[Brighteyes]

Some say that putting your toes out is correct, while other are passionately against it... What's really right? :?

 

[gypsygirl]

what ive always been taught is your toes should be forward for dressage & turned out 45degrees for jumping.

 

[TwisterRush]

im going to watch this topic, because i dont really know.
I have my feet turned out alot, kind of like duck feet haha, im trying to train them to go FORWARD. It is just a habit my feet naturally go into when my heel's go down.
Let me see if i can find photos, haha they look pretty wonky.
(my heels go down really low though, so that might trigger them going outwards..)

 

[SmoothTrails]

Hmmm...my toes are generally straight forward unless I am giving a cue if I am in the arena. On trails they are a little more out, but nowhere close to 45 degrees. Nobody ever told me one or the other...so I will be watching this to see the real answer.

 

[fourtwentyam]

Toes in! It positions your legs correctly against the horse. At least for English riding.

 

[ridergirl23]

toes forward for dressage. im not sure about jumping, but toes forward all the time for dressage, then you can use your calf for aids (so they are invisible) and if that doesnt work then you can use your heel.

 

[MIEventer]

The question isn't where your toes should be pointed - the question is, what is the correct place your calves should be in contact on your horse?

Not the inside of your calf, not the back of your calf, but just right inbetween.

You want your leg to be effective, effectively positioned while in your tack where you can aid your horse to be as effective as they can be.

If you are out, so is your horse. If your body parts aren't doing their job, then your horse cannot do his job either.

 

[TwisterRush]

^ good point MIE

 

[KristinJ]

I've heard keep your toes where they are comfortable but do NOT exceed a 45 degree angle.

 

[Becca93]

From ballet, I have a fairly good turnout with my hips so generally my toes sit a touch less than 45degrees and my horse responds to my cues. However I'm not necessarily doing it correctly.

 

[CaptainLiecy]

It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to point my toes forward. If I try, my foot goes on this massive angle in the stirrup so when I rise, I'm just pushing off the outside of my foot which makes me roll my ankle in the stirrup. Resulting in a lot of pain. So I've stopped trying, it looks awful I know, but I've always ridden like that so I can make all the right cues to the horse and they've never misunderstood what I'm asking.
But that's just my wacky feet

 

[equineangel91]

I was taught toes forward unless jumping ( just when you open the hip angle) but thats it.

 

[Marrissa]

It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to point my toes forward. If I try, my foot goes on this massive angle in the stirrup so when I rise, I'm just pushing off the outside of my foot which makes me roll my ankle in the stirrup. Resulting in a lot of pain. So I've stopped trying, it looks awful I know, but I've always ridden like that so I can make all the right cues to the horse and they've never misunderstood what I'm asking.
But that's just my wacky feet

I'm the same way. To turn my toes forward I have to flex/roll my ankle which makes me base of support weak. It used to really get me POed an instructor I had would keep yelling at me about me toes and forcing them straight forward. I'd rather be effective and secure than look nice and have a weak base. I just have wonky conformation I guess.

 

[CaptainLiecy]

Hahaha, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one I had an instructor tell me not long ago after a pony club lesson that I should see a physio or a chiropractor because I'm all wonky I'm going to the physio sometime soon...