Riding without stirrups: training or torture?

Vital to a rider’s balance, stirrups are small but important elements of the horse tack. We use stirrups more than most realize, from the moment we first get on a horse, to help us mount, keep us centered, and sometimes to keep us from falling! So if stirrups are so important, why do our instructors enjoy taking them off of us? This is a sentiment that is probably shared by most of the equine world (aside from a few crazy people!), and here we take a look at the benefits.

When you are asked to remove the stirrups, it is important that you cross them over the horse’s neck and place them on the shoulders, not on the saddle. This is for your sake, the rider, as the bruised thighs that can result will ensure you only make that mistake once! Don’t worry, you won’t cause your horse any discomfort, as if you lay the stirrups flat, they will move in harmony with your horse. Also try to pull the stirrup buckle out of the stirrup bar a little bit and place it over your neck. By doing this, and pushing the stirrup leather flat under the saddle skirt, you can be sure the buckle is also out of the way of your thighs, preventing pinching and bruising.

The main objective of work without stirrups is to evaluate and improve balance and core stability. Any reassurance taken in the temper is lost and therefore your instructor will have a much more accurate picture of the strengths and weaknesses of his position. Without the stirrups, you should try to feel the seat bones and sit on them. It can be very tempting to rock forward to absorb the movement through the front of your body, however this will make the horse tense and hollow. You need to sit down and really work to absorb the movement of the horse through your hips, pelvis, and lower back. The rest of your body should remain still and upright, moving only slightly to accommodate the horse. You should also try to sit as centrally and evenly as possible.

If you’re a nervous rider, taking your stirrups off can help boost your confidence in the long run. You may find it daunting and scary in the spur of the moment, but on a calm horse, working without stirrups will give you more balance and a better feel for applying aids accurately and sympathetically. If you find it excruciatingly difficult, there’s no shame in asking to do the initial work on a walk. You can always develop the trot and canter, and any amount of work without stirrups is beneficial for lengthening the leg and developing seat security. It is better to admit your fear and address it rather than endlessly worrying and transmitting negativity and tension to the horse.

For the more experienced rider, working without stirrups is also a useful way to develop feel and reduce tension. Tension can often build up without our realizing it, perhaps through the ankles, neck, back, and shoulders. Being very aware of your body is a key part of being a good cyclist and will help you become more influential.

Stirrups were originally developed as military horse harnesses, to allow for greater stability when fighting the enemy. Before its development, everyone rode without stirrups, some even without any harness at all! If we no longer fight enemies on horseback, I could argue that the modern world of horses perhaps shouldn’t rely on stirrups as much as we do. But like so many gadgets, stirrups are a gadget that has made our lives easier, and that’s why it’s not going to change. However, if you’re striving to be the best cyclist you can be, as we all should be, riding without stirrups should be an important part of your training.