shorter stirrup places more bend in the knee, which also helps keep the lower leg back, and underneath the rider. The lower leg is a rider’s base of support and should be underneath the bulk of the rider’s body. A longer stirrup allows the lower leg to swing forward, which causes many new riders to ride out of balance, and behind the horse’s center of motion. Thus, the benefit of the shorter stirrup.
A shorter stirrup also allows a rider to lighten her seat, and the more consistent, solid position of the lower leg in a short stirrup can better control a young horse who is just learning leg cues.
A stirrup that falls at the ankle is solid middle ground. This length still allows a rider to get his or her seat out of the saddle to navigate a gate, work with the horse to step up onto a bridge, or even rope a cow. This slightly longer length is comfortable to most riders and a solid intermediate rider should still be able to keep his or her lower leg under the bulk of the body, and stay in balance.
Stirrups that fall below the ankle are seen on some experienced Dressage riders and cowboy types. A longer stirrup can ease pain in a rider’s hip or knee, but care should be taken that the stirrup is not so long that the rider has to “reach” for them, or that the heel cannot be comfortably held lower than the toe, which can be a safety issue.
Ideally, a rider’s shoulder, hip and heel should be in a vertical line at the halt or walk; and the rider’s knee and toe should have a similar vertical alignment. The final consideration––especially on long trail rides: what is comfortable for your horse and you? Which length best allows you to ride lightly, balanced, and in control, but does not cause muscle soreness over long hours in the saddle? I encourage you to try different lengths to see what works best for you. Happy trails!
ACTHA Monthly | July 2015 | 42
Trail
Talk
With
Lisa Wysocky
Lisa Wysocky is a horsewoman and clinician; a PATH instructor, mentor, and ESMHL; and the author of many books..
Find her at LisaWysocky.com
or on Facebook.
THE GREAT STIRRUP DEBATE
Depending on what discipline you ride and whom you ask, your stirrups should either hit above the ankle bone, at the ankle, or below the ankle. So which is correct? Actually, they all can be––at different times, and with different horses and riders.
Those who ride a hunt or forward seat typically ride with a shorter a stirrup because they need to get their fannies out of the saddle to get over a jump. But, inexperienced riders should also ride with a shorter stirrup. In riding, balance is everything. If a rider cannot get her butt out of the saddle with her legs underneath her, and then ride a few steps at the walk and trot without puling on the horse’s mouth or thumping back down into the saddle, then that rider is not riding in balance with her horse.
Riding out of balance means a higher likelihood of falling off, and of creating soreness in both horse and rider. A shorter stirrup places more bend in the knee, which also helps keep the lower leg back, and underneath the rider. The lower leg is a rider’s base of support and should be underneath the bulk of the rider’s body. A longer stirrup allows the lower leg to swing forward, which causes many new riders to ride out of balance, and behind the horse’s center of motion. Thus, the benefit of the shorter stirrup.
A shorter stirrup also allows a rider to lighten her seat, and the more consistent, solid position of the lower leg in a short stirrup can better control a young horse who is just learning leg cues.
A stirrup that falls at the ankle is solid middle ground. This length still allows a rider to get his or her seat out of the saddle to navigate a gate, work with the horse to step up onto a bridge, or even rope a cow. This slightly longer length is comfortable to most riders and a solid intermediate rider should still be able to keep his or her lower leg under the bulk of the body, and stay in balance.
Stirrups that fall below the ankle are seen on some experienced Dressage riders and cowboy types. A longer stirrup can ease pain in a rider’s hip or knee, but care should be taken that the stirrup is not so long that the rider has to “reach” for them, or that the heel cannot be comfortably held lower than the toe, which can be a safety issue.
Ideally, a rider’s shoulder, hip and heel should be in a vertical line at the halt or walk; and the rider’s knee and toe should have a similar vertical alignment. The final consideration––especially on long trail rides: what is comfortable for your horse and you? Which length best allows you to ride lightly, balanced, and in control, but does not cause muscle soreness over long hours in the saddle? I encourage you to try different lengths to see what works best for you. Happy trails!