Sitting trot with stirrups - I find it easier without them!

[dressage_diva]

I've been having some schoolmaster lessons recently which have completely transformed (for the better!) both my seat and upper body position. Over the last few months I've done a lot of work without stirrups and on the lunge and I've also spent several lessons riding almost exclusively without my stirrups (for 45mins+) and in doing so my lower leg is relatively still (even in sitting trot). However, as soon as I try and ride sitting trot with my stirrups I really struggle to keep my lower leg still as I always feel like I'm about to lose my stirrups. Despite this my seat is very secure and effective (I'm confidently riding lateral movements), but still I'm struggling to keep my stirrups and I still feel much more comfortable riding without them!

My trainer has said that she's often encountered this with people she's training when they've changed their position so drastically, and it's just going to take time for me to feel comfortable with the stirrups in sitting trot (I'm fine in walk, rising trot and canter) and she promises it will come in time! However, I was wondering if there is anything I can be doing in the meantime off the horse to improve my riding with stirrups (sadly I can't practice sitting trot on my own boy as he's only recently back in work following injury and he's not strong enough)?

Thanks

 

[xDundryx]

Hi I used to tip forward quite a lot (though I couldn't feel it myself) especially in trot, my lad has previously been trained to med/advance level dressage so has wonderful balanced paces but a big trot that bounces you out of the saddle and can unbalance you easily so I do quite a lot of work without stirrups and have found it easier to do sitting trot with stirrups since re starting circuit training a few times a week. Core strength work should help you, exercises like The Plank, supermen, dorsal raises, squats, lunges crunches etc perfect and quick/simple to do. Google or you tube

 

[Pigeon]

Hi, I'm exactly the same. I think it's because there's more pressure to keep your heels down when you have stirrups, and this introduces tension to your legs. Have you tried different lengths of stirrup?

 

[dressage_diva]

Hi I used to tip forward quite a lot (though I couldn't feel it myself) especially in trot, my lad has previously been trained to med/advance level dressage so has wonderful balanced paces but a big trot that bounces you out of the saddle and can unbalance you easily so I do quite a lot of work without stirrups and have found it easier to do sitting trot with stirrups since re starting circuit training a few times a week. Core strength work should help you, exercises like The Plank, supermen, dorsal raises, squats, lunges crunches etc perfect and quick/simple to do. Google or you tube

Thanks, I definitely don't tip forward any more (this used to be a bad habit of mine) and I'm fairly sure my core strength is really good - I go to the gym a lot and already do many of the exercises you suggest - so I'm not sure this is my issue. I also have absolutely no issues with my seat without my stirrups and sit quietly now.

Hi, I'm exactly the same. I think it's because there's more pressure to keep your heels down when you have stirrups, and this introduces tension to your legs. Have you tried different lengths of stirrup?

I have tried different lengths but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I also seem to be able to keep my heels down fine when I don't have the stirrups, but I have no idea why I can't manage it when I do have them!

 

[Wheels]

Do the stirrups hang down in the correct place for you? Or are they too far forward?

 

[dressage_diva]

Do the stirrups hang down in the correct place for you? Or are they too far forward?

Hmm I'm not sure - I've never thought about this tbh! I do find my trainers saddle really comfortable though (more so than my own saddle). I'll have a look in my next lesson next week

 

[Wheels]

The stirrups should hang down so that they are in the correct place for you to put your feet straight into, sometimes the stirrup bars are set too far forward which means the stirrups themselves are too far forward and you are always fighting a losing battle to keep them as they will naturally swing further forwards

Just a thought - i found this with an old saddle of mine, couldn't work out why I could keep a good leg position with no stirrups but then sat in a horrible chair seat with stirrups & that was why

 

[dressage_diva]

The stirrups should hang down so that they are in the correct place for you to put your feet straight into, sometimes the stirrup bars are set too far forward which means the stirrups themselves are too far forward and you are always fighting a losing battle to keep them as they will naturally swing further forwards

Just a thought - i found this with an old saddle of mine, couldn't work out why I could keep a good leg position with no stirrups but then sat in a horrible chair seat with stirrups & that was why

Thanks I will definitely look into it If that doesn't work I suppose I'll just have to be patient and hope that the more I do with them the better I become!

 

[TrasaM]

Do the stirrups hang down in the correct place for you? Or are they too far forward?

I've got the same problem as the OP and this is the main reason it happens. I got OH to video and photo my lesson this week and was shocked at how far forward my feet were . The only way I could get my foot over the stirrup would be by sitting on the pommel. Also I have a long thigh bone in relation to my lower leg and not sure this helps either ? .

