Update on lunging before riding question...

[Tickles]

After lots of good advice here
original thread

I tried
- naked lunging in head collar (10mins max?)
- tacking up, not too much drama over the girth (a little round bit of carrot &/or a small walk in a circle between each hole)
- twisted reins into throat lash & slid stirrups up, threaded leathers around them once
- walking past the block on the way to the lunging pen he did give it a /very/ suspicious look
- lunged from head collar again (5mins?)
- OH with supply of carrot pieces near block

Result: for the first time I got on and, well, nothing, hurrah!

Tonight I'll be by myself so fingers crossed.

Will work up to the looses stirrups thing as it sounds sensible. For now though, does anyone have a diagram/feel like writing instructions on how to secure then a bit better? They were fine until the canter when I just stopped him and slid them up again after a circle or two. Is crossing them on to the saddle OK?

Thanks!

 

[angela_l_b]

Will try to make sense, not sure if I am able to put it into words...!

Leave the loose end of the leather out of the keeper. Slide the stirrup up the leather and pull the leather through as normal. Then push the leather back through the stirrup again so that it points upwards. Put the end of the leather through the loop, and then into the keeper. Should be more secure!

Does that make any sense?

 

[Cyberchick]

I will try and explain this the best I can. Run your stirrups up and then turn the loose bit at the bottom (the bit where your stirrup normally hangs) up and run the strap (the single one)through the loop and then secure as normal through the little bit on your saddle and TA -DA.

I hope that makes sense as I cant draw.

 

[Tickles]

angela_l_b, Cyberchick - thank you! That makes perfect sense (although my colleagues are now confused abt the mime I was doing to work it out as I read your replies!)