Help with no stirrups

[Black_Topaz]

Some of you might remember me from my posts about how my heel was doing, well, its doing a lot better then it was and now I'm doing, oh, dare I say it, GREAT! At least until my instructor tells us to cross our stirrups over. Riding doesn't scare me, jumping doesn't scare me, but anything without stirrups scares the living daylights out of me! I always feel like I have no control, that I'm bouncing, and several times I believe I've been pretty darn close to falling off. I can't get myself to not tense up, because the minute I stop being tense, I start to slip off.
Now, it probably doesn't help that right now I have a fairly large sore on the inside of my leg because of a bad combination of bouncing, chaps and pant seams, BUT once it gets healed I would really like some imput on how you guys think that I could
-stop bouncing
-stop tensing
-stop being scared

Thanks in advance!
Kya

[jovi_y2k2]

talk to your instructor and explain how scared you feel when you do no stirrups work. See if you can just stick to walking to gain your confidence and do exercises like arm stretching, touching toes, knees up etc also lunging without stirrups in walk and building up to trot may help to focus your attention on your balance rather than having to worry about what the horse is doing. also try breathing exercises to help you to relax by breathing deeply and steadily your body will relax more easily
hope this helps!

[kedwards]

From the sound of it, it's your fear that's likely your biggest obstacle.

For what it's worth. Except in a few tricky scenarios (e.g., with a horse that is bucking or falling), the stirrups do little or nothing to hold a rider on. However, if it makes you tense to be without them, you may grip with your knees and thighs, which effectively pulls your out of the saddle so that you can't stay secure and balanced.

Would your instructor be willing to put you on the longe? With your hands free, you can reach down (outside hand on front of saddle and inside hand on the back) and pull yourself deeper into the saddle to get the feeling. It may also help to stick to little bouts of stirrupless work at a time. For example, try removing them just before asking for a halt.

[horsemad]

I know that feeling! I tend to be tense when I first trot without stirrups, but then after a few strides I can usually relax into it. But I can easily tense up again - I can be working quite happily without stirrups when all of a sudden I think 'Oh, I'm trotting without stirrups, what if Cindy spooks or something' - and the minute that thought comes into my head, I start bouncing about again! So I grab hold of the front of the saddle for a few strides and try to relax. I've also found that counting 'one, two' in time with the horse's stride can take your mind off the fact that you are trotting without stirrups.

[Em 1]

Hi, I think everyone gets scared riding without stirrups at some time. Even though stirrups don't hold you on, it feels like it so taking them away feels horrible!

You don't say if you are riding your own horse or at a riding school. If it's at a school could you ask to be put on another horse? Some horses have really bouncy trots that are difficult to sit to just because of the energy you have to absorb. Riding sitting trot on smooth armchair horse is really easy - you don't bounce so you don't get scared, so you don't get tense, so you don't bounce etc! This gives you the chance to get used to the feeling and exactly how you move your back etc. Then when you are on a slightly more bouncy horse you'll find it easier.

As jovi_y2k2 said, do make sure you're breathing! Count, sing, say your times tables, anything to get you breathing. Finally, check where are you looking when you are without stirrups. Without realising you are almost certainly looking down and off to one side. This will tip you forwards and sideways which will make you less secure. Keep telling yourself to look up and straight ahead - maybe choose a point on the wall/fence and keep looking at that.

Don't worry, it will come with practice just like you sorted out your heels!

[tiddles]

hey!

I never had any trouble working without stirrups (only up to the trot) until I had a lesson on a really - and I mean really bouncy horse. I only went 2 paces but I couldn't hold myself there. To cut a long story, I ended up staring the horse his face. He looked as if he was saying "well you can't blame it on me!" Anyway, after trying it on another horse, I just seem to relax after a few strides - and it really helps my position. I usually have perfect position the rest of the lesson.

[Black_Topaz]

Alright, so today I went riding, and I thought about what you all said, and I think I did better then normal, but I have a problem with my instructor. Sometimes she's great, I understand what she means, and then I get better, but at other times she just tells me what to do, with out any explanation how. For example, the first time I cantered she told me just to squeeze Mike with my legs, he did canter eventually, but thats not the right way to go about it. Then, the first time I jumped she just told me to go over the jump, which I did, but I felt like I should have gotten a bit of instruction beforehand. Then she contradicts herself, she'll say "change the rein diagonally across the ring, with a very loose rein, at the walk." so I loosen my reins way up, so I'm not tempted to use them, and try to do what she asks. I do it, badly, so she tells me to walk towards her, and then screams at me because my reins are too long! She'll say, "I don't mean to sound cruel, but you need to fall off, or you won't take your position seriously!" but, since I haven't ever fallen off, wouldn't that mean I was doing something right? I'm just so confused by her, and everytime I go to say something like this post to her she dimisses it as my fault, is it?
Mike is a 22 year old school horse, who belongs to my instructor, 22 as far as I know, is pretty old for a horse, and he doesn't go very fast, which is understandable right? Since he's getting on in years? I'll admit, it is nice when he goes faster, buts its usually only after my instructor runs at him screaming and waving her hands. Today I tried to do exactly what she said, and when I did it "right" I felt so terrible, because I had to kick him with my calves to make him go fast enough, and I had to pretend that he was some kind of machine, only there to do my bidding, and that felt even worse.
Like I said though, she is only like this half the time, the other half she is great and tells me exactly how to do something, and when I ask nicely, Mike goes faster, but today, nothing worked.
So, I ask you in all of your infinite wisdom (I truly believe that, I'm not being sarcastic) what can I do to bear with this instructor through the bad times?
Thanks
Kya

[Wally]

Did your instructor ask for a long rein or a loose rein? There is a difference! But if it's not made clear to you how are you supposed to know? To me a loose rein is just that, washing lines!

