Posted by Katie Riding without stirrups is a great exercise anyone can do to improve their riding posture - if done correctly. If done incorrectly, the rider can end up gripping excessively with their legs and even yanking on the horses mouth in an attempt to gain their seat and balance. This, in turn, becomes a bad experience for both horse and rider as the horse compensates for the riders riding faults and, as you mentioned, will start to rush or act up in another way. Since you've already had a bad experience, I'd suggest working on the lunge line with the horse. Your coach will control the horses motion, so all you have to do is sit there! Depending on your coaches preferences - and your own - you may try holding onto the front of the saddle with your hands, while your stirrups have been dropped, while the horse trots. This will help keep you in the saddle so you can feel the motion you should be sitting to. From there you can try only holding the front of the saddle with one hand, and then gradually working towards putting your hands on your hips. Through this entire lunge session, you should be thinking about sitting up nice and tall - not leaning forward, with a relaxed back. Your legs should remain in the same position as when you ride with stirrups - ankle gently flexed, with a toe to knee / hip to heel alignment. Your coach will also be able to suggest other exercises to help improve your balance (and your confidence). You'll find that after a successful lunge lesson, when you regain your stirrups, it will actually feel like the leathers are too short. This is what you should aim for. It means that your legs were relaxed enough to lengthen and gently wrap around the horse. And if all else fails... it's normal to fall off a horse, especially if you're nervous or learning something new. Just dust yourself off and get back on, providing you're okay. Even the worlds best riders fall off from time to time. You sound like a very determined person - I'm sure you'll do excellent! Take care, Katie
on 8/9/2006, 5:27 pm, in reply to "trotting without sturrups"
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Hi there,
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