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Post by melissa1787 on Dec 27, 2007 19:33:40 GMT 1
Stupid question, am rather imbarrased actually, :-[ Can anyone help me. :( I have since starting riding 20 yrs ago never ever felt my stirups are the same length. I have new Stirup leathers but still feel one is longer than the other. does anyone have any suggestions as to get over this age old problem with me. ??? I am so odd! ::) HELP! HELP! HELP! PLEASE!
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Post by Casper on Dec 27, 2007 19:47:58 GMT 1
Could you be sitting ever so slightly over to one side more than the other? Might only be fractional, simply a matter of having just a tad more weight in one seatbone than the other. (Most of us if we are honest don't sit absolutely straight - although I'm sure there'll be an outcry from certain quarters about how shocking/dreadful/horrific etc that admission is)...
The other thing is whether your own pelvis or back could be slightly misaligned, making it impossible for you to sit absolutely straight. Some chiropractic work could help with that possibly.
Or it might be that one of your legs is slightly longer than the other. It does happen.
The only other thing I can think of is if your horse is slightly one sided and needs some chiropractic work, or if your saddle needs re-flocking perhaps?
I know there's lots of waffle in my post but hope that it helps!
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cubic
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,286
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Post by cubic on Dec 27, 2007 19:50:22 GMT 1
Are you sure your legs are the same length? Actual leg length (the length of the bones in your leg) is measured from the point of your hip to the inside ankle bone, and functional leg length (which includes any effects of tilting from the spine, muscle or pelvic differences) from your belly button to the inside ankle bone - it's quite difficult to measure yourself though!
I had a similar problem and discovered my pelvis was tilted - a few crunches by a chiro and I wasn't uneven any more.
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Post by tamsinextra on Dec 27, 2007 19:54:04 GMT 1
re leg lengths. this is worth checking. mine are the same length but not because both parts (above and below the knee) are the same length on both legs!. my knees are at different heights (wearing trousers is a must!I ride with different length stirrup leathers to get my knees at the same level or leathers the same length to get my heels at the same level. I hadn't noticed my weird legs until I started to ride aged 30!
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Post by melissa1787 on Dec 27, 2007 21:21:02 GMT 1
Tried measuring my legs and they seem the same length. As for pelvis...who knows? The horse is fine physically... and saddle is new and been fitted by master saddler. Sometimes though I can feel stirups are level and other times feel they are not. I believe that the weight distrubution maybe a big factor. Do you think a lesson would help me?
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Post by Casper on Dec 27, 2007 21:27:06 GMT 1
Would definitely be worth trying a lesson Melissa - it is good to have another pair of eyes sometimes, as well as some good instruction. Something else to try could be to get someone to tape you riding? Great to have that visual check sometimes.
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Post by misty on Dec 27, 2007 21:43:27 GMT 1
Have a walk and a trot without stirrups. This usually balances you up (or you fall off!). When riding a stange horse my pedals never feels right so I ride without and then get them sorted.
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Cheryl Walmsley
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Post by Cheryl Walmsley on Dec 27, 2007 22:05:58 GMT 1
Good tip misty!!!! I swear by no stirrups work but can't often do it with Sherb!
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Post by melissa1787 on Dec 28, 2007 10:21:13 GMT 1
will try the no stirup method. if i fall off, as not done it for ages, i'll scream and blame u all. lol. NOT! Thanks
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Post by MirandaSophie on Dec 28, 2007 10:36:56 GMT 1
Has anyone stood infront of you and said "your Left stirrup is longer" ? is it ACTUALLY longer or does it just feel longer ?
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Post by iceberg on Dec 28, 2007 10:57:32 GMT 1
I always have this problem, as my right leg is about 1/2 inch shorter than my left. When I wear trousers the right leg is always longer.
When riding it is hard to sit straight and keep my right stirrup in the correct place. So I quite often have my right stirrup one hole shorter than the left.
Also I swap the leathers around, as the left one does get stretched through mounting.
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Post by melissa1787 on Dec 28, 2007 15:13:26 GMT 1
Hi, To mirandasophie, yes I have had many a person stand infront of me and tell me when they are level or not. However I often will disagree. One riding instructor I once had used to say ride how you feel comfy, even if one stirup is slightly longer.
To iceberg, I do not think my legs are different in length. So if they were I would at least have an answer. As for swaping around leathers, I do do that, yes.
Thanks to all so far.
Melissa1787
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Post by melissa1787 on Dec 30, 2007 15:38:43 GMT 1
Hey, I did the no stirup thing and did not fall off but then was rather wobbly too. Try it again sometime soon.
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