ANYWAY....
I'm going to be blogging about stirrups. Stirrup irons are what you put your feet in to make your more balanced and stable. They aren't completely necessary- you can ride without stirrups if you wish (this is actually a good way to develop seat and leg muscles)- but most riders will ride with them almost all the time.
Stirrup irons are attached to stirrup leathers that hold the irons to the saddle. Stirrup leathers are adjustable so people with different leg sizes can use them. That comes with the question- which stirrup length is right for you?
To give you an idea of the standard stirrup length, there are two well known rules.
1. Put your hand on the stirrup bar (the bar on the saddle that the stirrup leather hangs from). Raise the stirrup so it is against your arm. The stirrup should fit snugly in your armpit. |
| Rule number one is shown in this picture. |
2. Sit in the saddle without putting your feet in the stirrups and let the stirrups hang next to your legs. The bottom of the stirrup iron should be next to your ankle.
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| Rule number two is shown in this picture. |
Some other factors to put into consideration:
How long are your legs? Obviously, if you have longer legs than someone you are going to need longer stirrups.What discipline do you ride? Western riders tend to ride with longer stirrups, while most english riders prefer theirs a bit shorter. Jumpers usually have shorter stirrups than other riders so it is easier to go into two point position over jumps. Dressage riders prefer longer stirrups than jumpers so they are able to give aids with their whole leg and use their seat more effectively.
What do you prefer? In the end, how long to have your stirrups is up to you. If you are new to riding, it will take some experimentation to figure out if you like riding with your stirrups longer or shorter. I personally prefer shorter stirrups, as I feel more comfortable and stabilized when they are shorter, but others prefer longer stirrups.
How do I adjust my stirrups?
This video will show you:That's all for now! Hopefully I'll be back soon to post more!
