Equiheels: I'm not impressed

At the barn where I keep Harvey, there is a delightful woman (Sara) who takes weekly lessons -- she always a big smile and great enthusiasm. Sara often borrows horses to ride in clinics, and she rode in a Lendon Gray clinic for adults last year. She told me that most participants were riders that were decidedly undiva-like on capable but modest-looking horses. There was one lady, though, on a big-moving warmblood and wearing fancy gear. She was having trouble controlling her horse. Round and round the ring she went at a huge trot that was close to a lengthening. Lendon's words to the rider were to HALF HALT, SLOW DOWN, but the lady seemed oblivious. Lendon is not one to mince words, and she boomed out "I am NOT IMPRESSED. Not impressed AT ALL!"

I second that! Equiheels product review
The Lendon story, and particularly her sentiment, is a lead in for my product review. You know, I'm kind of a sucker for new-fangled products, from the Astride^TM surcingle to the Shoulders Back^TM posture improver. If they're silly and frivolous, at least my gadgets have good intentions, -- helping me, or my horse, improve. When it comes to training "shortcuts," I draw the line. No draw reins. No crank nosebands. No flash attachment binding my horse's mouth shut.

My thoughts (Disclaimer: haven't tried it, won't try it)
When I saw the Equiheels^TM product ad appearing at the top of my Gmail mailbox, I thought it might be a new heel stretcher for riders. Gadget alert! Ever hopeful, I clicked. Nope, it's not a gadget to help you fix your riding problems. It's a heeel insert that supposedly creates the appearance that your heel is down while allowing you -- in fact encouraging you to ride en pointe like a ballerina. In other words, it's a gimmick to make you look like a better rider than you are. To quote Lendon Gray I am NOT IMPRESSED. Not impressed AT ALL!

To the maker of the product, I have these comments...

• I've worn, and seen other people wear, ill fitting boots that drop down at the heel -- the boot heel is several inches below the actual heel. It's obvious that the human heel is not at the bottom of the boot -- no one's ankle breaks at that telltale funny angle. Judges and trainers are not fooled and like me, NOT IMPRESSED.
• Did it occur to you that when the heel is down, the rest of the leg becomes more secure? The thigh drops down, the seat is closer to the saddle, and the rider finds a sweet spot of stability/balance. Your product actually prevents the rider from assuming a more correct position.
• What are we teaching kids by using this product? Isn't it a little deceptive? Kind of like cheating? I noted the ad copy on your Web site:

  Yes, EquiHeels are legal and can be used in the show ring. Because they fit perfectly inside your boot, the best part is that no one will even know you're using them!

• How goofy are these kids going to look wearing flat heeled boots but walking like they're teetering down a runway in stilletos? More ad copy on your Web site:

Although you may be surprised at how comfortable they are to walk in, we recommend that you simply insert the EquiHeels just prior to mounting your horse, and remove them soon after dismounting.

Even the gadget queen looks askance
I'm all for whatever tools help us to legitimately improve our horses or our riding. After all, I'm the queen of gadgets. But for equestrian sports (and probably any sport), products that try to circumvent the old fashioned notion of "paying your dues" are doomed to fail. If there was an easy button for being a good rider, we'd all be good riders.