<br />
<br />
I began riding Western and we were taught what was called then a "balanced seat". A term missing into todays venacular unless it somehow relateds to todays "centered riding" something I am unfamiliar with? Essentially we were taught to have a long "loose" leg with heels down. My understanding at the time was we were NOT to depend on our stirrups, fenders or saddle leather to keep atop our horses but rather we were taught "balance".<br />
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In 79-80 I made the switch to riding english in an intensive, 8 month residential program riding twice a day. I'm proud to say my switch from western to english riding was relatively seamless. I credit that to having learned a balanced seat from the beginning. I already had a long loose but steady leg.<br />
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A term used often in those early intense days was "soft and away". Again a term I don't hear in todays riding language. Essentially we were being reminded (constantly, LOL) to keep on thighs and knees "soft and away" from the horse. It was an over-correction of sorts as we all understood it didn't mean in any way to lift our kness or thighs off the horse. It was just a constant reminder to keep them soft, long and relaxed so we could maintain a long leg and low heel.<br />
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I'm curious as to what you think of the terminolgy? I have always thought both terms served me very well and continue to do so.<br />
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I see many riders today making the transition from western to english and it dismays me to see the switch from fenders to stirrup leathers are so difficult for them. They invariably seem to end up will loose, uncontrolled lower legs that they respond to by gripping with their knees and thighs.<br />
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Are they terms I grew up with still applicable today do you think? Or am I horribly old-fashioned and outdated? I hesitate to use them as young riders think I'm old-fashioned and don't understand their struggles.