Overall Body Position

[maria9657]

I ride at a hunter/jumper stable and I have noticed in my lessons that everybody has a different way of sitting on the horse (I guess this is probably a pretty universal thing) . I looked at how I was sitting and noticed that compared to most everyone else in the class I sit very vertical with my feet under where my hips would be if I were standing.

I also noticed that most of them ride with their stirrups much shorter than I do (I usually ride with them at a length that when my legs are hanging straight down out of the stirrups my ankle is about in line with the bottom of the stirrup).

Are my stirrups too long perhaps?

and if you think they are is there an easy way of measuring how long they should be in comparison to the length of your leg.

Sorry I have no pictures.

Thanks

[Elvengirl]

Usually, when riding over fences, the stirrups are required to be shorter (the shortness usually depends on the size of the fence you are jumping) This is so that your leg can be more effectively on the horse when in two-point over a fence. Your heels will be further down and your toes turned out in order to have a good support base over fences. Although your stirrups will be shorter, you should still have a straight line from your ears, shoulders, hips and heels, which means you will have a much more pronounced bend in the knee, with the knee pushing downwards and the thigh rolling inwards. This is all to help secure the seat.
In Dressage, where a deep connected seat is needed, the legs are required to wrap around the horse and be in contact with as much of the horse as possible, a longer stirrup with the toes pointing forwards is most effective. What doesn't change is the line from ears, shoulders, hips and heels. This line is always important no matter what discipline!:)

edited for spelling

[Tangle]

Having your ankles under your hips is part of a good classical seat - it's meant to put you in a very balanced position on the horse. Well done for managing to acheive it :). To complete the picture you should be able to take the same vertical line through your ears, shoulders, hips and ankles. In some schools or with some instructors you'll see much more consistency - it depends what they focus on.

I don't think there is a wrong or right answer to the stirrup length question - it all depends on what you want to do and how well stretched you are. When I had a jumping lesson I put my stirrups up 2 to 3 holes from my dressage possition. From what you say your stirrups sound like they're at more of a dressage/flat work length than a jumping length - so if you're jumping they might be considered too long. Then again if it ain't broke, don't fix it ;).

Can you ask your instructor for their opinion? Your stirrup length may be making it harder than it needs to be to do what you're trying to do, but without seeing it's difficult to say.....

[Bay Mare]

Obviously it's difficult without photos but it sounds like you're sitting in more of a dressage position.

Your stirrups sound like they're the correct length for you and if you're comfortable then I would stick with it. Obviously if you were jumping you would shorten your stirrups as couple of holes and your position would be different, more angular. Is this how the others are sitting? Maybe it's because it's a hunting/jumping yard.

[maria9657]

Thanks so much, I will try to get a few pictures (the arena is pretty dark so the camera does not work to well but I can try)

At my lesson last night I looked in the mirrors at my position and then looked at some pictures of dressage riders, and I think you guys are right. I also asked my instuctor what she though and she said they they were a hole or two too long.

We are set to start jumping pretty soon so until then I think I will try to ride with them a bit shorter (just one hole at a time).

Thanks for the great advice.

[Colorado Sunset]

Definately put your stirups up for jumping id say, but not for just riding on the flat, if your feet are stable in such long stirrups i salute you!! hehe! Your line from you shoulders-hips-heels sounds perfect, many people ride with their feet far to forward, but sounds like you dont have this problem!! good for you!

Good luck on your jumping :) have lots of fun and id recomend for jumping putting your stirrups up 3ish holes.

Jo

[laura jeanne]

Maria
Don't you think that if you wait til you start jumping to shorten your stirrups that your whole position will be thrown off a bit? I also ride at a hunter/jumper stable and the instructor has our stirrups fairly short.

So when you ride to and away from the jump (in trot or canter) you won't feel comfortable if you are not used to the position. We also do not sit to the canter but keep in a kind of half seat. Maybe this is just because we are beginning but actually, even the more advanced riders ride in canter this way. It's certainly not the kind of seat I've seen in dressage anyway.

What do you think?

[Peace]

I ride at an h/j barn also, although there is no power on earth that could force me (or my lessonhorse, Boots, for that matter) to actually jump.:p I just like the instructor and the horses.

I ride with my stirrup the same relative length you do: bottom of stirrup even with my ankle when my legs hang straight. I think my stirrups still feel too short, although my instructor tells me they are not.

I've heard another way to measure is to put your fingertips where the stirrup leather attaches to the saddle, and the stirrup iron should come under your armpit.

[laura jeanne]

That's the same way my stirrups are- just to my ankle bone.

[Bay Mare]

Originally posted by laura jeanne
Maria
Don't you think that if you wait til you start jumping to shorten your stirrups that your whole position will be thrown off a bit? I also ride at a hunter/jumper stable and the instructor has our stirrups fairly short.

You could do some work in 'light seat' position and over trot poles with shorter stirrups but I wouldn't shorten your stirrups full stop! Many people spend ages working towards riding 'long'.

I only shorten my stirrups when I'm jumping (not very often at the moment) and put them up one hole for hacking. It's not something that I would do or would be comfortable doing all of the time.