stirrup pad

2 Responses to “stirrup pad”

1. billie says:

   December 18, 2010 at 2:26 am

   Try holding the reins in one hand and put the other arm straight up in the air, like you're doing a yoga pose.

   That almost always helps me sit more deeply – although I can't always hang on to it when I drop my arm.

   Another thing that helps me is trying to recreate with my seat the feeling of bouncing a basketball with one hand, the moment when the ball comes up and your hand moves up with it.

   I know exactly what you mean about dropping the stirrups helping – there is some part of my leg that weights different when my foot is in the stirrup. I lowered them an extra notch on purpose for awhile and let my feet sort of “float” in them instead of resting on the stirrup pads. I found myself lengthening my legs more and feeling like everything rode better.

   I've put them back to where they're supposed to be now, and it's better.

   The times when I feel like the sitting trot is perfect (not all that many, to be honest) is when I am not thinking about it much, and Keil Bay really lifts his back up and carries himself. In my case I think when I get all the various pieces put together just right, Keil responds in kind, and we are like that basketball and the hand. But it certainly isn't happening all the time. I tend to sit for as many strides as it feels good and then transition up or down when it feels like it's getting ready to hit the skids.

   Anyway, just rambling here, sort of rethinking all this out loud for myself, and typing it in case any of it might be useful.

   I do agree it should feel good – but if it looks good to trainer and you on video, it seems like you're almost there but something is still tight in your body or the horse's body – and when you find that, it will look good AND feel good.
2. billie says:

   February 17, 2011 at 4:59 am

   Try holding the reins in one hand and put the other arm straight up in the air, like you're doing a yoga pose.

   That almost always helps me sit more deeply – although I can't always hang on to it when I drop my arm.

   Another thing that helps me is trying to recreate with my seat the feeling of bouncing a basketball with one hand, the moment when the ball comes up and your hand moves up with it.

   I know exactly what you mean about dropping the stirrups helping – there is some part of my leg that weights different when my foot is in the stirrup. I lowered them an extra notch on purpose for awhile and let my feet sort of “float” in them instead of resting on the stirrup pads. I found myself lengthening my legs more and feeling like everything rode better.

   I've put them back to where they're supposed to be now, and it's better.

   The times when I feel like the sitting trot is perfect (not all that many, to be honest) is when I am not thinking about it much, and Keil Bay really lifts his back up and carries himself. In my case I think when I get all the various pieces put together just right, Keil responds in kind, and we are like that basketball and the hand. But it certainly isn't happening all the time. I tend to sit for as many strides as it feels good and then transition up or down when it feels like it's getting ready to hit the skids.

   Anyway, just rambling here, sort of rethinking all this out loud for myself, and typing it in case any of it might be useful.

   I do agree it should feel good – but if it looks good to trainer and you on video, it seems like you're almost there but something is still tight in your body or the horse's body – and when you find that, it will look good AND feel good.