Stirrup length for hunting?

[A1fie]

I always thought that stirrups should be a hole or two shorter than the length you would normally have for hacking etc but yesterday I was told by YO just before we went out that mine should be longer. Hers btw are very long but she is very 'old school ' and has hunted all her life. I am a real novice.

Now whether shorter or longer the only way I think I'll ever feel truly secure is if I was strapped in and glued to saddle! But is she correct? I won't be jumping so it is just on the flat.

 

[Aniseed]

I would say put them up a hole or leave them at your normal hacking length. Deffinitely not longer! Even if you aren't jumping you need to be able to comfortably get your backside out of the saddle and stay there when you have a long canter or gallop.

 

[posie_honey]

the saying used to be the longer your stirrups the longer you live...
personally - i've always hunted somewhere between sj and xc length

 

[marmalade76]

My jumping length is two holes up from hacking length. For hunting and fun rides I use the hole inbetween. So shorter than hacking length but longer than jumping length.

 

[helenhorse]

if im on a fresh or new horse that hasnt been out before, il lower my stirrups a hole so my centre of gravity is lower, but if the horse is sensible and im confident then il put them up a hole or 2 from my normal size....at the end of the day, ride at the length your most happy with!

 

[PickledOnions]

I use my XC length which is 1 hole up from my hacking/schooling length.

 

[Irishcobs]

I hunt on my xc length unless I'm doing gates or its a day I know I will be getting on and off a lot and then I have them a hole down for ease.
I ride too short anyway so am used to short stirrups, I just need a leg stretch every once and a while.

 

[JenHunt]

I hunt with them 1 hole shorter than I use for hacking, and 1 hole longer than I go XC on... but then we don't have a lot of jumping, and have days where we're barely out of trot!

go with what suits you best. if your horse is sensible you can always adjust them!

 

[star]

i use XC length which is 2 hole shorter than hacking length and about 4-5 holes shorter than dressage length although that's a different saddle. we dont do much walking though - it's all fast and lots of jumping.

 

[spookypony]

OP, what sort of saddle does your YO ride out in? It sounds like it may be a difference of riding styles?

 

[A1fie]

Same type of saddle as mine - I think it is just a difference in riding styles. She has a very effective seat and has been hunting all her life but I don't know that she would say that she has a classical seat or position.

 

[KatB]

If no jumping involved, I would hunt at hacking length. Otherwise I hunt at Sjing length, but not quite pure XC length I have "half hole" stirrup leathers though, so the adjustment on mine is smaller than a lot of makes!!

 

[rosie fronfelen]

with all this advice and different lengths i should think you're totally confused! i always used to hunt with the length i was comfortable with and always having my stirrups fairly short anyway, due to [****] legs and former racing days that suited me!!

 

[A1fie]

You're right salimali! I was comfortable with the length I had them - not too short and they felt just right. Then I listened to someone telling me to put them up a couple of holes, so I did. Then my YO saw me when we were going out and told me to put them right back down again!

Think the motto is - whatever feels most comfortable!