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Post by Sophie and James on Dec 4, 2011 19:30:53 GMT 1
My new horse is only five and I haven't ridden for a long time since my last horse died 5 years ago. Every time I ride now it feels like I'm struggling with my balance and his. My instructor has told me that I am tipped to the right and should counteract this by riding with my left stirrup one hole longer than the right.
I find it difficult to understand how being even more unlevel will help my balance. I feel uncomfortable questioning my instructor and feel even more uncomfortable that a part of me doesn't really believe her as I feel this undermines our relationship.
Can anyone tell me if riding with one stirrup longer can help me and why.
Thanks
Sophie
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calekio
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,235
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Post by calekio on Dec 4, 2011 19:37:42 GMT 1
Why don't you ask her how this will help you to be balanced?
how old are the stirrup leathers as well... as sometimes they can stretch and hence they can be slightly different lengths to make you unlevel.
One of the kids who rides my ponies rides with one stirrup longer than the other.. she is more comfortable like this and doesn't seem to effect the pony at all.
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Post by julz on Dec 4, 2011 19:54:38 GMT 1
I ride unlevel My right leg is an inch shorter (used to be 3 ) than my left... so if I rode with equal stirrups I would feel that I was being pulled over to the left (i have fallen off because of that) so now I ride with the right stirrup on hole 3, and the left on hole 4, to counteract the balance. Hope that helps
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Post by Spirit of Wales on Dec 4, 2011 19:57:02 GMT 1
I think what she is trying to achieve is for your to tip slightly on the opposite leg to conter balance your uneveness. I suffer with rheumatoid arthritis and when I first started riding again I too rode with one stirrup longer than the other which helped to stretch my muscles in my weak leg which in time did balance out my uneveness and now I ride with both stirrups the same length.
Give it a try, it won't affect your horse with his balance when there is only one hole difference, and hopefully your weaker side will soon balance itself out. Lots of stretching exercises and strengthening of your core muscles, especially yoga can also help.
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Post by specialized on Dec 4, 2011 19:58:22 GMT 1
Try swapping the leathers over to see if they are different lengths first. Few people ride straight and few horses go straight, you may be unbalanced or the horse may be throwing the saddle to one side. Does it happen when others ride him with this saddle? If so then the saddle fit needs assessing. Oddly enough you may find lengthening the left stirrup will send you off to the right even more, and shortening the left stirrup may bring the saddle more central if you decide to follow that route.
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Post by Sophie and James on Dec 4, 2011 22:43:53 GMT 1
OK thanks everyone for the replies. My leathers are brand new Bates dressage leathers and they are definitely the same length. I don't let anyone else ride my precious boy except my instructor. I know I am a bit unlevel on the ground and have been working on this with James Shaw's Tai Chi exercises so hopefully I'll get better. It seems very exaggerated when I am on the horse. Perhaps I always rode like this on my other horse but no-one ever pointed it out and I never noticed. It's a tricky business this horse riding.
I will persist with the uneven leathers and stop being so bolshy with my poor instructor.
Sophie
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Post by jules26 on Dec 4, 2011 23:47:18 GMT 1
Lots of people have one leg longer than the other - apparently.
I experienced the same as you - always feeling like I was tipping one way. My saddle often felt slightly to one side even though my instructor couldn't see it. I had the saddle checked - it was fine but still didn't feel 'square/level'. Then I had is his back checked and found he was out of alignment. Of course that is not to say your horse is!
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Post by specialized on Dec 5, 2011 11:40:47 GMT 1
I don't let anyone else ride my precious boy except my instructor. Sophie Is your instructor level when riding him in the same saddle? If so you can focus on you rather than him as the cause, and yes a lot of people do have one leg longer than the other but it is often because their hips are slightly out - perhaps a visit to an osteopath or chiro might help.
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Post by outoftheblue on Dec 5, 2011 12:20:47 GMT 1
e had endless problems with my grandaughter's pony's saddle slipping round - until she started riding ith one stirrup longer than the other on the suggestion of the saddler. She is comfortable - the saddle doesn't slip and as her Mum (my daughter) is a chiropracter I guess there is no problem with ther back. Her brother however rides the same pony in the same saddle very happily with even stirrups! Give it a go.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2011 12:37:26 GMT 1
Just a thought from personal experience... If you are tipping to the right, you may very well be riding with more weight to the left anyway, so lengthening that stirrup could just mean you struggle to keep your foot in it.
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Post by julz on Dec 5, 2011 19:36:52 GMT 1
Take saddle off the horse, have someone hold him/her and make sure horse is standing square on all fours... then carefully, stand behind horse on a step/mountain block and look at horses back and shoulders.... if there are any atrophies you will see if from above him.. If there is this could be causing you to tip forwards, and you'll need to get the saddle recitified before you can sort your own seat.
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Post by curlytobiano on Dec 8, 2011 21:48:37 GMT 1
Hm I think Sophie and James this is a difficult one! Your instructor could well be right and there are lots of people on here saying that it may be worth trying. On the other hand I think it is worth listening to your instincts - if you feel a bit dubious about doing it, is there something else you might check out first? Have you had your horse seen by back person / physio etc? He could be the one sided one, and might need help with that. I think if you ignore your instincts and later find there is something he needs dealing with, you will feel horrible about it! (Speaks from experience!) good luck, let us know how you get on.
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Post by shan on Dec 8, 2011 21:55:31 GMT 1
My stirrups always feel like one's shorter when my pelvis is tilted - I just go and see my osteopath and she sorts me out. Not the best way of assessing my skeletal health, but at least I know!
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auburnalia
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Post by auburnalia on Dec 11, 2011 19:25:55 GMT 1
I sometimes ride with my left stirrup one hole longer as my knee is quite stiff and it and my ankle can start to hurt, weirdly enough though it seems only to happen when I hack, not when I ride "properly" as I think I force myself into the correct position to the detriment of my body/joints, however I ride much longer for lessons so think this helps too. If I were you I would ride one hole longer, I think it will actually even up the wonkyness if that makes sense as it will stop you tipping, once you have it sorted for a while you could always try it level again and see if you have fixed the problem? Or better still ride with no stirrups!!! ;D Bowen therapy is amazing for sorting out joints etc....... of course, only if you actually go.
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booboo
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Post by booboo on Dec 13, 2011 0:27:43 GMT 1
I was going to say what Shan said.
I know I need an oseteopath MOT when I start loosing a stirrup. Tendancy to have a twist in my pelvis with one leg a bit longer than the other. So a session with the oesteo sorts me out.
Defo worth a go IMO
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