Standing in stirrups? Yes or no?

[poiuytrewq]

Just wondered people’s thoughts on this please?
Two lessons, contradicting theory’s.
lesson 1 from an eventer. Advised I stand in my stirrups as much as possible out hacking etc as an alternative to stirrup less work. This is because I have limited hip mobility which makes sitting trot incredibly difficult. I did this religiously for a few weeks at first and felt it definitely helped with my stability and feeling secure.
Then had a lesson with a Ride with your mind instructor. She told me absolutely never to stand in the saddle as all the rider weight is transferred to the stirrup bars and therefore distributed completely wrongly and would be very detrimental to the horses back. She said saddles are designed for rider weight to be over the panels evenly distributed.
Makes sense but which do I listen to and go with?!!
Thoughts?

 

[Mule]

My understanding is that getting your seat out off the saddle helps the horse to work over its back. Eventers spend a lot of time standing up in the stirrups and they have to keep their horse's backs in good condition so on that basis it should be ok.

I can't answer about the weight distribution because I don't know. I think that if it was problematic, jockeys, eventers, etc would have figured it out and would no longer do it.

Horses do tend to open up and move forward when you get out of the saddle so if it wasn't comfortable I doubt they would do that.

 

[Equi]

Bit of both. I generally stand in the stirrups going up a hill cause if i sit my horse will collect up and id rather have him go long and low up a hill. If its a flat i will alternate between sitting, rising and standing cause it really helps rider balance. If schooling i will sometimes stand along the first long side, rise the second and attempt a sit along the third. Three different ways the horse has to move/balance too so an all round work out. There is never a one "this way is best" method in riding. Eventing won't be trotting, and sitting to a fast canter/gallop will be next to impossible so standing is necessary, but dressage will need you to sit but its more controlled. The horses are moving and using their bodies totally different, thus the rider must too.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It depends on if you are riding leg long and plonking all your weight in just your stirrups or if you are riding a bit shorter and taking some of the weight on your calf muscles and knees. It also how long you are doing it for and in which gaits. It definitely helps with core strength and stability in the saddle. You need to be very balanced too so you don't end up socking your poor horse in the mouth but this is where Holy Crap Straps come in!

I suppose it just depends on what you are doing as to whether you want to be up out of the saddle or down in your seat. But I would defo's mix and match so neither you nor your horse become set in one way.

 

[Lintel]

It depends on if you are riding leg long and plonking all your weight in just your stirrups or if you are riding a bit shorter and taking some of the weight on your calf muscles and knees. It also how long you are doing it for and in which gaits. It definitely helps with core strength and stability in the saddle. You need to be very balanced too so you don't end up socking your poor horse in the mouth but this is where Holy Crap Straps come in!

I suppose it just depends on what you are doing as to whether you want to be up out of the saddle or down in your seat. But I would defo's mix and match so neither you nor your horse become set in one way.

This exactly. It's great for your core and not bad afor your horse- if you are correctly balanced and not soley relying on putting all your weight through your stirrups, or hanging onto their mouth.