Video“Heels down” is a frequent phrase from coaches and trainers in riding lessons, especially for beginner and intermediate equestrians. Riders’ heels being down provides stability in their leg positions, especially over fences. However, riders pushing their heels down too far creates rigidity in their ankle joints, taking away the shock-absorbing nature in their legs. Here, Stephany Fish Crossman, a LEVEL 3 Ride With Your Mind Accredited coach, biomechanics expert and dressage trainer, explains what happens to a hunter/jumper rider’s leg when she forces her heel down to an extreme.
Q&A
Q: I’m a hunter/jumper rider who has been constantly told to jam her heels down. How does that affect my hip angle over fences?
