From: Jacki
Dear Jessica, I have real problems with my ankles when I ride. So far, I haven't been able to get a positive answer except that my ankles are really weak. :) I don't think that it is my saddle 'cause most saddles I have tried to do it. Is there a reason for this besides weak ankles? I ride western.... Could that the problem? After about ten minutes of riding my ankles really start hurting and it puts a damper on the ride!!
Sincerly, Jacki
Hi Jacki! Weak ankles can hurt if you're putting a lot of stress on them. You probably won't be able to eliminate ankle stress entirely, but there are several things you can do to minimize it. First, check your stirrup length! If you're riding Western, your stirrups should be at a length that allows you to slide your boots into them comfortably and ride with your feet almost level, with the heel only very slightly lower than the rest of the foot. If your leathers are too short, and your heels are forced very far down, that's enough to create sore ankles. If you find that you are trying to carry most of your weight in your lower legs and heels, rather than on your seatbones and thighs, that too can create sore ankles. But the biggest and most usual problem is TWISTING those ankles. One problem with Western saddles is that the fenders hang parallel to the horse, and so, of course, do the stirrups. The most annoying aspect of preparing a new Western saddle for riding is the process of bending/twisting the fenders, usually after soaking them with water or leather conditioner or both, putting a broomstick through the stirrups to keep them in position, and letting them dry in position so that you'll be able to find the stirrups with your feet when you're mounted. This never works exactly perfectly, and it's not really the best for the fenders, either. As a result, riders tend to find themselves cocking their ankles and pointing their toes in toward the horse's sides, just to keep their feet in those stirrups. And since most riders have feet that naturally point a little away from the horse's sides, not straight ahead and certainly not in toward the horse, this causes a lot of stress and strain on the ankles during mounting and riding. Fortunately there is a solution.
There are several useful gadgets on the market that go between your fenders/stirrup leathers and your stirrups. and that allow the fenders to lie flat while the stirrups hang perpendicular to the horse's sides. I believe that Weaver Leather Co. makes such an item (you can call them at 1-800-932-8371).
There's also an item called "stirrup straight" that serves this purpose -- you can reach its manufacturer at 1-800-772-6282. And there may be others -- years ago, it was manufactured under the name "E-Z Rider". It's a good concept -- it not only saves the rider's ankles, it saves the saddle's fenders too! All that soaking and twisting can eventually weaken the leather and lead to cracking. ;-)
Jessica
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