[vivache]

How can you tell if a stirrup is too big for your foot? I finally got to ride Razz after a month of him being off due to White Line disease. I've been riding western on the the pony I rode during that time, because none of the English saddles worked for Thunder. Well, I put the English saddle that fits Razz on him, and mounted up.

As I rode, the stirrup just didn't feel right. My foot kept knocking around in the stirrup. I ignored it for a while, until I started cantering. My foot almost went through the stirrup. My heel was on the stirrup pad. I immediately halted Razz and decided to ride bareback for the rest of the lesson. I didn't want to risk it.

This had never happened before I started riding Thunder, or in the western saddle. It's possible that someone else needed a wider stirrup-- I lease Razz from a lesson facility, and they may have put a wider stirrup on the saddle.

But does it sound more like the stirrup, or that I need to ride without stirrups more? I ride bareback a lot.. and I usually take my stirrups away for at least 15 minutes of the ride. I even competed in a local fun show's no-stirrup class!

 

[ridergirl23]

to me that sounds like the stirrup is to big!

 

[rocky pony]

it could be too big..or it is possible that it's just that you're not used to it, too.
when I first started riding english I had been riding western and bareback very regularly and I had that same problem just because I wasn't used to it..the size was definitely right, but I was having major issues. I can imagine it could be possible for the same to happen just from taking a big break, but it could go either way.

 

[ScharmLily]

I always ride in larger stirrups because I want them to fit my really wide winter boots. It doesn't bother me at all during the summer, since even a properly sized stirrup won't be tight enough to hold your foot in place. Try working on keeping your heel down as this will give you a firm placement on your stirrup.

 

[Allison Finch]

Sounds Like your foot was banging around in the stirrup because you did not have weight in your lower leg. Likely you were grabbing with your knee causing your lower leg to be too "light in the stirrup". Riding bareback might increase your knee grabbing. You need to let go with your knees and put weight in your stirrup. You need to work on sinking into your ankle allowing your heels to go down. If your heels are down, your foot CAN'T move forward through the stirrup. Instead of riding bareback or without stirrups (might worsen the problem) try riding with only ONE stirrup. It is much harder. Too bad more instructors don't know to use this technique.

To sum up;
1. let go with your knees.
2. allow the upper part on the INSIDE of your calf to "hold" the horse.
3. lower your weight into your ankles and allow your heels to lower.
4. keep your ankles soft and work even harder to sink down into them

This will improve your leg/seat position and make you so much more secure.
The size of a stirrup is not the issue here, IMO.