Riding with no stirrups (dumb Q)!

I've heard it both ways, but most logical to me is to relax your leg and not worry about the heel-toe line. Afaik, the SRS school stirrupless with their toes down. For dr, the "heels down" rule isn't really true anyway - they should be roughly on a level.
 
At my riding school the instructors always have me stretch my legs by letting them hang down long AND still having the heels down as well.
Its more about really letting your legs hang while stretching out your calf muscles.
The stirrups feel really short when finishing the lesson - even though they were at the same length as before.
 
Tinsel Trouble said:
legs long, wrapped around the horse- (toes forwards, hips open, knees not touching the saddle), heels down, toes up! lean back a little bit and tuck your bottom under- this will help you absorb the movement and will keep your hips open!
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Thank you! I'm thinking of going without stirrups part way on our hack because my balance is awful and I rely on my stirrups way too much!
 
Cornish on the Cob said:
Thank you! I'm thinking of going without stirrups part way on our hack because my balance is awful and I rely on my stirrups way too much!
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You'll know you're in the correct position when your stomache muscles start to ache. This is good- it means your core is engages and your lower back is not taking the strain!
 
I would stick to walk for now. When you feel confident enough have a little trot. Remember to keep a steady trot though as it will be more comfortable for you. So don't let your Horse speed up :D
 
Cornish on the Cob said:
Do you think I should just do it in walk for now as introt I will be banging around on her back and TBH I don't feel that secure in trotting with no stirrups?
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You don't know until you've tried it. build up the trot work from a gentle jog for a handful of strides over a few weeks up to a soft slow more like a working trot- don't go straight into medium trot- it will take time!!

If you can relax all your muscles and remember to breathe you won't go far wrong!!

Keep your hips open and do not grip with your knees! The trick is to keep your hips open, your legs long, bottom under and keep your ankles soft and feet pointing forwards- you will feel your ankles absorbing the movement- even stirrupless.
Keep your upper body back and absorb that upwards movement with your lower back, and to a small degree your head! make sure you don't tense your back- or pull your hands back and do not grip with your elbows!!! Any tensing will close your hips and you will bounce all over the place- you need to 'go with' the movement!

easy pointers- bottom under, lean back a little, legs long and hips open- keep your head and ankles and hands particularly soft- and DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH!!
 
I read somewhere that actively pointing your toes downwards helps deepen your seat, however i find pushing my heels down helps me stretch the back on my legs down and therefore more relaxed and helps me sit deeper.
also, when you first trot if you're a little bit nervous, hook a finger under your pommel for a couple of strides and pull yourself in a bit, this should give you a secure feeling whilst also showing you what a deeper seat should feel like.

this will also help if you unbalance slightly at the start, because instead of grabbing for the reins as a saftey net (not saying you will! but this is what i tend to do) youve got the security of havin a finger under your saddle. then when you feel slightly more confident just take your hand off and your away =)
 
I have always been fairly rubbish when I've had lessons without stirrups, tensing up & bouncing all over the place!! However, managed to lose both stirrups whilst hacking at the w/e...in full gallop!!! Rode it out & pulled up after a 100 yards or so & only bounced for the last couple as we came to a stop!! And breathe...! :)
 
when i first bought our pony for my daughter (2 at the time) i insisted to my non horsey husband to let her ride bareback my daughter had full protection hat back protecter ect on. i would lead her out on walks she did this for around 8months i noticed in time the natrual position my daughter had. when she hit 3 she kept begging me to let her trot. so i put a neck strap on the pony and started troting. my daughters backside never left that ponies back lol. now at 3 1\2 she rides off the lead rein bareback trots round in circles on both reins. does trotting poles. and is now begging me to let her canter and pop over a jump. told her she can wait till shes older lol. the only time she has fell off was when i forgot to put daisy rein on. daughter was at stand still and pony stuck her head down lol. daughter landed in cow muck. but was totaly fine she got up told her pony off and got back on. :) i believe stripping the horse down to nothing but bridle is the best thing. i now ride bareback when in the school and its great.
 
Completely hanging and not tensing anything just like a sack of potatoes and lean back slightly! but Relax is the key. If we jumped would deliberately put legs up shorter. But this is from memory....! Far too old to do it now!!
 
