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Post by mcnaughty on Feb 10, 2015 16:23:45 GMT
Without gluing them in place - any ideas???
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Post by Louise Dixon on Feb 10, 2015 17:41:56 GMT
No, but could do with some! Both my boys would for preference ride with their feet rammed right through. I know it wouldn't be any good for showing or similar, but I have been wondering if those toe cage things would train them in the correct feeling, or if they only stop feet going right through?
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Post by fanfarefan on Feb 10, 2015 18:55:46 GMT
get them to stand on the edge of a step daily , toes facing in , and bounce their heels up and down to stretch the back of their legs , and ultimately heels down, its a position that they are not used to , so need to loosen up those muscles
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Post by Philippa on Feb 10, 2015 21:56:41 GMT
We do heels down all the time. Maisie is hillarious now. When it comes to her lesson day on a Tuesday she gets on and says "I'll push my heels down now so pam doesn't have to tell me!!!!
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Post by Louise Dixon on Feb 11, 2015 7:33:48 GMT
It's interesting, because my son's leg position is actually pretty good for a 4 old, and his heels don't tend to be up, but he actually reaches down with his hand and pushes his stirrup iron backwards when I'm not looking, so the leather ends up sloping back rather than straight down, little troll. Not sure how he is at all comfortable like that. He rode without stirrups for a good year before I gave him any, which I had hoped would help. I don't want to nag at him too much, as he is quite easily put off.
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Post by scarileo on Feb 28, 2015 8:44:55 GMT
When I was little and used to do that, it was definitely a confidence issue. Because I had never been required to use myself properly and balance myself properly, I saw it as a lot of hard work that I just didn't want to do. Although I was eventually scared into doing it through horror stories of my feet getting stuck in the stirrups, I suppose a good way would be through positive reinforcement. It is difficult for children because, as fanfarefan said, their leg muscles are quite tight and need loosening up, but whenever they get it right and do a long side of up-downs without sticking their feet right into their stirrups, make sure they (and their pony - to link positivity with their pony) get praised. Keep building it up slowly and keep praising, and they'll have it in no time.  |
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Post by pebbleshorse on Mar 1, 2015 14:20:35 GMT
I went to a showing clinic last weekend and was told to loop the middle girth strap through the stirrup to keep in place then the kiddies can concentrated on heels down without trying to keep feet in place. Has helped my little 4yr old. Obviously this is just for practising at home:)
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Post by sophierae on Mar 3, 2015 18:09:45 GMT
Little bit of Velcro on the sole of their jodhpur boots and a little bit on the stirrup tread x
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Post by maxandpaddy on Mar 3, 2015 18:31:06 GMT
Encourage toes in and not heels down, the leg position stays and the heels automatically go down
It was the secret to my daughter improving. Good luck xxxxx
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