 

[Wishful]

Do you have any ankle issues lurking. I have this problem - not at your level as a rider though - and because I have fairly rubbish flex in my ankles (built that way - same as father and his brother) I don't absorb enough of the movement through my ankles to allow me to put enough pressure on to keep the stirrup without bracing against it and making the rest of my seat go wrong.

Working on ankle stretches (off the horse) and occasionally consciously loosen my ankles when riding - including going toe down for a second just to remind myself to soften.

 

[Leo Walker]

It might not help, but make sure your not forcing your heels down and bracing. That can def cause instability. Think toes up, not heels down. Probably teaching my granny to suck eggs, but thought I'd mention it as sometimes you overlook the simple things

 

[dressage_diva]

Do you have any ankle issues lurking. I have this problem - not at your level as a rider though - and because I have fairly rubbish flex in my ankles (built that way - same as father and his brother) I don't absorb enough of the movement through my ankles to allow me to put enough pressure on to keep the stirrup without bracing against it and making the rest of my seat go wrong.

Working on ankle stretches (off the horse) and occasionally consciously loosen my ankles when riding - including going toe down for a second just to remind myself to soften.

Hmm interesting you say this - I did injure one of my ankles quite badly a few years ago (I tore lots of ligaments out running and was on crutches for a good while) and I've always felt it's much weaker since. I will make a conscious effort to work on ankle stretches and see if there is any difference - thanks

 

[dressage_diva]

It might not help, but make sure your not forcing your heels down and bracing. That can def cause instability. Think toes up, not heels down. Probably teaching my granny to suck eggs, but thought I'd mention it as sometimes you overlook the simple things

Thanks, I will try to consciously think of it this way

 

[islandspirit]

I have exactly the same problem my instructor will not let me do ant work without stirrups now and all sitting trot is with them. She asks me to sit as long as I can and then go rising, then sitting etc. I am improving, for some reason my legs get tense with stirrups but not without, I too have a long thigh bone so maybe this has something to do with it. Knowing I can rise when I want to seems to make me more relaxed when sitting if that makes sense and I am steadily improving. I've also found sitting trot when hacking helps.

 

[Bernster]

It might not help, but make sure your not forcing your heels down and bracing. That can def cause instability. Think toes up, not heels down. Probably teaching my granny to suck eggs, but thought I'd mention it as sometimes you overlook the simple things

The 'toes up not heels down' thing is so handy. I've heard it before but forgotten. I really should write this stuff down !

Heels down tends to make me shoot my lef forward, whereas if I do toes up, it stays where it is and just the foot moves. Funny how little thinks like this can make such a difference!

 

[JustKickOn]

It might not help, but make sure your not forcing your heels down and bracing. That can def cause instability. Think toes up, not heels down. Probably teaching my granny to suck eggs, but thought I'd mention it as sometimes you overlook the simple things

The 'toes up heels down' concept really does work, you don't stretch the muscles and ligaments in your legs quite so much doing this, thus not creating as much tension in the leg.

Adding onto this as well, think about pushing your weight through the outside of your foot, rather than pushing down on the whole of the ball of your foot. I have found this helps to stop my ankles twisting so much and find it far easier to keep my stirrups in sitting trot and canter doing this.

 

[itroteverywhere]

Definitely check your stirrups. If they're too short then you might find yourself bracing against them which can cause you to not sit as deeply in the saddle. I find when my stirrups are the correct length for sitting trot it's as if I can use my seat and legs independently. If they're too short my legs hinder my seat and I have no control over what my seat is doing.

 

[dressage_diva]

Adding onto this as well, think about pushing your weight through the outside of your foot, rather than pushing down on the whole of the ball of your foot.

Interesting you say this as I tend to overpronate (i.e., walk with too much pressure on inside of my feet) and I've been trying to work out a solution for getting my orthotic innersoles into my riding boots but haven't sorted on yet (I got some great ideas when I asked on here but I'm waiting til I've worn my boots in a little bit more as I'm hoping I can lose the heel risers then and get some innersoles in). I wonder if once I have my orthotics in I'll find it easier as I'll naturally be turning my foot out slightly rather than overpronating in the stirrup?

 

[dressage_diva]

Definitely check your stirrups. If they're too short then you might find yourself bracing against them which can cause you to not sit as deeply in the saddle. I find when my stirrups are the correct length for sitting trot it's as if I can use my seat and legs independently. If they're too short my legs hinder my seat and I have no control over what my seat is doing.

I'm not sure I could rider any longer tbh as whilst we do the majority of the lesson in sitting trot, I still need to rise occasionally and if I have my stirrups any longer I struggle to be able to rise (whereas I don't have an issue at all at the current length). But thanks for the suggestion