Q&A

Q: When warming up is it best to canter in light seat?

hA: Yes. Getting out of the saddle and off your pony’s back while warming up is really beneficial for both you and your pony. For you, it helps to get your core muscles activated and firing, and for your pony, it lets him use his back properly without your interference.

A light seat can be particularly useful if you have a fresh or hot pony, as it allows him to use the freedom to move through his back to go forward rather than bucking or pronking.

Q: How long should my stirrups be for jumping?

A: It used to be said that when you jumped, you should put your stirrups up by two holes from your normal riding length. However, if you watch top riders in action, you will see that people are increasingly riding with longer and longer stirrups. When asked about their stirrup length, these professional riders usually explain that they ride where they are most comfortable and can ride most effectively. When asked what they tell their pupils, most report that they feel the stirrups are the correct length for their students when they knock against their ankle bones when their feet are out of the stirrup.

However, at the end of the day, it’s up to you! Nobody is going to mark you down for your stirrup length in jumping. You should just choose the length of stirrup that allows you and your pony to best clear the fences.

Our advice, when it comes to stirrup length is:

1. Play around with your stirrup length to see what you feel comfortable with and what gives you the most confidence in the saddle.

2. Combine where you feel most comfortable with what allows your pony to best clear the fence. It is best to discuss this with your instructor, as it may be that you feel comfortable riding longer, but then don’t get out of the saddle enough over the fence.