HELP.....me get my balance

Shotgun93 · 01-03-2006, 09:44 AM

Catching stirups = drop you stirrup and practice picking it back up with out having to stop or look down. Comes in really handy when you are flying through a cross country jump and loose your stirrup.

Doing it in an english saddle would be best, but you can do it in a western saddle, either one will help you find your balance.

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 10:25 AM

Ok, it looks like I am going to give riding in an english saddle a try for a while and start the exercises that Shotgun suggested. One more question......Any quick tips keeping my "tail" in this saddle? LOL

I might as well do it correctly if I am going to do it.

Shotgun93 · 01-03-2006, 10:30 AM

Sit in your heels. If you keep your weight in your heels, you'll find it easier to balance.
When you have your feet in the stirrups, make sure that the stirrup is on the ball of your foot and that you have your foot on the inside of your stirrup. A lot of people will tell you to keep your foot on the outside, but put your foot in both positions and have someone try to move your leg around. You'll find that you are a lot steadier with your foot on the inside.

Just like riding bareback, balance on your seat bone and thighs, it's more of a balance than a squeeze to hold on.

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 10:33 AM

You're being great Shotgun. What is the inside and the outside of the stirrup. I dont think I have that on my western saddle.

Shotgun93 · 01-03-2006, 10:50 AM

Yes you do, hang on, I'll illustrate....

Shotgun93 · 01-03-2006, 10:59 AM

I just mean where your foot sits in the stirrup - towards the inside:

Or towards the outside:

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 11:03 AM

Oh yeah, well, hmm. I never thought about where my foot is in the stirrup. But now that I think about it i guess its just always in the middle. Very interesting. So the inside would be closest to the horse??

Friesiangirl · 01-03-2006, 11:07 AM

ride bareback for a while, but take it slow if your unsure, there isn't a horn to grab onto

Shotgun93 · 01-03-2006, 11:13 AM

Yep, it should be closer to the horse. I have always been told the opposite, then I went to a clinic with the O'Connors and they said that you should have them on the inside. After they did the demo of having someone trying to move your leg around with your foot in both positions, it made more sense to do it this way.

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 11:21 AM

Well I will definately pay attention to that from now on. I guess it was one of those things that I just really never thought about.

Thanks for all your help Shotgun. If you think of anything else let me know. I wont get to ride today because it is raining here, but will start with everything on Wednesday. I will let you know what happens. I think I am very nervous about the english saddle and I am not sure why because I am ok riding bareback in the arena. Dont know if I would try some of those exercises bareback, but maybe I can work up to that.

01-03-2006, 09:44 AM	#11
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,782 Images: 132	Catching stirups = drop you stirrup and practice picking it back up with out having to stop or look down. Comes in really handy when you are flying through a cross country jump and loose your stirrup. Doing it in an english saddle would be best, but you can do it in a western saddle, either one will help you find your balance. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

01-03-2006, 10:30 AM	#13
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,782 Images: 132	Sit in your heels. If you keep your weight in your heels, you'll find it easier to balance. When you have your feet in the stirrups, make sure that the stirrup is on the ball of your foot and that you have your foot on the inside of your stirrup. A lot of people will tell you to keep your foot on the outside, but put your foot in both positions and have someone try to move your leg around. You'll find that you are a lot steadier with your foot on the inside. Just like riding bareback, balance on your seat bone and thighs, it's more of a balance than a squeeze to hold on. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

01-03-2006, 10:50 AM	#15
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,782 Images: 132	Yes you do, hang on, I'll illustrate.... __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

01-03-2006, 10:59 AM	#16
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,782 Images: 132	I just mean where your foot sits in the stirrup - towards the inside: Or towards the outside: __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

01-03-2006, 11:07 AM	#18
Friesiangirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Monroe, OR Posts: 9,547 Images: 192 Blog Entries: 22	ride bareback for a while, but take it slow if your unsure, there isn't a horn to grab onto __________________ *Life is like cheese and fine wine- it gets better everyday!* Le Concurs Complet, C'est ma countre-drogue

01-03-2006, 10:25 AM	#12
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,844 Images: 70	Ok, it looks like I am going to give riding in an english saddle a try for a while and start the exercises that Shotgun suggested. One more question......Any quick tips keeping my "tail" in this saddle? LOL I might as well do it correctly if I am going to do it.

01-03-2006, 10:33 AM	#14
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,844 Images: 70	You're being great Shotgun. What is the inside and the outside of the stirrup. I dont think I have that on my western saddle.

01-03-2006, 11:03 AM	#17
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,844 Images: 70	Oh yeah, well, hmm. I never thought about where my foot is in the stirrup. But now that I think about it i guess its just always in the middle. Very interesting. So the inside would be closest to the horse??

01-03-2006, 11:13 AM	#19
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,782 Images: 132	Yep, it should be closer to the horse. I have always been told the opposite, then I went to a clinic with the O'Connors and they said that you should have them on the inside. After they did the demo of having someone trying to move your leg around with your foot in both positions, it made more sense to do it this way. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

01-03-2006, 11:21 AM	#20
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,844 Images: 70	Well I will definately pay attention to that from now on. I guess it was one of those things that I just really never thought about. Thanks for all your help Shotgun. If you think of anything else let me know. I wont get to ride today because it is raining here, but will start with everything on Wednesday. I will let you know what happens. I think I am very nervous about the english saddle and I am not sure why because I am ok riding bareback in the arena. Dont know if I would try some of those exercises bareback, but maybe I can work up to that.

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