Don't kick carry a schooling whip, 22 isn't all that old, we have one or two near that age and still have quite a bit of go in them. It all depends upon the horse and how he has been ridden and whether he has become bitter cynical and twisted.


I'd ask questions, if she said loose rein as her to clarify, you are not being difficult but if you don;t understand exactly what is being asked of you ASK back. Mabe ask if there's another way she could explain it.

[DollyDimples]

I so know how you feel about feeling uneasy when riding without stirrups. My last lesson (9 years ago, when i was 14) involved my usual lovely easy ride "cherry" being double booked .. i drew the short straw & ended up on this massive horse called "boysie"who was way too uptight for me to handle (i'd not been riding long, probably a year!) .. Well the lesson started off all fine 'n dandy -- until it was "no stirrups time" .. well to cut a long story short a squirrel ran in front of boysie, he reared .. i clung on .. then we went off into canter around the school -- me bouncing around all over the place, could i slow him down :eek: Until i just couldn't hold on any longer & i bounced off (his hoof clipped my hat!) ... 4hrs later still in casualty being checked out!

I am going to start riding again as soon as my ankle is mended (martial arts mishap) .. after 9 years it's going to be weird -- but i can't wait! And when i find a school & start lessons i am definately going to voice my worries about work without stirrups as it's now lodged in my mind as a negative thing that will end up with my on my back biting the sand.. :rolleyes: I reckon i will be nervous when it comes to the time to do "no stirrups" but i am going to try my hardest to relax & work through it!

[Black_Topaz]

Tomorrow I am riding (week long holiday at the barn last week) and I have a plan, I might just end off worse than I am, but I think it'd be worth it to try. So, when it comes to no-stirrups time, I think (somebody call me on this if its a stupid idea!) I will just say, "Could I do it in rising trot, to make me feel more secure, then later work up to sitting trot? Because, I have found that I feel more in control in rising trot without stirrups rather than sitting." Does anyone believe this to be a terible idea, and want to race at me, tie me down, and duct-tape my mouth closed because it's the most irrational thing you've ever heard? Because, if it is, frankly, I'd rather be shot down by you guys rather than my instructor and everyone else in my lesson!
To me, unexperienced though I am, this seems like a reasonable request, since something about rising trot makes me feel SOOO much safer and in control than sitting trot, and I can do it without stirrups, allbeit probably not well, but it would be better than my sitting trot at this point. I would appreciate your imput!
Thanks
Kya

[NVA]

Get pregnant! OK, a bit drastic I know but I'm not allowed to do any work without stirrups any more which is wonderful! (Before I get any outraged responses - I'm not really recommending this as a general way forward but it's worked for me!)

The only more constructive advice I can give is to agree with Em1 - it really depends on the horse, and if you can get one you feel comfortable on then it makes a world of difference so that you can progress. The horse I used to ride at my old yard was like an armchair, and trot and canter without stirrups on her was much nicer than with. The one I'm on now is incredibly wide and bouncy, and as soon as the stirrups go I bounce, tense, bounce more etc. The only other thing that I've found that helps is to slow the trot right down (sometimes easier said than done), as bringing it back under control sometimes helps.
Good luck and if you work out the secret then please share it with me!
N

[TBEventer2002]

Just a note, I feel much more secure riding without stirrups when I am riding bareback. If I drop my stirrups I feel like I am sliding all over the place (partially to blame is the fact that I need a new saddle LOL). In fact, during school, I was afraid to canter Rumby without stirrups, then about a week or two ago I hopped up on him bareback for a quick ride (first time riding him bareback, too!) and asked for a canter and everything!

Doing no-stirrups work on the lunge is very helpful, but I find it difficult because you are always having to move your body to accomodate for the constant turning.

Maybe have your instructor lead the horse in hand (walking and trotting) around the arena so you can experience no-stirrups on a straight line as well as in corners? Not many will do this, maybe you could ask a friend to do that during your lesson?

[Torie]

It sounds to me as though having some lessons on the lunge would help you tremenduosly, as you would only need to concentrate on you and trying to control the horse. I think everybody at some point, especially to begin with, with riding without stirrups. On the lunge I'd be tempted to take away the reins as well, to make sure that you are not relying on your hands for balance and it will really help you gain an independant seat - you needn't move out of walk if you don't feel confident enough.

In walk try to relax your seat and legs as much as possible, really try to strech your legs as far as they can go and think of pulling up through your ribcage so that you don't sit like a sack of potato spuds! I found that pulling up gently on the pommel (the front bit) of the saddle can really help. Whilst you're on the lunge try to do as many excercises as you can - moving your legs away from the saddle from the thighs, as well as swinging your legs back and forwards and pulling them right up into the saddle so that you are sitting like a jockey will help your position and seat. Also swinging your arms from side to side, around in circles, putting them straight up and out in front of you all helps with your balance. As does touching your toes, your horses mane, forelock, ears etc not only help improve your balance but also makes you feel more confident and is fun too!

When you do begin to trot, keep the trot as slow as possible and try to absorb as much as the movement through your seat and lower back as possible, keep your legs as relaxed and try not to grip through your knees or thighs as this will all make your seat less secure and make you bounce all over the place. Keep you head up and looking ahead of you and remember to breathe deeply to stop yourself from tensing up, talking/singing to yourself outloud will all help keep your body and therefore your horse more relaxd. Also, trying to do too much in sitting trot can actually make you more rigid and tense in the saddle and therefore make you bounce around more.

The best of luck and remember, riding takes time to master and we all struggled with things like this at first - practise makes perfect!

Torie xx

[bre-bre]

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