If you’re a rider on a schedule who wants an easy way to test and improve your riding independence, no stirrup exercises for balance are an ideal place to start.
“As a rider, balance isn’t about grip or having a stirrup on the ball of your foot,” says Charlie Hutton, international grand prix dressage rider, British Equestrian Podium Potential Pathway and UKCC Level 3 coach.
“A balanced rider should feel like they are absorbing the horse’s movement. The moment you start to grip, it creates tension. That tension results in compensation elsewhere in the body in a bid to keep you secure.
“In the short term, this might be effective. Long term, you could develop body pain or one-sidedness.”
A rider in good balance, trotting without stirrups. Credit: Emma Herrod Photography
Why no-stirrup exercises?
Charlie says riding without stirrups is a two-fold mission. The first is fact-finding.
“Just how secure do you feel? Can you do it without your inner thighs immediately tiring?” he asks. “In this way, it’s a suppleness test as well as an assessment of your balance in the saddle.”
Secondly, it gives you a truer feeling of what you should be aiming for – provided you can relax. “It gives you a stronger idea of how following the horse’s movement should feel, and is something you can try to mimic when you take your stirrups back.”
Charlie recommends the following three exercises for improving your balance in the saddle.
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"}
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