Finding the "Right" Stirrup Length

[@shirik]

You're SO helpful omigosh! I tried doing the suggested tips in your "riding a lazy horse" video, and it worked like magic! Love ya callie! 🥰

[@pariahmouse7794]

Anything on the hands and contact would be awesome, I am trying to polish that area up before I dive into canter work, my seat is starting to feel pretty solid at the trot, but I have trouble with running the reins out, and keeping my right hand down and still when I go to turn or circle, that hand seems to have a mind of its own! I have tried holding a crop, that helped to an extent, but anything on the hands would be great! I love your approach to teaching and learning, I always get something valuable from every video, thank you!

[@AddyEquestrian]

Thanks so much. I really can’t keep my heels down with long stirrups. Now I know the tricks!

[@carolhauff9771]

Really love all your videos. Your explanations are clear and concise and break down each subject in a way that is easy to follow. In addition, you explain the "why" behind your instruction. So much easier to learn if you know why you are doing something. Thank you so much.

[@lwb442]

Thank you for the tips on how to set my stirrup length on various school saddles.

[@ava8625]

Will you do a video on how to stay on the diagonal with posting trott? All of your videos help me so much

[@pariahmouse7794]

I could use that video, haha... I am AWFUL at diagonals!

[@lucirose1288]

Thats a tricky one😂 it took me until I switched horses to be able to tell

[@pariahmouse7794]

Good to know I am not the only one who struggles with this, it seems so simple but I cannot for the life of me get it right, haha! I actually had the idea of a sensor on the horse's shoulders that would connect somehow to a light on top of the bridle between the horse's ears- you'd know to rise when the light lit up, you know? If that is actually a decent idea, please don't steal it, maybe I can invent it and fund my equestrian dreams, haha!

[@ava8625]

@@pariahmouse7794 that is a really good idea

[@monstermunch357]

I’m not sure if anyone needs this but to be on the right diagonal you must look down at the horses feet, when the outside leg comes forward is when you rise. It sounds a lot simpler than it is, I struggled with this for so long but I found that if you start counting in a beat of 1 2 1 2 and rise when you say one, meaning the count of one is when the outside leg is coming forward, it helps to rise at the right times. I even used to say this out loud for ages. You’re not supposed to look down while riding but at first on a safe trusted horse just to get used to the pattern and to try and see which leg is coming forward. Hope this helps anyone struggling with this, keep practising and I know you’ll get it, good luck

[@Trapezius8oblique]

Thanks Callie , so helpful as always

[@ssanddraselvi7485]

This video was very helpful. Thank you

[@abdulazizalhamar_]

I LOVE YOU and your channel ❤️

[@chandorequestrian]

Great information! Thank you

[@katemaree5826]

Thank you. Love these tips 😊

[@7thMack]

Callie, I have a friend with super long femur bones. Regardless of her correct stirrup length, aesthetically it looks like her stirrups should be longer. Have you dealt with this issue and did you lengthen the stirrups like I would like her to try so at least her butt comes down to the center of her saddle where it belongs?

[@amelialaidlaw8142]

Hello that’s for the help x

[@courtneydevine7911]

If you did not already do that please do the transition from a trot to a canter my horse still struggles with that

[@TAWSNM]

I'm curious about riding crops. I want to learn what and when is the correct time to use them and the most helpful and least scary/painful place on the horse to use them. How can I best use a crop or dressage whip to cue my horse. I've never used one before, but it appears I may need to start using one to cue my mare to engage a bit better. Fyi, I also don't use or need spurs. My horse does move very nicely off calf and or heel pressure.

[@josefarias2134]

Do you have more western riding tips? Thanks and great video

[@HorseRiders9999]

Very helpful ☺️

[@elkemcreynolds7156]

Very helpful thank you

[@lura8441]

Could you do a video on tips for your first horse? (in the county, not in the city)

[@tesudarshan1750]

Really horse is beautiful August 25 is my birthday ❤️💖🤗

[@nikakaramehmedovic8575]

thank you very much for this information! btw is that a huge horse or are just just shorter? Just curious

[@katrinathompson6339]

When a horse gains weight, and gets rounder in the barrel, does that affect stirrup length too? I ride in a western saddle. I prefer the connection in English, but have to build my strength to get back there. I haven't ridden English in over twenty years.

