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Discussion on Can't stay in my stirrups...
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Posted on Friday, Sep 8, 2000 - 7:21 pm:
Can anybody offer advice? I recently have started "drifting" in or our of my stirrups during the trot. I am wearing Ariats, and I did not used to have this problem. It happens with every horse, every saddle, whatever length. I a trying to put more weight in my stirrups, but still find my feet are bouncing out. I have developed some sort of bad habit- any ideas out there?
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Posted on Friday, Sep 8, 2000 - 8:12 pm:
I can't wait to hear the replies to this one. I have the same exact problem. I'm a new rider and it is very frustrating when I'm trying to learn to trot & my feet bounce out of the stirrups. I end up stopping my horse & I think he's getting pretty frustrated, too. It doesn't happen as much when I try to sit the trot, but when it comes to posting, forget it. I've shortened the stirrups, tried putting more weight in them. I've tried everything short of gum on the soles & super glue! 
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 9, 2000 - 1:55 am:
You might try going back to a two-point position at the trot until your lower leg stabilizes. Even trotting small cavelletti in two point. Then add posting to the trot. If you are pinching your knee too much it can cause your lower leg to ride up. My first though was to try shortening your stirrup leather, but it sounds like you tried that which makes me think knee pinching or thigh gripping. Also, Sally Swift's book on Centered Riding is excellent and I've found that her imagery helps all types of riding. What type of riding? Hunt seat, dressage, or western?
Don't know if this gives any insight but maybe others have better advice.
Velcro?
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 9, 2000 - 8:53 am:
I look forward to hearing others comments on this one - they usually have excellent exercises to try...
In the meantime here is my checklist of things to ask yourself (and correct)
1)Am I looking up? you should be.
2)Am I breathing regularly? you should be.
3)Are my shoulders straight and square? They should be...but not 'up at your ears' (see #2)
4)Are my elbows at my side? They should be
5)Are my butt muscles tight? They shouldn't be
6)Do I feel the saddle under my butt? You should.
7)Can I feel my seat bones on the saddle? You should.
8)Is my pelvis tilted forward or back? It should be tilted slightly back. (see #7)
9)Is my lower back sore/achy/screaming in pain? It shouldn't before,during or after a ride. (see #1 - #8 and look into stretching exercises)
10)Are my thighs tense? They shouldn't be.
11a)Am I leaning forward? You shouldn't be, but keep in mind that what is considered 'leaning forward' will change with your saddle /discipline /activity.
11b)Do I feel that if the horse were to disappear from under me, that I would be able to stand on the ground, in this exact same position? You should.
12)Have I stretched my leg down and around my horse as much as possible? You should have.
13)Is my lower leg tense or tight? It shouldn't be.
14)Am I obsessing about this? You shouldn't. It will come with time and practice.
Good luck!
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 9, 2000 - 12:01 pm:
You come out of the stirrups because you're raising (tensing) your leg(s) in response to your desire to hang on when your horse picks up any speed at all.
When you develop an independent seat, this nasty little habit will go away.
Do much riding without stirrups. Take longe lessons. If one leg misbehaves more than the other, consciously think about putting more weight on the seat bone of the "flighty" side. Keep your heels down.
I thought this category was for "western" riding???? Doesn't sound like that's what we're talking about, with the references to posting (although I know it's possible in some western saddles) and so forth.
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 9, 2000 - 1:58 pm:
Cheryl - I loved your post, it really covered everything.
I particularly agree with your point 11[b]. I always find this particularly relevant, as I have the problem of losing my stirrups at sitting trot if I have had a long break from riding, usually due to accidents!! I think one's lower leg is then too far forward, regardless of the position of the knee, and it is only when the leg [and rest of body] settle back into a "standing" position, that everything falls into place.
Tammy - I don't see how you can lose your stirrups at the posting trot, as your weight should then be in your heels!?! Try doing the posting trot with no stirrups [excellent for inner thigh muscles and for making sure you don't thump down on the horse's back]. Remember you must only rise out of the saddle as much as the horse's gait "throws" you out, which is really only an inch or so. If you learn to be proficient at this without stirrups, it will be a piece of cake with stirrups.
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 9, 2000 - 5:30 pm:
Hi,
I do ride western, but everyone around here (where I live) makes a big deal about posting, that I thought I would give it a try. I got lucky with buying my old used western saddle. I'm not sitting in a chair; my heels, hips & shoulders are pretty much in alignment.
