Toes in?

Can anyone explain to me why your toes need to be in while you are jumping. I mean I understand not having them at a 90 degree angle off your horses side but why do people say they need to point forward?

Toes pointing forward is an unnatural position for the leg and one that I personally cannot achieve due to a bad knee. If I try to force it into this position I end up walking with a limp for a few days.

I am just wondering, is there even a real reason why? I understand the heels down to keep your balance and help you stay in the saddle should they refuse and such but toes...I just don't get.

I don't really have an answer per say for you but I know with my TB any bit of pressure from you're heel and he responds. Hence, I keep my toes in as not to give him incorrect cues. I mostly do much of my work with my calves anyhow and just tend to keeps my heels down and toes in, hopefully someone has a little more "scientific" answer for you. As for keeping them in while jumping, it could be so that your horse doesnt feel this sudden need to rush right after the jump because your heel was nudging him on over the jump.

When you are jumping your toes should not be pointing forward, instead at about 45 degrees out. This is so you have the correct part of your leg & knee against the horse. If your toes are pointing forward you are using the inside of your knee & calf on the horse & not the back. Im not very good at explaining it, sorry !

I agree gypsy, I couldn't really explain myself either

I feel like its something you have to feel in the saddle for it to really make sense ! But if your toes are 45degrees out then you have more of your leg on & it is stronger.

My instructor told me to do this today when jumping, she said that it was so you can stay up over the jumps and use your thigh muscles.

See I always thought it was 45 degrees out too which is about where I have mine but the other day I got a crit telling me that my toes needed to be pointing forward while in two point. I figured I would ask since this didn't sound correct to me.

OP you have a very good point! I never really thought about it, just get on with it, lol. I suppose it is tradition...?
I try to get them pointing forward as much as possible but if it hurts then obviously I wont, so don't do it if it hurts your knee.
So just have them as forward as possible, you will ride much better when you are comfortable.

I've always been taught toe forward is correct for all riding but I think its pretty common to have toes pointed out, and none of my jump instructors have had a problem with it. Although I have seen some people jump very close to the wings, and I've heard stories about people's toe being caught on the jump and pulling them down, or worse, seriously injuring toes/ankles.

I think the short stirrups make the toes out position somewhat natural.

It is 45 degrees out. How can you have your calf on a horse with your toes forward. It's kind of impossible to do.