Should my stirrups be shorter?!

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Benefice1

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Would really appreciate your views on this one.... In the photos below do you think my stirrups need to be shorter?

I find it really hard to ride with short stirrups (too many lessons with my instructor making me ride without any or with them ridiculously long)! Its more a case that my ankles and hips start to hurt and if anything i feel a bit unsteady as if im perched on top!!

So anyway, the stirrups in these photos felt ridiculously short but looking at them they dont really look it, and after my instructor saw them she said they should be shorter...

How short should your stirrups be for jumping compared to the length you have them when doing flat work?

Ok enough rambling, here are the pics:

http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=309&ppwd=blackwater&Action=VF&id=3949146

http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=309&ppwd=blackwater&Action=VF&id=3949258

Thanks x
 
Personally i would say yes they need to be a bit shorter, i have 6 holes difference between dressage and cross country lengths, keep working at it you will get there!
 
yes I would say they need to be shorter, I have about 5 holes difference between the length I use for schooling and the length I use for jumping
 
You're riding not your instructor so how do YOU feel?
I'd go with your instinct, TBH you look secure and confident in the first photo(I couldn't access the 2nd) .
It is possible to jump 'long'
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*photo from http://www.kingdomhorse.com*
 
I would say they could go up 3 or 4 holes tbh
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BUT....don't do it all in one go or you might find yourself being propelled over the handlebars
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QR

Thanks everyone, i really knew the answer anyway! Thats what im afraid of Rambo! Think ill just have to go up one at a time and gradually get there!
 
I think it must be the angle, it was an eventer trial so they are exactly the same length. The only other problem i think i may have is as my saddle is a GP if i go too short i think my knee is going to come over the front of my knee roll?...
 
See if you feel balanced in them when schooling or jumping. If you don't shorten them. I never rely on anyone else telling me to shorten them, as I have bad knees and get cramps if they're too short. So if you jump and feel you get left behind or fall out a bit then shorten them, if you don't keep them as they are. As _Jazz_ said, go with your instinct.

Kat xx
 
They do need to be shorter. When out hacking put them up really short for 10 minutes or so and practice just standing up in them with your heels down then rising up onto the ball of your foot and bringing your heel down again. Repeat this as often as you can to help strengthen the lower leg. The shorter the better.
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Also again as short as possible practice standing up in the strirrups with your heels down whilst trotting. Grab a handful of mane and just aim to get an even balence hopefully w/o the mane eventually - I have to admit I still have to grab handfulls of mane occasionly
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These exercises will help you feel more comfortable at slightly shorter lengths for your jumping.
 
Are you jumping at Blackwater Farm near Gt Witchingham in those pics? My friends yard backs onto the cross country course there!

Oh I would def put your stirrups up at least a couple of holes - my instructor has to nag me about this when jumping.
 
hard for me to see as you're jumping and up in the saddle!

all I know is that I've recently shortened my stirups for schooling and jumping and hacking and find riding so much easier....feel more at one with the horse rather than flapping around like an albatross!
 
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