I have a student that is having some trouble keeping her heels down. i have tried shorter stirrups and longer ones. She is learning western pleasure and trail.
Wat are some tips you guys have for me!
Thanks!

The best thing that has worked for me was using a lead rope (or any rope) and putting it on my foot as like a stirrup would go and then lay on my back and stick my leg in the air and pull the rope down towards me. My heels used to stink! I have really tight calve muscles and so it was always hard for me to do that...

Now my heels are great, I mean, they kinda go up a tad when I'm jumping but that's just because of me xD

What used to help me was placing the balls of my feet on a step and then stretching my heels down.

Thanks! Its always the "no-brainers" that i dont think of. LOL
I will call my lesson girl tomorrow and give her those exercises to do between lessons

Thanks again everyone!

Anyone else have any suggestions? Bring em on!!!!!!!

Stand on the edge of a step with heels hanging off. Lower heels as far down as they can go, this stretches this calf muscles, then lift up with the heels as high as they can go. Do this several times but don't kill your calves! You can get pretty sore the first several times, but it helps strengthen the calf muscle to be able to deal with holding them down.

Yes to the above exercises.
Ask her to touch her toes nails to the top of the boot, trying to push your heels down can cause you to shove whole leg forward.
Same thing, just asked a different way.