ridecamp@endurance.net: Standing in Stirrups

Standing in Stirrups

Bonnie Short (carriage@olympus.net)
Thu, 31 Jul 1997 16:53:40 -0700

Betsy,

The art of standing in stirrups is the same as the english jumpers use.
It takes balance and strength of the leg muscles, especially the thighs.
First, check your saddle for balance. Some saddles are not balanced well.
The stirrup leathers at the top where they hook to the saddle should be
close to the deepest part of the seat. There should be no more than four
inches difference here. The farther apart these points are, the harder it
is to balance yourself even though you are standing.

Be sure your stirrups are short enough so you can control the stirrups.
Remember, this is like standing on two swings. The shorter the stirrup
leathers, the easier it is to control the stirrups. Do not lock your knees
or ankles as these are your shock absorbers.

I hope you know how to post. Standing is just the highest point of a good
post. ( A good post is not done extremely high but close to the saddle .)
Practice alternating posting and standing in the stirrups. Increase the
time standing and keep posting in between the standing time as a rest
period. You should be able to go from posting to standing with no change
of effort or balance. You will have to bring your upper body forward to
be balanced. Try this on the floor. It is no different standing on the
floor or ground. Bend your knees and you will find how much your body
needs to be forward.
Practiceing the standing at the trot on flat ground is the easiest, but
also do the walk and canter on the flat. Slowly add hills by doing circles
on a gradual hill side. You just need to develop balance and strength. As
strength in the thigh's develops, you will find the fronts of your thighs
will have more of a dome to them from hip to knee.

If you have a problem with this still, I would recommend finding a jumping
instructor that is willing to teach you what the jumper people call the
"two point".

It isn't difficult, just takes alot of persiverence. Once you start to get
the balance, you just have to practice.

Happy trails,

Bonnie

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