Why “Toes Forward” Feels So Hard (And What It’s Really Telling You)

If you’ve ever tried to turn your toes forward in the saddle and immediately thought…

“Why is this so hard?”

You’re not alone.

For a lot of riders, that cue feels unnatural, forced, or even impossible to hold. You might find yourself:

• Fighting to keep your leg in place

• Gripping tighter without meaning to

• Losing your balance the second you adjust

So you go back to what feels easier—even if you know it’s not ideal.

But here’s the thing:

If you can’t keep your toes forward, it’s not a discipline issue.It’s a body limitation.

What “Toes Forward” Actually Means

This cue isn’t about forcing your foot into a specific position.

It’s a reflection of what’s happening higher up:

• Your hips

• Your pelvis

• Your core

When your body is working well, your leg naturally hangs in a more neutral position—with your toes closer to forward.

When something is off, your toes turn out as a compensation.

Why Your Toes Turn Out in the First Place

There are a few common reasons this happens:

1. Tight or Restricted Hips

If your hips don’t have enough internal rotation, your body will default to turning your leg outward.

This is one of the biggest reasons riders struggle with this cue.

2. Lack of Core Control

Without core stability, your body looks for balance elsewhere—often through your legs.

That’s when gripping and toe turnout start to show up together.

3. Pelvic Position

If your pelvis is tipped forward or unstable, it changes how your leg hangs underneath you.

Your toes turning out is often just the downstream effect.

4. Habit (But Not the Way You Think)

Yes, habits play a role—but most habits are built around what your body can currently do.

You’re not choosing the “wrong” position.Your body is choosing the most available one.

Why Forcing It Doesn’t Work

If you try to manually turn your toes forward without addressing the cause, a few things usually happen:

• You grip harder with your thighs

• Your lower leg becomes unstable

• You lose connection with the saddle

• Your position feels tense instead of secure

It might look better for a moment—but it won’t feel better, and it won’t last.

What Actually Fixes It

Instead of forcing the position, you need to change what your body is capable of.

Step 1: Assess What’s Limiting You

Before you try to fix anything, you need to know why your toes are turning out.

Is it your hips?Your core?Your pelvic control?

Without this step, you’re guessing.

Step 2: Improve Mobility Where You’re Restricted

For many riders, this means working on:

• Hip internal rotation

• Hip flexion and control

• Pelvic mobility

This gives your body access to a better position.

Step 3: Build Strength to Support It

Once you can access the position, you need to be able to hold it—without tension.

This is where:

• Deep core strength

• Glute control

• Hip stability

come in.

Step 4: Apply It Back to Riding

This is where it all clicks.

When your body has the mobility and strength it needs, your leg doesn’t have to be forced into place.

It just… stays there.

What It Should Feel Like

When “toes forward” is working the way it’s supposed to, it doesn’t feel forced.

It feels:

• More stable

• More connected

• Easier to stay with the motion

Your leg hangs longer.Your seat feels deeper.And you stop fighting to hold your position.

Where to Start

If this is something you’ve struggled with, the answer isn’t more reminders in the saddle.

It’s understanding what your body is doing—and how to change it.

That’s exactly what my Toes Forward Masterclass walks you through:

• How to assess your own limitations

• What’s actually causing your toes to turn out

• The specific exercises to fix it

• And how to carry it into your riding

Because once you fix the cause, the position takes care of itself.