THE FIRST STEP

     When you are first learning to ride, one of the basics is your position.  While this may seem trivial in some circles, it is the cornerstone of not just good riding, but safe riding.  I never realized this myself until I spent a lot of time in the saddle, and also in the end, teaching.
 
     When teaching someone to ride, once they are in the saddle I would begin with “position”, beginning with the feet and working up to the head. Of course starting at the bottom makes sense, after all, that’s the base.
 
    So, if you begin with feet, the ball of the foot must be placed on the base of the stirrup. The ball of the foot must be placed against the outside arm of the stirrup, making sure the stirrup is turned correctly. Then, the most important and for some, most difficult, the heels DOWN. This can’t be taken lightly. It is probably the singular most important thing you will ever learn, then master, in riding.
 
    Some of the points of correct position make for better riding, such as your own balance, better control of the horse or even a happier horse and rider.  But nothing equates safety like heels down.
 
     Heels down keeps you in the saddle.  A big problem with the aspect of heels down is not a bad attitude toward learning, but being physically able to do it.  Like all things learned, it takes practice.  Lots and lots of practice.
It does come easier to some than others.  Some people just don’t have a lot of flex in their ankles.  Either way, practice makes, well, better.  It’s only perfect if it works.
 
     When I would teach students, I had a few things they could do at home since they didn’t all have the luxury of practicing on a horse.  I would tell them to step up on say, a step of a stairway with their heels hanging over the edge and bounce, bounce, bounce.  Just flexing the ankles while sitting is another thing to do while not on the horse.
 
     To practice on a horse itself, the best way is to get into half-seat, or jumping position.  This forces more weight onto the foot since the weight is taken out of the saddle.  Then ride the horse at a walk, trot or canter, shoving the heels down as far as possible.  The best gait for this is actually the trot, without posting.  In the half seat, with each bounce of the trot steps, the student should push, push, push the heels down.  For students who only rode once a week, I would often spend part of the lesson on this exercise.
 
     So heels down.  Does it really save you?  Well, I can only speak from experience, but it has saved my butt a number of times whether on bucking horses, run-away horses or spinners.  I have been in situations that, when they started to get scary I would remind myself to get those heels down.
 
     I was training a young horse for a client who shouldn’t have bought a horse so green, but she had fallen in love and no one could dissuade her from buying him.  He wasn’t too bad and was coming along with lessons but it was time for him to canter.  I started working with him on my own and though fine on the lunge line, he threw three gigantic bucks under saddle. The heels down saved me, and it was close.  Not so good for the client. She tried the canter on the next lesson and he did the same three bucks to her. The third one sent her flying.  Luckily, no injuries.
 
     She had been a student for a few years, even before the first horse ownership and I couldn’t persuade her the importance of the heels down.  Constant reminders during lessons along with practice exercises, but she just couldn’t, or wouldn’t get them down. 
 
     So, I hope this little article has been helpful and will convince you whether you’re a novice taking a lesson, or a seasoned rider on a trail ride, hope your trails are happy and remember always, keep those heels down!