losing stirrups while trotting

[ZELDAMELDA]

Hi,

Sometimes, while I'm trotting, I don't feel secure because the stirrups keep coming out from under me. I know I have the length right because my trainer has said so and it looks right. I'm short (5'2") and had to get holes punched to the very top so stirrups could fit. But what am I doing wrong that they don't feel secure? I noticed sometimes that my heels aren't down and when I put them down, it still doesn't feel right and they'll eventually go up with toes down istead. Now when I wear my heavier boots (ones I use for working around barn), I don't seem to have that problem. Could it be the shoe? Maybe I need stirrup pads? The boots I use for riding are supposed to be better suited for riding, they're not as thick and heavy heeled as my work boots.

Oh yeah, when I rode this week, I noticed that I after the first day of trotting around, I got a bruise on my inside right knee. It hurts! My knee is rubbing on something on the side of saddle. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, please help!

Thought I could get answers before my lessons which isn't until next week.

[clurly_wurly]

Sometimes I find that my feet slip out of stirrups if there are no rubber treads on them meaning that I have very little grip in the stirrups. You could maybe buy a pair of these as they are not very expensive, (only cost a few pounds in the U.K.)

The bruise on the inside of you knee sounds to me like you are gripping onto the saddle with your knees and there is something digging into them below the saddle. Instead of gripping with your knees try to let your legs relax, almost dangle, and sit more deep into the saddle. You could maybe try a few minutes without stirrups at the start of your lesson to try and relax you and make your legs become "longer".

Claire

[bexj]

Originally posted by clurly_wurly

The bruise on the inside of you knee sounds to me like you are gripping onto the saddle with your knees and there is something digging into them below the saddle. Instead of gripping with your knees try to let your legs relax, almost dangle, and sit more deep into the saddle. You could maybe try a few minutes without stirrups at the start of your lesson to try and relax you and make your legs become "longer".

And it will all help to keep your feet in the stirrups. Your trainer should be working with you to lengthen and relax your leg, open your hips and you will then find keeping your stirrups is easier

[Grace O'Malley]

I finally figured out that my tendency to lose the right stirrup at the trot was because I was gripping with my knees. I've been trying to correct that by working on things I've read on this board: keeping my lower legs softly against the horse's sides, relaxing my ankles and letting my weight drop through my heels (but without standing in the stirrups). I haven't been taking lessons lately, so I've only been practicing out on hacks, and mostly at the walk. But I've gotten so I can hold a 2-point position to climb a hill comfortably--and when I glance down at my knees they're not clenched to the saddle.

Progress, slowly but surely ;)

Grace