Will Shorter Stirrups Help my Jumping Position?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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I was looking at some photos from the weekend and can't help but notice my far from perfect jumping position. To me it looks like my stirrups are too long but my mum isn't convinced. What do you think? Will shorter stirrups help me to get a better position over a fence?

(they are on the top hole so can't experiment by putting them shorter!)

kingssj_zpsa5aaf2f8.jpg


kingssj2_zpsf76de400.jpg


kingssj4_zps7432ecbd.jpg



The not quite so bad ones -
kingssj5_zps2e13f5b1.jpg


kingssj3_zpsd072c115.jpg


Thoughts please?!
 
Its definately worth trying some shorter leathers, you do look a little long in the leg for jumping. Does anyone have any shorter ones you could borrow?
 
I'd agree - try shorter ones. You will be able to see this already but in your not so good shots, your toes are pointy out, knee and thigh is away from the saddle, which will also contribute towards you feeling less secure I would think.

Not terrible by any means though, and better than a lot of my shots which I daren't post up here!
 
fattylumpkin said:
You could try shorter for sure and see if it works for you, it doesn't look like you're clearing out of the saddle at all :) Any shots from the back???
Click to expand...

No shots from the back but I've got a vid

[video=youtube;gO1V0nHFZtE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO1V0nHFZtE[/video]

Sorry about the slow start!

Black Beastie said:
I would say get some shorter leathers as I think it would benefit you.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure if I was looking for an excuse :o
 
Try twisting them to see how you feel? Any time I jump atm I have to do so as horse (and stirrups) belong to the BF and his legs are far longer than mine- as are his leathers, so I normally add a twist to make them 2-3 holes shorter.
 
Joyous70 said:
Its definately worth trying some shorter leathers, you do look a little long in the leg for jumping. Does anyone have any shorter ones you could borrow?
Click to expand...

I guess I could use my other horses leathers for now, I think they may be a bit shorter (not sure why I didn't think of that sooner!)

I'm 6'1 so have rather long legs to contend with :o

Bernster said:
I'd agree - try shorter ones. You will be able to see this already but in your not so good shots, your toes are pointy out, knee and thigh is away from the saddle, which will also contribute towards you feeling less secure I would think.

Not terrible by any means though, and better than a lot of my shots which I daren't post up here!
Click to expand...

The pointy toes are the worse bit, gahhh they drive me nuts!!!

I'm worried that I'll feel less secure with them shorter, especially if she decides to stop/buck/spook :eek:
 
3Beasties said:
I'm worried that I'll feel less secure with them shorter, especially if she decides to stop/buck/spook :eek:
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, you'd think they would make you less secure. And maybe really really short ones would, but I've never been told to lengthen stirrups in any jump lesson but I have been told to shorten them ! For xc Harry Meade whacked mine up 3 holes from what I had been jumping in. Hurty ankles...
 
I've got twists in mine. Definitely need a new pair for christmas!

Whacking mine up definitely helped - though I'm still the master of the wobbly lower leg!

eta - yes Bernster - hurty ankles indeed :eek3:
 
I would say try shorter stirrups but also start thinking about your saddle. It looks like a gp and i think you need something more like a jump that will take you leg better.
If you shorten them up to much you will be over the front and have no where to go with your knee on the plus side it will encourage you to take more weight in your heels. This should help with keeping you secure as long as you dont start to grip with your knees.
I would shorten them, think weight in lower leg, heels down (notice not weight in heels, it will make your leg shoot forward) knee out so you dont grip and i wouldnt worry about getting out of the saddle to much at the moment and just soft hands and you should be fine. I would really look at getting a saddle that allows for your hip to thigh as thats whats stopping you getting your stirrups short.
 
I used to have a GP saddle and used to have to stirrups on the shortest for jumping (well lessons.. still cant properly jump) and the longest for dressage :) I must say, having them on the shortest for jumping did help me with my position :)
 
Thanks all, will use shorted leathers next time and see if it makes a difference!

fattylumpkin said:
Really impressed with your round in that vid OP, especially how you handled the little 'moment' there ;) I think I'd have been spitting sand.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I was really pleased with her despite the stop, it was only our 3rd jumping show and it felt more 'together' and flowing then previous rounds had been. The previous outing she was napping/stopping at everything in the first round (we got 18 pens :o ) and then I managed to coax her round in the next class but she was very green -

[video=youtube;LiqJ5meUz4A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiqJ5meUz4A[/video]

vam said:
I would say try shorter stirrups but also start thinking about your saddle. It looks like a gp and i think you need something more like a jump that will take you leg better.
If you shorten them up to much you will be over the front and have no where to go with your knee on the plus side it will encourage you to take more weight in your heels. This should help with keeping you secure as long as you dont start to grip with your knees.
I would shorten them, think weight in lower leg, heels down (notice not weight in heels, it will make your leg shoot forward) knee out so you dont grip and i wouldnt worry about getting out of the saddle to much at the moment and just soft hands and you should be fine. I would really look at getting a saddle that allows for your hip to thigh as thats whats stopping you getting your stirrups short.
Click to expand...

I hadn't really considered a jump saddle tbh. A dressage saddle is on my 'to buy' list but maybe a jump saddle would be a better option. I can't afford either at the moment anyway and I'm not sure I'd find one to fit her, it took months just to get a GP!
 
As vam has said I would be wondering if you can have them any shorter due to long legs. I have same issue, cured by jumping saddle which is fine for dressage too ;)

Also she is looking so much more forward and free, well done!
 
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