Sore ankles after riding?

Question

why do my ankles always killllll after riding?!!

does this happen to anyone else?

they get heaps sore and i end up taking them out of the stirrups when im walking the horse out at the end....

any ideas?!

:)

Answer 1

i sometimes get this myself especially after jumping, i think its because we put a lot of weight in the stirrups while they are shorter. i would try using longer stirrups and comfy boots, that seemed to do the trick for me!

hope this helps

xx

Answer 2

owch!

i used to have this problem when i first started riding and it turned out that my stirrups were too short!

if they are too short, they put tension on your ankles because they kinda roll outward. try lengthening your stirrups and if that doesn't work, maybe chat to your doctor.

it could also be the position your feet are in the stirrup ions, are your heals too far down or your toes point out?

have a fiddle around with it anyway and see how it goes, hope this helped!

Answer 3

could be the boots ou use or maybe even the way you point your feet. You speaking of riding a horse right? Is there anything specific you do thay would cause you some pain or maybe do you feel any strain on your ankles while riding.

Answer 4

Mines always hurt , well- when i first started, it was the fact that I had to turn my toes in .  Which I believe you have to do that, [well, I have to ]. Holding your toes in ; heels down for a long amount of time can make them sore. Especially if you either havent been riding for a while [even if its just been 2 weeks], or you just started riding.

Before I get off the horse, i usually just take my feet out of the stirrups and move them around, like spin them around just to get it out of me.

I hope you feel better.

Answer 5

What you didn't say is if you're riding English or Western.  BUT I've NEVER had that problem with any of my English kids.

Typically, you need to turn your stirrup leathers on a Western saddle.  That's the leather BEHIND your fenders.  You WET them, then twist them away from the front of your saddle and stick a boom handle in them and let them set up for several days.

Also, you need to try and NOT put all your weight in your stirrups, that's a BIG part of your problem.  You need to sit and relax your ankles when in your saddle, that means toes up and in and heels down.  Try taking your feet out of your stirrups and do LOTS of sitting trots with your feet in the proper position.

Answer 6

I have the same problem when riding western.  Has to do with poor leg placement and weak tendons.

Take a few lessons to work on your posture and walk around in your sock-feet on your tippy toes when you think about it to help with strength.  Also, consider a boot with some added ankle support in the mean-time.

Answer 7

Bad leg position, I'm afraid. Unless you have very poor / weak ankles, the problem  is definitely in the way you hold your leg. It's nothing that a few lessons won't sort - I recommend going on the lunge without stirrups. It's hard work, but worthwhile.

Answer 8

It is probably because of your stirrup leathers.  When you are finished turn your stirrups so they are turned a little further than where they would be when you are riding.  Then slide a broom handle through and leave the saddle like that.  The leather will develop a memory and then the stirrups will stay there when you ride and not torque your ankle.  It is the slight constant torque that causes most people's ankles to hurt.

If you have a cordura saddle then disconnect the stirrrup buckle.  Twist the strap half a twist and rebuckle it.  If it turns the wrong way you simply twisted the wrong way.  disconnect it and redo it the other direction.

Answer 9

how old is your saddle?  where do you store it after use?  if the leather is new it may not be broken in or it may be stored incorrectly so that the leather on your stirrups are turning in while you're riding, forcing your ankles to bend inwards awkwardly.  when you're not using your saddle, i would put it on a proper saddle rack and i would run something (like a long piece of wood or a broom stick) inside the stirrups and rest it against each side of the saddle so that you retrain the leather to lie correctly.  do this for a couple of weeks and see if that helps

Answer 10

My friend had this problem ubtil she bought new boots that supported her ankles more. Could be you just have weak ankles but it would be worthwhile getting someone to check your leg position for you.

Answer 11

mine use 2,

i went to a foot specialist and she told me 2 bandage my feet befor riding for support

now my ankles are better

gd luck

Answer 12

You might be a new rider.  Another reason is you are putting too much pressure in stirrups putting your heels down.