Learn to Ride Without Stirrups

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

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[@ademirj241]

Good morning Miss Amelia. This video of yours is great! My riding teacher sometimes asks me to ride without stirrups. Now, after seeing with more understanding and clarity the benefits obtained by walking without stirrups, I will do this more often. And... I will take a photo and/or video to send you. Thank you very much for your magnificent class! I wish you much success. God bless you! Always.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@animallover4101]

I rode a whole winter without stirrups and people thought I had went to train in Europe. I put my stirrups in the tack room and replaced them a week before my first show . Now I prefer to ride without them

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Wow! Good for you!!

[@NawarajKarki-xd1lz]

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[@firearies05]

I like working on things I hate, so a few years back when my trainer started making us ride without stirrups to warm up, I noticed how little control I had over my body and how unbalanced I felt without the stirrups there. So I started taking them off for a little while to warm up some days. Now I’m able to do a whole lesson without needing my stirrups, and I ride at least once or twice a week without them just because I ended up liking it so much. It also makes me feel badass when people wince when they see me trotting around (posting trot) effortlessly ;)

[@lgjc]

I took them off for the first time, but I felt terrified when the horse started walking(!).. not even trotting. Did you have that same fear / feeling, and do you overcome it with time?

[@emmienewswanger222]

Instead of no stirrups November, I'm going to do no stirrups winter! Riding without stirrups the whole winter will help to build my strength for show season

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That is great! Let me know how it goes!

[@juliecastro6272]

My Instructor used to have me do this when I was learning to sit down in the saddle.

[@michaelallen2057]

Thank you! This is very helpful.

[@higginsba]

Gorgeous boy! Defo need try this at my next lesson. If I dont get in to the canter right away I find my legs/knees end up scrunching up & fwd as I keep trying to give the canter leg aide 😬😔

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You got this!

[@deirdrepratte9231]

I love November!! I feel that I ride better and sit deeper without.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Awesome!

[@lavonasmith6256]

I think this might help my bracing! Thank you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Agreed! Give it a try!

[@Ameliathehorselover2]

Nice work Amelia helps me out

[@Chey651]

In the winter when I’m just doing light rides like not jumping or reining I just ride bareback because I can’t be bothered to put a saddle on in -30 and snow and sometimes when I’m practicing English EQ I just take my stirrups off and it kinda looks so funny when I record it because it’s just like what if they built saddles with no place for a stirrup, could you imagine how much better riders would be if they didn’t use stirrups and we actually went by the rule that the saddle is only for ones butt comfort?? Sometimes I also only ride with a saddle pad on my horses back to test how good my balance actually is to be able to keep a saddle pad on my horses back with no girth

[@pariahmouse7794]

I need to try the saddle pad thing- I rode a whole lesson a couple years ago with the girth so loose the instructor could put her fist between the girth and the horse, she said I must have some crazy good balance because we never even wobbled or slipped, I was so proud of that, haha! I LOVE riding bareback, I think stirrups are cheating until you have an independent seat...

[@Chey651]

@@pariahmouse7794 lol same thing pretty much happened to me, I was on a trail ride with my instructor and when we got back my mom was at the gate and she said: Ray that cinch isn’t even touching the horses belly!!! And he just said don’t worry momma she’s got good balance 😂😂 I loved having him as a trainer

[@69Aliencry]

I ride in a thin line bareback pad as my horse is currently awaiting a new saddle and fitting (we’ve been waiting a few months), and rode in a saddle yesterday and hated it! I feel like so much is lost and I miss the close contact. It has made sitting the trot effortless though. I will probably continue to do half my rides bareback once we have fitted tack again.

[@maureendollente]

My horse has a very bouncy trot. I can only trot without stirrups for 2 or 3 steps. My lower back hurts so bad if i try to do more than that. My son who is an advanced rider (competed in show jumping) is very good at riding bareback and won't trot bareback on our horse either. He prefers to canter bareback on our horse as the movement is much smoother. I did do a lesson on a lesson program horse and trotting with no stirrups was much easier. However i think with some horses it feels near impossible to trot no stirrups.

[@amandafrench8047]

Smashing video, thanks for this Amelia :)

[@meinthewild312]

I did this drop your irons thing many years ago. My problem then, and I suspect would be the case now, is I got so used to riding without them, I stopped using them altogether. I would literally drop them during my shows. I never put the right one on my saddles and ripped the left one off right after mounting. This went on for about 2 years until I was eliminated because I rode without my irons. I feel like this rule should be changed to make riding without your irons an option. It was really difficult to learn to use them again.

[@tagadaki]

Yeah I feel ya ! I prefer to ride without too cause I struggle to place my legs a bit more behind with the stirrups, idk why. Without is the best feeling for me. So I cheat a bit during lessons and I remove them while galloping, but my teacher knows I love it so she doesn't tell me anything lol. Everytime I lose a stirrup Im like "yeahhh, fu** that, just gonna remove the other one" 😆

[@tagadaki]

I feel like riding without stirrups helps you a lot with balance tbh. My level is trash, my hands are all over the place and my legs are not in a good position when im riding, but because I rode a lot bareback or without stirrups, I never feel like Im gonna fall, I just know im chaotic and sad for the horse who tries to understand my bullshit, but always, always feel comfortable on the saddle and never feel like im losing balance. I also remove them pretty often while galloping as I think it's easier for me to place my legs withouth having to pay attention to stirrups. My teacher also make us remove the stirrups and go pedal on top of the head of the horse while hanging to the back of the saddle. That's craaaazyy for abs and ensure you to trust your horse and work your balance. Horrible and painful but great exercise 😆

[@Thatbrunette2005]

Your lower leg looks so loose! I find when I do no stirrup work I have a very tight calf to try help myself avoid locking up the hips and gripping with my knees. Is this incorrect and do you not try hold yourself up and rather let all your weight settle on your seat bones? :)

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Definitely want to think about riding from your seat and center!

[@abarlow5648]

Hello! My trainer has me ride without stirrups at the trot only, and I'm having quite a hard time keeping my balance, leg position, and even confidence. I completely trust the horse I ride, but I'm a bit stuck. 😕

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Take some time and practice at the walk!

[@amandafrench8047]

Yer such a nice rider lady :)

[@teresawort9124]

I ride bareback. I only do walk & sit the trot. I ride for 10-20 min at a time. I will add the ankle circles & scissor kick.

[@poor4horses]

I started dropping my stirrups for about 5-10 minutes after each ride. I'm finding that my guy really slows down and gets behind my leg. Getting him to trot without stirrups is difficult. Could I be sitting too deep and blocking his movement or somehow shutting him down? What can I do to help free him while riding with no stirrups? I'm really enjoying it.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Great observation! Yes, really make sure that you are following his motion and that your hips aren't locking when you drop your stirrups. Try the ankle circles and kicks at the walk to help you find your independent seat!

[@miamancini5774]

Your saddle looks very comfortable. What brand is it? Thank you❤

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

It's by Custom Saddlery.

[@applewood_breyers9883]

My trainer is having us go up to 30 minutes without stirrups (gradually over the month) but the entire time we have to post the trot. Is this a good beneficial way of doing it?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That is fine, but make sure that you take breaks before you feel that your position is compromised.

[@applewood_breyers9883]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressageok! Thank you!

[@Truther44]

My instructor said this put a lot of stress on the horses back

[@ottb.harvey]

it doesnt. sounds like you dont have a very good trainer.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Be sure to focus on your position - start at the walk first!

[@Teach13447]

Nope not gonna happen, too old for that!😅