Are You Serious?
“Leg first, hands, second!”
I can still hear my riding instructor yelling across the arena as I battled with my pony Snoopy to control his flinging head. As a young and inexperienced rider, I had no idea what that meant. Applying leg means my pony will go faster, right? I did not want Snoopy to go any faster – we were already lapping the other students in our group session. The understanding of hands and leg when riding was a hard one to grasp and can still be a challenge even today, even with many years of riding experience under my belt.
As I matured, I outgrew Snoopy and moved on to much larger (and challenging) creatures. My instructor decided to try a new concept she had read about and incorporated some no stirrups exercises into our lessons. The first time I rode without stirrups I slid sideways off the lesson horse, landing feet first on the ground in disbelief and embarrassment. Why was this so hard? I had been riding for several years at that point and hadn’t fallen off in forever! My instructor then asked if I was alright, and then we spent the rest of the lesson -to my horror- without stirrups.
So begs the question, should riders “earn” their stirrups? Riding without them has long been used by riding instructors and equitation students and is said to have gained popularity courtesy of the infamous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.
The Spanish Riding School is one of the cornerstones of the “no stirrup” riding ideas. Students are forbidden to have either reins or stirrups for at least 6 months, so new students can master the feel of the horse and acquire the balance, posture, and form required of the expert riders of the Riding School, even if they have previous riding skills or experience.
While the Spanish Riding School has been one of the most famous examples of beginners riding without stirrups, there are other examples in history of the same. In ancient Greek times, it is said that the Macedonian cavalry had no stirrups or even a saddle. Some Native American tribes rode bareback or only used a blanket. Other ancient era riders used a makeshift saddle with no girth or stirrups.
Could you ride without a saddle or stirrups?
Is Riding Without Stirrups REALLY Beneficial?
Why is this such a big deal? Riding without stirrups makes the rider “feel” their horse without the extra bracing or support of the irons. Riders are forced to find their seat and balance which can greatly improve their riding over time. It is a natural tendency to use stirrups to help balance the rider. This can lead to lost stirrups, joint pain, jolting transitions and gaits, irritation, as well as miscommunication between horse and rider.
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If you are spending a reasonable amount of time trying to figure out why your horse will not listen or transition into different gaits, the problem may be the rider’s seat, legs, or balance that is throwing off the momentum.
Riding without stirrups also helps riders acquire their seat, meaning it improves their overall balance and form and will help them “stick” to the saddle which can possibly prevent falls. As mentioned above, the Spanish Riding School, as well as a few others in Europe, start their riders off with no stirrups in order to help them achieve their riding seat.
Say What?
Not only is it beneficial to learn to ride without stirrups, but also without REINS. Yes, you heard that right. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen riders yanking on their horse’s mouth as the horse flings their head up skyward or practically touches its nose to its chest to avoid the overbearing pressure.
Some riders get angry and yank on their mouths, others do it out of nervousness, and some just don’t know any better. I am guilty of this as well. My instructor would tie my reins in a knot if I got too heavy-handed (and return to a lunge line), so I learned very quickly not to hang on my horse’s mouth.
Learn the Basics
Learning to lunge without stirrups or reins can help you stabilize your seat and balance. Don’t worry- there is no need to go galloping around in circles. A nice walk or trot is an excellent starting point, and make sure you have a quiet horse and expert lunger on the other end.
Try obstacle courses, weaving through cones, or other fun activities to help your seat and balance. Many professional jumpers have started off jumping small jumps without irons. If you feel unsafe or concerned at any time, take a break and return to your stirrups – there is no need for unnecessary risks during no-stirrup activities. Safety of the rider comes first.
Many Grand Prix riders, show jumpers, barrel racers, and other equestrians continue to implement sessions in their routine where they ride without stirrups. A good practice ideal is to ride 1 to 3 times per week without stirrups. If you need a calmer horse, someone to hold a lunge line, or anything similar in order to be safe, then adjust the frequency to meet those requirements.
Riding without stirrups is best utilized as a beginner, but as mentioned above EVERYONE can benefit from riding without stirrups. It doesn’t have to be the entire lesson or ride – maybe 15-20 minutes during your ride or, if you’re feeling up to it, you can try the entire lesson without stirrups.
NOTE** Riders beware- riding without stirrups uses muscles! You may be sore the next couple of days after your first few sessions but incorporating some no-stirrup time will help you develop better skills as a rider.
After several sessions you may begin to notice your balance is better, your strength has increased, and your horse responds better to your aids.
Give it a try! Riding without stirrups can help equestrians ride their very best – at home and at competitions.