Stirrup Length how it looks and does it matter?

[Joyous70]

Just a musing, after seeing a post on FB where someone had posted a picture of themselves doing dressage, she thought that she could do with lengthening her stirrups to give her a better "dressage" look, for want of a better word.

I too had this thought a while back and dropped my stirrups down a couple of holes, but could not trot with the extra length, my instructor said to put them back to where they were as i was comfortable, with her help we are working on my posture and my core and balance etc. this has improved massively, however, i know i would struggle still if i dropped them back down again. I know that with my stirrups at the length they are currently, i can school, hack, jump small fences etc., so does it matter at the end of day if you are able to ride effectively what length your stirrups are?

 

[Orangehorse]

Have your stirrups to suit you. How about doing 10 minutes walk and trot without stirrups and then see where you want them to be?

People are built differently, and women are built differently from men, having a wider pelvis, therefore it might not be possible to have that "Carl Hester" seat.

If you have your stirrups too long it can lead to stiffness and tension as you desperately try to remain still in the saddle!

 

[Supanova]

I think many dressage riders have their stirrups too long! The stirrups should be long (or short) enough so there is a 45 degree angle between the thigh and calf. This allows you to be in the correct balance and have a shoulder, hip, heel alignment

 

[Pongwiffy]

I think many dressage riders have their stirrups too long! The stirrups should be long (or short) enough so there is a 45 degree angle between the thigh and calf. This allows you to be in the correct balance and have a shoulder, hip, heel alignment

Agree. Regular work without stirrups may help you gradually drop your stirrups a couple of holes if you do ride too short for your position and seat to be as effective as they could be - however the goal of dressage isn't to ride with the longest stirrups possible so I think you are fine!

 

[Casey76]

I think many dressage riders have their stirrups too long! The stirrups should be long (or short) enough so there is a 45 degree angle between the thigh and calf. This allows you to be in the correct balance and have a shoulder, hip, heel alignment

That is an extremely narrow angle, you are probably looking at between 105 and 115° at the back of the knee for general riding, but a tall, tin rider - Like CH - will probably ride with a 130-135° angle behind the knee.

 

[Lolo]

45 degrees is the angle my sister is at for jumping, and she rides with very short stirrups!

 

[PolarSkye]

IMHO, it's not about "look" it's about what's effective - and what level/stage you are at in your riding (not you personally - well, you know what I mean).

If I were to get on a horse right now, even in a dressage saddle, I'd be unable to ride as long as I used to simply because I haven't ridden for nearly a year and my hips are simply not loose, open or supple enough for my legs to "hang" a la Hester.

P

 

[HaffiesRock]

I ride quite short on my Haffy who has quite a large barrel, but long on my finer mare.

 

[Supanova]

Sorry i meant to say so the thigh forms a 45 degree angle with the ground!!! Sorry, sorry..........gosh a 45 degree angle between thigh and calf would be rather too short!!

 

[el_Snowflakes]

I recently had a lesson with an instructor who told me that to develop the 'perfect' seat, one would ride only with short stirrups or no stirrups at all in order to develop both core & leg strength. Instead most of us ride somewhere in between so we never really achieve the perfect balance. Definitely something I have since taken on board as it makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[Lolo]

Sorry i meant to say so the thigh forms a 45 degree angle with the ground!!! Sorry, sorry..........gosh a 45 degree angle between thigh and calf would be rather too short!!

This is probably the thigh making a 60 degree angle with the ground, in a jumping saddle... I'm very unconvinced by the magical 45 degrees thing- sorry...

 

[alainax]

Isn't there an old saying that the correct seat would be if the horse was to dissapear from under you, you would land upright on your feet and not fall over.

I see so many people (non jumping) with stirrups so short it puts them in a real chair position.
Op, what about trying dropping one hole, and seeing how you get on?

 

[Elbie]

I think you need to be comfortable but you aren't going to magically develop the ability to ride longer. I used to ride quite short and as a consequence was quite pinchy with my seat bones with a outwards rotating thigh and feet. I started lessons with a new instructor and probably for the first 3-4 months I had my stirrups put down about 7 holes! They were at a length that I was practically riding as if I didn't have stirrups. My feet were basically just resting in them. After my hips had relaxed (after 20 years of being tight from riding short!) and my thighs had started to relax so I was rotating more inwards I started to have my stirrups back. They are now at a length where I can rise comfortably but TBH sometimes I think they could go down more for sitting trot.

