Has anyone else seen the new trend in pointing toes OUT in WP?

Great thing about Western Pleasure is it doesn't matter where your toes are, because the class is judged on the horse alone. So, if putting your toes out helps to maintain contact on the horse to keep collected and in the bridle, then great, ride like a duck.

The problem with teaching 4-H kids this is they will tend to transfer this over to Western Horsemanship, which is judged on equitation, and toes out will be frowned upon. If the riders are mature enough to do both, or is only riding in WP, I have no problem with it. The rider's job is to be there for the horse so he can do his job, and if toes out helps, so be it.

That's how I was taught.

Since when you show WP you usually have long fringy chaps on, the judge can't really see that well if you have your toes out... plus it really helps to get contact with those spurs.

And when you say outwards, it's not like the whole foot is completely bent at a 90 degree angle... usually it's just outwards about an inch or so to appy pressure with the spur, and then put back into the straight position when not using the spur.

Add: Hmm... maybe they're getting them to over-do it so that when their feet are left alone, they will be slightly bent out anyways... just a thought?

Doesn't sound like a very good idea to me! Especially if they use spurs!

I have a problem with my toes pointing out, but I've spent months correcting it. Still struggle with it in the jumping though. I actually have marks deducted in my equitation test for that.

Overall I can't see how it'll do any good.

Surely it's got to knacker their legs aswell?

We aren't built to walk around like ducks, I know if I forced my toes out like that I'd soon be suffering some realy muscle problems.

I've also seen riders who ride duck like habitually, and all I see is that it makes their legs lock against their horse's movements making them less effective.

Ew, yes I've seen it. I only do it SLIGHTLY, and I stress the word slightly, when I have spurs to have more contact. Along with the answer-er I would also have muscle problems if I were to do that.

Are you yet another a variety of conspiracy theorists? Are you suggesting the GOP had those 2004 assaults finished? as quickly as I see data (and that i propose mainstream, sturdy data as in indictments, prosecution, and conviction) that the GOP had something to do with those terrorist assaults, then i'm going to turn Libertarian (yet no longer liberal-communism and socialism are anathema to me). till then, i'm a conservative.