missjordan
WKR
This is an older thread that resurfaced but I’ll chime in.
Correct stirrup height sits at about ankle height. Maybe a touch lower. If stirrups are too long then you will get knee pain because the body doesn’t have a focal point to properly brace against. In turn the rider compensates by gripping with the knees. “Usually”
You also can get knee pain with shorter stirrups but you never really should. it’s more common with longer stirrups. Cowhorse, reiners, and cutters always run shorter stirrups for the stability of the quick movements. About 2-3 holes shorter than natural. When in doubt shorter is better.
The length of the stirrups should always feel natural and never forced too short or too long.
Second- Knee pain can also be because the seat of the saddle isn’t right. The proper term for this is called “twist”. You hear the term twist with English riders and their saddles having a narrow twist or a wide twist. Saddle twist for women riders especially we need a narrower twist to accommodate for the narrower pelvis. And vis versa for men. In short, the saddle might not be the right fit for you as the rider.
Third is to double check your equitation. You want to ride with shoulders underneath your hips and heels inline with hips as well. Heels can be slightly in front of the hip but never ever more than that. That seat is called an ”chair” seat and shifts the riders weight too far back on the horse. Never ever ever ride a chair seat. Ever. Weight should be evenly distributed through the pelvis, legs feel long, calf engaged and snug, and heels down toes facing forward or slightly out. nothing should ever feel forced.
Fourth- check your saddle to make sure the stirrups are facing forward and not sideways. This can also strain your knee. If you need to twist the stirrups i bet you can YouTube this but you take a dowel and spin the fenders then leave the dowel in the saddle for several hours and it’ll put twist back in the fenders.
Lastly one thing that hasn’t been mentioned is “what if one stirrup feels shorter than the other”. Should I adjust the off side? The answer is no. You have a muscle imbalance problem that needs corrected at home and/or in the gym. Also YouTube for exercises. Both stirrups should always be the same length. When in doubt err on the side of shorter not longer.
Nettles and Don Orell stirrups are the Sitka and Kuiu of saddle stirrups. And they both should sell an angled offset that also helps with joint pain. There comfortable. I love my Nettles
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Correct stirrup height sits at about ankle height. Maybe a touch lower. If stirrups are too long then you will get knee pain because the body doesn’t have a focal point to properly brace against. In turn the rider compensates by gripping with the knees. “Usually”
You also can get knee pain with shorter stirrups but you never really should. it’s more common with longer stirrups. Cowhorse, reiners, and cutters always run shorter stirrups for the stability of the quick movements. About 2-3 holes shorter than natural. When in doubt shorter is better.
The length of the stirrups should always feel natural and never forced too short or too long.
Second- Knee pain can also be because the seat of the saddle isn’t right. The proper term for this is called “twist”. You hear the term twist with English riders and their saddles having a narrow twist or a wide twist. Saddle twist for women riders especially we need a narrower twist to accommodate for the narrower pelvis. And vis versa for men. In short, the saddle might not be the right fit for you as the rider.
Third is to double check your equitation. You want to ride with shoulders underneath your hips and heels inline with hips as well. Heels can be slightly in front of the hip but never ever more than that. That seat is called an ”chair” seat and shifts the riders weight too far back on the horse. Never ever ever ride a chair seat. Ever. Weight should be evenly distributed through the pelvis, legs feel long, calf engaged and snug, and heels down toes facing forward or slightly out. nothing should ever feel forced.
Fourth- check your saddle to make sure the stirrups are facing forward and not sideways. This can also strain your knee. If you need to twist the stirrups i bet you can YouTube this but you take a dowel and spin the fenders then leave the dowel in the saddle for several hours and it’ll put twist back in the fenders.
Lastly one thing that hasn’t been mentioned is “what if one stirrup feels shorter than the other”. Should I adjust the off side? The answer is no. You have a muscle imbalance problem that needs corrected at home and/or in the gym. Also YouTube for exercises. Both stirrups should always be the same length. When in doubt err on the side of shorter not longer.
Nettles and Don Orell stirrups are the Sitka and Kuiu of saddle stirrups. And they both should sell an angled offset that also helps with joint pain. There comfortable. I love my Nettles
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
