strange post but can i have pictures of your stirrup lengths??

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Brambridge04

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bit of a strange request i know....

I always try to ride as long as possible, no idea why, just feel i should, and when hacking to someone commented i was reaching for my stirrups...whereas i thought she looked like a jockey...curious really.
 
i think you can see how long i ride on this pony (quite short for showing!- looks untidy-er with my legs poking out below her belly :o)
but when i jump her i tend to ride a bit longer than this as she doesnt need much encouragement forwards, and i seem to try and stand up when i jump with short stirrups- i will be getting some jumping lessons soon though! ahaha silly me has never had a jumping lesson with a proper instructor :rolleyes:
but with most bigger horses i tend to ride longer or sometimes without stirrups, its just how i was taught to ride 'you cant have stirrups until you can ride without them' oh dear!!
when i hack i normally ride like the picture in my sig- im very lucky as we have some lovely sand tracks locally and i love going up there for a good gallop :D
 
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/picture.php?albumid=1469&pictureid=9129

Hopefully this worked and you can see the picture. I also get comments that I ride very long (especially as I have a pony) but I used to ride Western so it's more comfortable for me. I'm going jumping in a few weeks though so I'll have to get used to having them a bit shorter. (And yes, I do hack, gallop and jump little things with them this long).
 
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Brambridge04 said:
bit of a strange request i know....

I always try to ride as long as possible, no idea why, just feel i should, and when hacking to someone commented i was reaching for my stirrups...whereas i thought she looked like a jockey...curious really.
Click to expand...

I has taught the same, ride without stirrups and lengthen the leg. Never felt I was reaching for the stirrups.

But my new instructor said I needed to take my stirrups up two holes. Dont feel comfortable.
 
Hmm don't have a pic to add. But I just do what I feel comfortable with - I always rode long on my old horse because I felt most secure with long stirrups and a deep seat. With some horses I ride a bit shorter so I can take a light seat easily for canter work etc. So long as you can rise to the trot and get out of the saddle a little without your legs swinging around, I'd say you're fine.

Riding long can be helpful if it makes you feel less perched on the horse, and having more leg in contact with the horse's side is useful for dressage, but don't get fooled into thinking 'longer is better'. If you are forcing your heels down you'll create tension down the inside of your leg and totally lose any benefit you gain from riding long! 'Clothespeg' is not a good look and won't help your security in the saddle.

But so long as you feel comfortable I'd say it's just personal preference - the other girl likes riding short and you don't :)
 
Sorry,sorry,sorry!!!No hat, draw reins and very scrawny, ratty looking mare. Believe it or not, she was an advanced event horse - but always looked like a goat!! Dressage length here, but I hoik them right up to jump/do fast work.
SP_A0251.jpg
 
Come to think of it i feel a bit leg swingy when in trot and like i barely leave the saddle (maybe only a inch) i will try them a hole shorter i think....
 
Hes half welsh so I feel your pain! Haha...no swaps, no horsies for me :( He is actually for full loan just started advertising him.
 
Me too, fingers crossed! Obviously nobody is ever going to be good enough in my eyes! I'm dreading the viewings starting! :eek: I can see myself pushing people off sideways and telling them to leave my boy alone! This of course will not be helpful in finding him a new home so I must try and be restrained! :p :D
 
I can never get my sodding stirrups right. One day they're too long and I'm reaching for them, legs flapping about (one in particular) but then I put them up and it just feels silly. I think I've got one leg longer than the other and that my legs change length on a regular basis.
 
Don't have a pic but I think I ride quite short,

My instructor thought my stirrups looked short for flatwork but to me they felt long!

I feel better with slightly shorter stirrups and have a better leg position

As I'm 5ft 10.5" I would look silly with long stirrups haha :D
 
Ive punched a hole inbetween 2 other holes, as one hole feels WAY to short, and other one feels like i am very leg swingy, strange how 1/2 inch can make a difference!
 
i just have a problem with stirrups altogether!

i usually ride quite short because i feel i have a much securer lower leg which i don't if i have long stirrups but i can ride all day with no stirrups at all and b perfectly happy as well ?!

if your happy with your stirrups long then keep them like that i've always been taught that you should barely come out of the saddle when rising anyway
and that your stirrups shouldn't be necessary for that just depends if you want to do lots of cantering jumping etc.
 
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