I experimented this morning with folding and taping in half a pool noodle and used it under my feet in the cart. The difference was amazing. I looked online and found metal foot blocks that can be attached. Is there such a thing as a foam one you can strap in?
Our Kutzmann had the option of a foot platform that you set on the floorboard that you can just lift in and out, which is great because I have short legs and my husband does not.
Iāve also used thick Western saddle pads to make up the difference. I donāt know about anything commercially available, but you could probably make something that looks presentable.
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Very good, thank you! It was amazing how much better it felt. Iām doing a driving clinic in a couple weeks so Iāll tidy up my contraption and take it on the off chance the instructor says āyou would benefit from a foot block.ā
Why do you want a soft foot brace/wedge? We have a couple vehicles with footrails, a shaped block, for putting your feet on, all hard with no give to them. I Don 't think the āgiveā under your feet would be helpful if you needed to brace feet on it.
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I used the pool noodle because it was all I had to try. I saw photos taken of me at a DT a few weeks back and thought āyou need to sit back moreā. When I do sit back I either dangle a bit or my legs are straight as an arrow.
When I came inside to start learning about a foot rest I found the metal ones that attach to the cart floor. I understand your point about the āgiveā under my feet being an issue, thank you. Im exploring the possibilities out there to retrofit something like this.
In reading about proper driving body position, it seems that straighter legs, feet ahead of seat, work better. You do not want legs with knees bent like sitting in a chair, because you cannot brace youself with them. Driver is actually expected to move upper body forward and back as part of give and collect horses, not let reins out, then take them up again. You donāt actually lean against the seatback, being on a wedge seat helps you do this.
You might get some wood blocks to try out various heights while driving, to see what is most comfortable. Husband has one 4" x 6" block in a carriage, with an angled cut matching the toe board angle and the floor, flat on top. He just screwed it into the floorboard and it works well. This is the usual daily driver, so wood block is a simple fix.
On other carriages there is a footrail. Just round or flat metal bar in two metal brackets holding it in the air about 3". Mine is on a Road cart, bit bouncy, so I can hook one foot under the rail to stay in place over rough ground. Other foot on rail for bracing. Local welding shop could make one up for you, angle the brackets to match floor angle for anchoring it down. Some black spray paint, footrail will be fairly invisible when you drive.
I have seen the wood boxes in use, just never drove with one. Could be the best choice if you have a long and short legged couple using the same vehicle, making box totally removable.
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Great ideas Goodhors, thank you. I understand about not leaning on the back rest, especially in a two wheel cart like mine, so as to keep the balance comfortable on the horseās back. With my practice noodle today everything felt so much more stable for me and I was able to keep the weight minimal on my donkeysā back. With the pool noodle there was only the slightest bend in my knees- it took up the space that normally has me pointing my toes, reaching for the toe board.
This evening I went into a sporting store that sells boating supplies and found a flat, rectangular shaped boat bumper- you put it on the side of your boat when tied to a dock. It is 6" wide, 2.5" thick and 24" long. It is hard foam with very little give. It fits perfectly on the toe board. When I got home it was dark so I could not try it out but will one day this week. If the clinician says it negatively affects my position I will dump it. If it is helping then I will go about finding someone to weld me a foot rail.
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Worth giving it a try. Glad there is no give in it. Being able to brace your feet is going to help your posture. We added the footrail to the Road cart after adding the wedge seat. My feet didnāt reach the floor any more, could not stay still on the seat. I liked the view ahead better with the wedge, so I had husband create the footrail to hold my feet in place.
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