@theequestrianphysio: Why do so many riders struggle with their toes facing out? A lot of it comes down to security, and your body is a lot smarter than you think. When you don't feel stable in the saddle, your nervous system looks for ways to create that stability on its own. Turning out, squeezing your glutes, gripping with your hamstrings. It feels like you're locking yourself in. But what you're actually creating is rigidity, not stability. And rigidity makes you bounce around MORE, which makes your body grip harder, which makes you bounce more. And the cycle just goes on, and on, and on, and on.... But there are two things that need to happen to break that cycle! First, your hips need enough internal rotation for your leg to drape naturally down the side of the horse. If that range isn't there, your leg physically cannot sit where your coach wants it without you forcing it from the ankle (which just creates a whole new set of problems🤷‍♀️). Second, you need to build a SURPLUS of strength and mobility so your body has MORE capacity than the ride demands (yes, more). When your system is confident the body has strength to spare, it stops panic gripping as a default. It trusts you to stay balanced without clamping down, and that, plus timing your movement well, is where softness comes from. It comes from having the skill to predict the horses movement, enough physical capacity that your body doesn't feel threatened by that movement and holds on for dear life as a result. So many riders who go through structured training programs describe this EXACT shift. And if you need a little help with the structure or accountability to get started in your own off-horse training, I've built a group training system for exactly that🧡. Check the link in my bio for more info! Or grab the link below ⬇️ https://f.mtr.cool/mezjxbzwjt

Katie Wood,MSc, Reg.Physio🇨🇦

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Region: CA

Thursday 03 September 2026 15:31:59 GMT