[@ms3delle]

Thank you very much. I do have a couple of questions though. The first one is what length do you consider right for long slow ride in the countryside? And the second is while riding after half of an hour or so I feel my feet become numb. What could it be? Wrong length of the stirrups, wrong shoes (I ride in snickers these days), or wrong posture maybe?

[@avery3613]

I prefer longer stirrups (not too long) for casual riding. Just see what you like more. For the numbness problem, I’d try lengthening your stirrups a tiny bit, and if that doesn’t work maybe try different shoes.

[@iitu2]

It's impossible to say what causes your feet go numb without seeing you. Simply having short stirrups shouldn't do that, but if the stirrups change your seat enough to pinch nerves/constrict bloodflow, then yes. (I have a bad ankle so I get a pinched nerve and pins'n needles with jumping stirrups). One simple reason can be that your shoes are too small or you tie your laces too tight. Or the soles of your shoes are bad with your stirrups. The basic problem is that either your blood flow or a nerve is being pinched - this can be a wrong position in your hip, knees or ankles, not just your feet.

[@ms3delle]

@@avery3613 thank you. My next ride is just tomorrow. I'll try changing the lengh )

[@ms3delle]

@@iitu2 Thanks. I had a thought about shoes. They are not small but narrow. And i've gained some weight...since last summer.

[@avery3613]

October Hare that’s what I meant, but yes thank you for going in detail.

[@paolopiccirillo6760]

Dove you Have some tips about briddle and bit?

[@equineadelynofficial]

Hi HorseClass, I am trying to find a video on jumping stirrups and their lengths. My lower leg is very stable when I ride my horse but when I jump my legs moves back then forward over the jump. I think it might be my stirrup length being too long but I’m not sure. Do you think I should try shortening my stirrups? I was just thinking it’s could cause pinching in the leg and also spurring my horse more. I just wanted your opinion and thoughts on this. Thank you!

[@Latarielle]

I've been struggling with my foot placement in the stirrups, the stirrups are always super sideways on my foot and want to slide too far back toward my heel. Does this mean my stirrups are probably too short?

[@lucirose1288]

It could be a mix of them being a bit too short and your leg just not being stable, if its the second thing, with more time and practice as you get stronger and more in balance it should go away. I would ask a trainer what they think

[@Latarielle]

@@lucirose1288 I'm thinking your right and it's a leg not being stable issue, I'm just starting to ride English again after 5 years of off and on riding western with a brand new saddle on top of that and definitely balance is an issue for me so I'm hoping the stirrup thing fixes itself once my balance gets better. Thank you for the suggestions :)

[@lucirose1288]

@@Latarielle that can do it to you😂

[@barborakodedova3843]

Thank you for great videos. I have a question. I train a lady that has one leg almost 5cm longer than the other. It is not functional problem, but structural. Would you recommend to ride a horse with uneven stirrups? Thank you for an answer.

[@Baiswith]

Why do you angle your stirrup irons? I swear I heard you mention that there was a reason in one of your videos, but I can't remember which/where and didn't catch the reasoning (if it was given).

[@MohammadAsif-gj2bx]

Wish you was in London I was going to have lesson fromu

[@horselover6389]

I’m more advanced, but my horse has had a break since COVID and isn’t at the level he used to be. Is there something that I can do or train him on that would be a good challenge for both of us? Also, I’d love to see tips for bringing a horse back from a break.

[@deepshah5572]

That's a big horse!

[@rnv_colin]

*2:15** just existing* Me as a german: O-O

[@Emily-qb3zr]

That horse is either really big or she’s really small.

[@coffeecat8826]

Am I the only one who thought about the Nazi salute

[@chrisduc1]

Sorry , i have learned to have the heel always as the lowest point. That means your calws are stretched .Not like shown in the video, this looks like a bloody beginner .

[@mishaelwilson2257]

Shes the boss Callie your the best horse rider ever

[@rnv_colin]

*2:15** just existing* Me as a german: O-O