My trainer had started me on a bareback pad w/o stirrups at the trot. I need to invest in one of those. Unfortunately, due to finances, I had to DrOp my trainer for a while. I do have a lot of people who can help me with my riding though. I'm striving to develop an independent seat and will try all suggestions. Thanks for you help everyone!
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 9, 2000 - 7:42 pm:
I am also riding western, and trying not to post as my trainer told me to stop it and learn to keep my seat. My horse is a big QH- about 16 hands, maybe more, and a BUMPY trot. But I have this problem with my husbands smaller paint as well. I thank you for the responses, and I will try them this evening. Any more advice will be heeded also!!
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 9, 2000 - 7:59 pm:
Sitting trot: Remember that your job is to stick to the saddle as it moves with the horse's back. To do this, you move your seat bones more under you by contracting your abdominal muscles. If you bounce, try to lean back from the hips--this makes you feel more stable and allows you to feel the motion, which will eventally help you figure out what your body needs to do.
This is like trying to teach bicycle riding by just "telling" someone how to do it.
Tammy, I envy you your nice western saddle. I keep looking, but the good oldies around here were built for much narrower horses than mine. I haven't seen any of the new ones that would ever let you out of a chair seat.
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 14, 2000 - 11:13 am:
I'm a little late coming in on this (only behind in my email by about 800 messages (grin)), but I thought I'd stick my two cents in. I agree with almost everything everyone has said, but I wanted to add that many riders try to do a sitting trot through brute force. In other words, they try to hold themselves in the saddle by gripping with their legs and their behinds. The sitting trot is more an example of relaxation and balance. The hips and waist need to be relaxed so they can follow the movement of the trot. You need to keep in mind that the trot is not an up and down motion, but more a forward and back/side to side motion which makes sense if you think about how the horse moves in the trot. If you're horse will allow it, try to close your eyes for a few moments and just feel the motion. When you start to bounce, think about your legs, waist and hips. If you're legs are gripping and/or your waist & hips aren't relaxed, you'll be all over the place
For the posters in the group, if when you're trying to post, you're trying to come straight up in you're stirrups you'll find it's hard to keep your balance. I tell my riders it more like a pelvic thrust than a movement through the knee. Also, the post is not a mechanical movement. It should be in response to the horse pushing you forward and slightly up, so be careful not to come up too high in the post, but, as with the sitting trot, feel the motion of the horse. Be sure to post off your heel not your toe. I don't encourage new posters to work without stirrups, because I think it encourages them to pinch with their knees (although there are lots of people who would disagree with me). If you think you need more leg strength, buy a beach ball and squeeze it. I've found it develops just as much leg strength and doesn't mess with how your leg operates on the horse when your first learning. Once your leg position is more natural, no stirrup work can be very beneficial for balance exercises.
Hope this helps!
Nancy
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 14, 2000 - 1:01 pm:
Some other thoughts to add:
If the only thing you do is ride at a walk for about 10 minutes without stirrups, you will find the gentle movement of the horse helps to stretch your legs a bit.
Also, as a test for leg position (which helps keep stirrups) see if you can stand and balance in your stirrups - first at a halt, then at a walk, then at a trot. When you are balanced, you will find your legs in a nice position - try to mimic that while riding seated.
Make sure your stirrups are the same length, exactly. Measure and add an in-between hole if you need to.
If you are losing your stirrups, they also could be too long for you, or your level of riding skill. Try raising them a hole and see if it is helpful.
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 11:07 am:
Hello everyone,
my stepdaughter had the same problem with loosing her stirrups in a trot. I decided to put her on the lounge line and had her exercise holding her arms out to the sides and move them in circles etc while trotting, it helped her a lot.
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 11:43 am:
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that I finally sat my horses choppy trot. (My other horse has a smooth trot, and it is easy to sit.) It happened quite by accident. I quit thinking of trying to sit, but let things just happen. Eveo was right, if you lean back slightly at the hips, it helps A LOT. Hopefully it wasn't a fluke, and I can recreate what happened yesterday. Thanks for all the info.
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 17, 2001 - 1:00 am:
I'm a beginner rider also, and it REALLY works if you keep your heels DOWN !
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 1, 2001 - 6:05 pm:
In response to all of this excellent advice.....I have only one thing to add...and that is try riding bareback a bit. Not at a trot, but at a nice slow walk. Grab the main and hoist yourself up. Do not use a pad or a bridle/bit. Walk the horse around (preferrably in an arena) very slowly. When you do this you get the feel for the horse and the way his or her body moves and they way your body should naturally move with the motion of the horse. After a few times around the arena you will discover that your heels are down and staying there. Just and idea. It really worked well for me.
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