I'll try and put a comparison pic up if I can figure out how to do it.

 

[WindyStacks]

For me, unfit and unpractised I'm riding shorter than I would like. In a few months I expect to come down 2 holes in my GP, more in dressage.

I believe the "point" of riding long is that you can really wrap your legs around thereby "scooping" up the back end and yet holding the front end together by close contact with your inner thighs.

Now I'm 5'4" and the nag is 17.2hh so I'm never going to wrap my legs around fully, however with that longer stirrup I will pull up/in the back end.

Or, go with the majority and adopt "welsh farmer". ;-)

 

[khalswitz]

I think your position makes a big difference too. I've just suddenly dropped three holes in a month or so, after taking over a year to drop two, and with more weight in my lower leg than I had with them higher - because my instructor had me change the angle of my pelvis and straighten my back. Suddenly, my weight just sunk, and my legs have gotten much longer. They still don't look Hester-like, but considering I used to have a two hole difference between flatwork and jumping a year ago, and now have seven... and the more I ride like this, the more my hips are stretching out, and I know they'll go longer yet - but useable and longer.

 

[chestnut cob]

I'm going through this at the mo. I really need to ride longer in my dressage saddle but am struggling to be able to. My hips are v tight and am having physio to help open them up. My major problem is too much time spent driving and sitting at a desk making hip flexors and lower back tight as well as an old injury. I struggle to wrap my leg around the horse and tend to grip up with my knees. I need to improve my core strength, flexibility and balance more before I'm going to be able to put my stirrups down. Although, looking at pics and vids from a recent event, I don't look as though I'm riding as short as it feels. Until I can improve my core strength I can't ride any longer as my balance isn't good enough. Not much point in having cling stirrups when I'm completely ineffective!

 

[Joyous70]

Thank you for your replies, very interesting reading.

My instructor is of the opinion we should stick with mine as they are for now, until i have learnt how to trot properly, as in using my core and balance etc., and not rising from my hands.

I believe that its not how you look, but how effectively you ride also, but was interested to see what other people thought.

I have attached a picture, from a few months ago, i have improved in my position since this was taken, but don't have any more recent ones to show you, but my stirrups are the same.

 

[Supanova]

This is probably the thigh making a 60 degree angle with the ground, in a jumping saddle... I'm very unconvinced by the magical 45 degrees thing- sorry...

The theory of 45 degrees comes from Mary Wanless, some people like her methods, some people don't. I accept it may not be for everyone. Although I have to say that my perception of the angle of the middle of the thigh to the ground in this picture it is about 45 degrees, rather than 60.

 

[cobden]

Although I have to say that my perception of the angle of the middle of the thigh to the ground in this picture it is about 45 degrees, rather than 60.

Yes would agree with this ..

 

[Jnhuk]

Doesn't matter how it looks regarding stirrup length. It is more the effect of your length of stirrup has on your seat/leg position and centre of balance. if you put your stirrups too long for the dressage look then you can unbalance yourself and make yourself a lot more ineffective regarding aids.

I know that I am constantly altering my stirrup length depending on what I am doing. This hole to hack out on, another hole for dressage, another for Sj and shortest for XC or galloping.

 

[nikkimariet]

I go for the 'legs softly draped' on the horses side feeling. I put my stirrups up a hole for hacking/field work, 2 for gallops/jumping. And if me and PS swap I always have to put hers down a hole!

I'm 5ft8 so not extraordinarily tall, but I do take a 34" leg in trousers with my thigh bone making up most of that length. I ride long, always have and at a UK4 I'm pretty narrow too!

 

[chestnut cob]

I'm 5ft8 so not extraordinarily tall, but I do take a 34" leg in trousers with my thigh bone making up most of that length. I ride long, always have and at a UK4 I'm pretty narrow too!

I'm the other way around... 5ft4, size 8 but with a long body and short stumpy legs! I couldn't be built for horse riding any less than I am! I definitely look better on a bike (and am better at bike riding too LOL!)!

 

[nikkimariet]

I'm the other way around... 5ft4, size 8 but with a long body and short stumpy legs! I couldn't be built for horse riding any less than I am! I definitely look better on a bike (and am better at bike riding too LOL!)!

