keep loosing stirrups

[arctic mosquito]

what can i do about my stirrups?? i have them in good length, but they keep sliding off. It seems as if i never put any weight on them!! i've tried having them longer and shorter, but it always turns out the same! they keep sliding off! I've also tried to put more weight on them, and stand on them for real, but it just feels really unnatural for me... any suggestions?

[Miriam]

Does your feet keep coming out of the stirrup or is it the stirrup strap keeps coming off your saddle?

I had the same problem with my feet and it boiled down to the fact that I could have been using more pressure on one foot than the other or not putting my heels down. I bought the swivel stirrups (cannot remember the technical name) and I could feel when my heels were up.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

the most likley reason you are losing your stirrups is that
-your gripping with your knees causing your heels to come up
-or your heels just arn't down

instead of pushing and forcing the weight to your ball of the foot (that doesn't help much) try pulling your toes up. it helped me to think of it as 'pull your toes up' rather than 'heels down' than it should be easier to make your leg long and let your weight fall down to your heels. it basically takes A LOT of practice more than anything. it took me a long time to get things right, and even today once in a while i have a bad day and i can't keep my heels down.

[arctic mosquito]

ohh thanks!! i'll think about my heels! i remember my teacher always telling me to keep my heels down, until i bought boots. I noticed that she couldn't see how my heels really were in my boots because they're quite loose fit down there... i'll try keeping my heels down for real now!
thanks! :)

[virtuallyhorses]

I found that standing can be a really useful exercise both for keeping the heels down and loosening the knees. You need to be balanced in the trot and if you have a reliable horse in an arena you can knot your reins and stand at the trot with your arms folded or out to your sides. This will keep your heels down, weight in your stirrups and having to balance will make your ankles and knees act like springs as they should instead of gripping.

[Tootsie4U]

Try this too: Instead of thinking about pushing your heel down (usually results in tightening your leg=bad) think about pointing your toes up! Seems silly, but it works

[MyStIc139]

Iv had the same prob before and ure ideas are great
(whish id thought of them sooner:rolleyes: ) and maby they will help me in the future
Lolz thoooo its easier to say it then to do it......;)

[Piaffe]

You say your stirrups are a good length - they may be too long.

The bottom of the stirrup should reach your ankle when your feet are out of them and your legs are hanging long.

Try some work without stirrups to lengthen your leg and remember when riding WITH stirrups, not to force your heel down, just let the weight of your lower leg 'fall' into the stirrup/heel.

Most people tend to lose stirrups because they are too long!!