I really need to do this too, must get the nerve up, lol!
It's funny how you start thinking that the stirrups are holding you on. Even though I've ridden stirrup less in the past and loved it.
 
kylee86 said:
when i first bought our pony for my daughter (2 at the time) i insisted to my non horsey husband to let her ride bareback my daughter had full protection hat back protecter ect on. i would lead her out on walks she did this for around 8months i noticed in time the natrual position my daughter had. when she hit 3 she kept begging me to let her trot. so i put a neck strap on the pony and started troting. my daughters backside never left that ponies back lol. now at 3 1\2 she rides off the lead rein bareback trots round in circles on both reins. does trotting poles. and is now begging me to let her canter and pop over a jump. told her she can wait till shes older lol. the only time she has fell off was when i forgot to put daisy rein on. daughter was at stand still and pony stuck her head down lol. daughter landed in cow muck. but was totaly fine she got up told her pony off and got back on. :) i believe stripping the horse down to nothing but bridle is the best thing. i now ride bareback when in the school and its great.
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Aww bless her! They have no fear at that age! :)
 
Cornish on the Cob said:
Thank you all for your great advice as usual! I don't feel so stupid asking now as I thought there was only one way to do it but it seems everyone has different advice. Thank you again! You're all lovely! :D
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You are definitely not stupid! I've been riding for 9 years (which, to be fair, is nowt compared to most people) and I read this tread avidly ... this seems to be one of those things that noone necessarily teaches you. I've definitely picked up a few tips. :)
 
I have only just managed to pull off trot with no stirrups with some sort of success! All the things that people have said about position are vital, but, what also really helped me was getting my horse down to a steady, calm trot in the first place. I think that you need to work on getting the right trot from your horse in the first instance and then go for it:)
 
Puzzles said:
You are definitely not stupid! I've been riding for 9 years (which, to be fair, is nowt compared to most people) and I read this tread avidly ... this seems to be one of those things that noone necessarily teaches you. I've definitely picked up a few tips. :)
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Thank you Puzzles! I've only just got back into horses after 20 years and sometimes you feel stupid asking questions but luckily everyone has been so lovely to me! It makes you not so worried asking questions you might feel are silly!
 
kylee86 said:
when i first bought our pony for my daughter (2 at the time) i insisted to my non horsey husband to let her ride bareback my daughter had full protection hat back protecter ect on. i would lead her out on walks she did this for around 8months i noticed in time the natrual position my daughter had. when she hit 3 she kept begging me to let her trot. so i put a neck strap on the pony and started troting. my daughters backside never left that ponies back lol. now at 3 1\2 she rides off the lead rein bareback trots round in circles on both reins. does trotting poles. and is now begging me to let her canter and pop over a jump. told her she can wait till shes older lol. the only time she has fell off was when i forgot to put daisy rein on. daughter was at stand still and pony stuck her head down lol. daughter landed in cow muck. but was totaly fine she got up told her pony off and got back on. :) i believe stripping the horse down to nothing but bridle is the best thing. i now ride bareback when in the school and its great.
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:D:D:D That is exactly how kids should learn to ride :D

Can't beat bareback. Though in my case, I'm mostly just too lazy to put a saddle on :D
 
Cornish on the Cob said:
Aww bless her! They have no fear at that age! :)
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my daughter has no fear. which makes her very dangerous round the horses she doesnt care how big they are she will jump on any.
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JFTD said:
nawww cute :D
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unfortunatly her riding days have come to a stop for a while as we have had to retire her pony she is 34 and suffers bad copd and cant do what is asked of her so we have retired her leaving my daughter ponyless. her answer its ok mummy ill ride the big ones (no chance)
 
kylee86 said:
unfortunatly her riding days have come to a stop for a while as we have had to retire her pony she is 34 and suffers bad copd and cant do what is asked of her so we have retired her leaving my daughter ponyless. her answer its ok mummy ill ride the big ones (no chance)
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I think someone needs a new pony then... :D
 
For years I trotted without stirrups with my heels down and to be honest, I was rubbish. My entire body was tense, my seat wasn't great and I just didn't get it. I was trying so hard to keep my heels down that my leg position was going to pot and often my legs ended up contracting. A new instructor told me to point my toes down and the difference was instantaneous. I can now sit really well to sitting trot and my horse has a big bouncy dressage trot! If you can keep your heels down without it compromising your relaxation then definitely do that. But don't keep labouring on at it if it's making you bounce all over the place.
Asides from that the key is relaxation, particularly through the hips. Most riders, and I've been told women are particularly susceptible, tense through the hips which blocks the movement and affects your balance. Keep your stomach muscles engaged but make sure your hips are nice and loose. If you suddenly lose your balance, don't panic, just hold on to the pommel for a few strides until you relax again.
 
JFTD said:
I think someone needs a new pony then... :D
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we spoke about a new pony but cant afford to keep old pony my colt and a new 1 she decided she would like to keep her old pony said shed miss her to much. so she is riding my colts field companion 13.2. but she is back on the lead rein as hes very strong
 
kylee86 said:
we spoke about a new pony but cant afford to keep old pony my colt and a new 1 she decided she would like to keep her old pony said shed miss her to much. so she is riding my colts field companion 13.2. but she is back on the lead rein as hes very strong
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Lottery win? :D
 
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