Lol! PS always kids me that I'm like one of those spiders with the tiny bodies and great long legs!!!! I can't wear anything high waisted or I look like a Simon Cowell wannabe...

 

[chestnut cob]

Lol! PS always kids me that I'm like one of those spiders with the tiny bodies and great long legs!!!! I can't wear anything high waisted or I look like a Simon Cowell wannabe...

I actually LOL'd at the SC image, though I am insanely jealous of anyone with lovely long legs who is built for riding! Though I do look a lot better on my current 15hh-er than the previous 17hh-er...! Would just love someone to wave a magic wand to give me a Carl Hester-esque position rather than spending my time on a horse fighting with my tight hips and stumpy legs

 

[Joyous70]

I actually LOL'd at the SC image, though I am insanely jealous of anyone with lovely long legs who is built for riding! Though I do look a lot better on my current 15hh-er than the previous 17hh-er...! Would just love someone to wave a magic wand to give me a Carl Hester-esque position rather than spending my time on a horse fighting with my tight hips and stumpy legs

Sorry but i think i win on the stumpy legs, and riding shorter makes me look even stumpier, im 5'1" with a 29" inside leg! my girl is around 15h.

So im definately not built for riding LOL

 

[JFTDWS]

I ride very long for dressage, very short for jumping. There's a good 8 holes between them. It's not about what it looks like, it's about whether you can maintain a balanced, effective position and provide effective aids to the horse. I hate seeing schooling pics of people riding with their stirrups so short they're adopting a chair seat though.

Also, I probably look the most ridiculous of the lot of you - 5'9, long legs (but not skinny, sadly!), doing dressage on a 14hh pony. But I'm allergic to "ordinary" so...

 

[Tnavas]

I think many dressage riders have their stirrups too long! The stirrups should be long (or short) enough so there is a 45 degree angle between the thigh and calf. This allows you to be in the correct balance and have a shoulder, hip, heel alignment

Not so! That's just a very basic learning to ride stirrup length.

You have shorter stirrups for general riding so that you can get off the horses back for a good canter or pop over a log in the woods.

For dressage you are working on developing a deeper seat. As you progress up the levels the trot work you do is all sitting and not easy if your knees are too far ahead of you.

Each time you ride do some work without stirrups, warm horse up first for at least 10 mins, before taking stirrups away. As you get used to the longer leg feel you'll find your stirrups too short. Do only take them down one hole at a time, to go two cold turkey will not be easy.

 

[Captain Bridget]

I generally ride short for my height, I'm 5'8 with long legs. But I do ride in a jump saddle so feel better balanced shorter. Also I find my leg is almost TOO long when I'm without stirrups so have to pick my heels up to get my leg on.

I did manage to drop my stirrups a little though by hacking out with them longer than normal just in walk to begin with until I got used to them.

 

[_GG_]

It should really be about position and balance.

For me, riding shorter for general riding or when on a fresh/unpredictable horse allows me to be light in my seat, carrying my weight down through my heels and absorbing any unexpected movement with my legs, not my bum. It allows me to remain in balance when I want to be in half seat or for jumping.

Longer stirrups for me are not really about wrapping my legs around the horse. To be honest, a horse can be taught to respond to wherever your legs are. Longer stirrups for me, allow me to sit in a position and balance that enables me to be light and unobtrusive to the horses back and shoulders. Most good riders, especially dressage riders don't even realise they are doing it...but they use the muscles inside the top of the thighs as a kind of shock absorber. It's how you see people sit perfectly to the trot of really springy horses. It can be the difference between a nice 68% dressage test or a great 75+% dressage test...it allows the horse to be light in the back and free through the shoulder.

So, to me, stirrup length is more about how it affects us in our affect on the physiology of the horse.

If changes need to be made, it is muscle memory that will really help, so I would suggest lunge lessons without stirrups once a week and every session, put stirrups down two holes for the cool down period. Also, it's important when you do put stirrups down or ride without to lift your thighs away from the saddle, knees up, then out to the side, then gently down again as this will put not only your legs, but also your pelvis into a better position.

 

[mandwhy]

My instructor has been putting my stirrups up and up as my legs get stronger, it's working really well and I feel I have a much stronger base of support, if I drop them down to where I would naturally want them I get a bit unstable, I'm on the top hole of my leathers now! I like to do work without stirrups too though. My horse is very wide so this is probably the major factor in shortening the stirrups up.