Riding with odd length stirrups/ wonkiness

J

Jericho

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2008
Messages
2,568
Visit site
Not me but my 11 yr old daughter...

She and her lovely pony are just wonderful together and they started to show lots of potential at dressage however she oftens complains that her stirrups are un even when they arent (i've checked and all the holes line up and the saddle has recently been checked etc) but she doesnt feel comfortable/balanced until one stirrup is a hole higher. I wasnt too worried and would rather she just enjoy riding and feel comfortable at this stage although we always have the debate when she gets on whether she looks/ feels even, cue adjusting of saddle/stirrups. What I have tried to avoid is making the stirrups even so she feels wonky so then she constantly keeps adjusting the saddle on the poor ponies back. He does have a tendency to drift left and my suspicions were confirmed at a recent dressage lesson with a new instructor whereby she noticed she was wonky and the dearest pony was just doing as he was told...

We then had a rather unhappy uncomfortable lesson where daughter was straightened but felt wonky and ineffective the whole time and therefore didnt enjoy her riding. Subsequent riding has also focussed around whether she feels wonky and frustrations so I just said make our stirrups so they are comfortable for you and carry on but I know this a short fix and would rather get her sorted and straight.

Instructor has recommended physio to see if daughter has wonky hips (following a series of falls on previous pony and an early career in gymnastics!!) so daughter is booked in for this but I would be interested in other peoples stories. Part of me says it doesnt really matter, just let her do what she feels comfortable with and enjoy it, another part of me wants to sort it out ...
 
Definitely get her checked out to see if one leg is longer than the other (quite common). I would guess that the important thing is that the pelvis is straight and both seat bones are weighted equally rather than the stirrups being the same length but the issue would be your daughter being body aware enough to ensure this. I would assume decent body awareness from gymnastics but growing and any issues might throw it off.

How straight is she without stirrups? Is pony sensible enough to do lots without stirrups and see if the straightness issues with pony disappear or continue.
 
Thanks for replying. She is very body aware because of the gymnastics so maybe she might be over sensitive? Have started to do more work with out stirrups which she says is helping ( and is giving her a fab seat and stabilising lower leg position!!) Apparently even Charlotte D is wonky and has to do some exercises before she rides - I keep tellong daughter this and that its normal!!!
 
Is your saddle/stirrups old or from a riding school? Constant use of the left stirrup to mount causes the leather to stretch. If that's the side you're putting the stirrup up on it could be your culprit. Worth looking into it before shelling out for physio!
 
It's actually pretty unusual to have perfectly even legs, hips etc... Most of us just don't notice our slight asymmetries. I wouldn't worry much - especially as she's still growing. I would try swapping the leathers around just to be sure that isn't the source of the issue and also try her on a couple of different ponies to see if she still feels the same. If she does, it probably is her body but unless the difference is a big one, I'd shorten the longer stirrup to make them even and let her get used to that. In time, her body might adjust on its own and it will be possible to lengthen both and keep them even.
 
It's not the saddle that is sitting wonky om a wonky pony is it? Take a photo of the horses shoulders from behind and if there is a marked difference in size between the two stick a couple of shims under the saddle at the front on the smallest side to even the saddle up.
I would try this first before taking her for physio. I was fiddled about with by chiropractors when I was 12 after a few falls and I think it made me worse actually.Shes at that age where her body should take care of itself, especially if she was a gymnast. I should imagine she is pretty strong, flexible and even?!
 
Defiantly worth getting a physio to assess her .
If you find a ACPAT trained horse physio ( human trained who have gone on to do horses ) many do rider assessments.
 
I am noticeably odd. I am always longer in my right leg, however it still feels shorter at the moment! I've invested in new leathers and am booking myself in with a physio. It's been ongoing for years, right through when I was riding regularly on PC teams and doing my BHS exams, but having a non horsey family, and still being a teenager it was difficult trying to explain why I needed to go. Now I'm adult I'm having myself checked. I think I am just odd, however I just want to put my mind at rest as with having a youngster now, I want to start her off well.
 
have spent a few hundred pounds on chiros etc and then decided to measure my legs as my left one has always felt floppy with the stirrups even. I look perfectly straight when sat on a chair so started at the bottom. we sued a spirit level to check the floor and chair were flat and , hey presto, my left leg is nearly an inch shorter to the knee. have never damaged that part of me so it must have always been like it. have added a heel wedge into my left boot and my back no longer hurts and my pelvis is level. i have taken the left stirrup up by one hole and my knees are level in the saddle which no longer moves about. Young horse put a huge scalded cat jump over a log at the side of the track today ( went about six foot off the floor according to the person behind me) and I stayed right in the middle and didn't even move. Would normally have got severe cramp and moved left so it does seem that the shorter stirrup works for me. May be worth checking as I have got to 59 and half worn out my left hip before noticing. Hip significantly better in five days so I think I must have always been like it.
 
I would leave it up to your daughter whether she wants to fix her straightness. Explain the benefits for the pony and her riding, but that it will take some practice where she will feel lopsided before she gets comfortable with her improved position. I wouldn't let the instructor make this an ongoing focus area if your dayghter isn't the driving force behind it though. It will just make her riding lessons feel like a chore.
 
gnubee said:
I would leave it up to your daughter whether she wants to fix her straightness. Explain the benefits for the pony and her riding, but that it will take some practice where she will feel lopsided before she gets comfortable with her improved position. I wouldn't let the instructor make this an ongoing focus area if your dayghter isn't the driving force behind it though. It will just make her riding lessons feel like a chore.
Click to expand...
Agree with this; I am sure she will try for the pony's sake rather than her own.
I would try to contact Charlotte D. and just ask her if she would mind sparing 5 minutes to talk to your daughter, or even if she would send her a quick note or email of encouragement. Could make an enormous difference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top