No-Stirrup riding is a tool often used by instructors to boost rider confidence, skill, balance, and understanding of their horses movement and rhythm. Although there are a plethora of ways to introduce No-Stirrup riding to your routine, one of the best places to start is on the lunge line.
It is important to consider the rider’s ability and horse’s experience. Riders should have a suitable set of riding skills with stirrups and be matched with a suitable horse for their current riding ability. The horse should be accustomed to riders moving around in the saddle with swinging arms and legs and have experience being lunged and taking instruction from both the rider and the individual at the end of the lunge line.
When adding No-Stirrup exercises to a riding routine it is best to warm up both rider and horse as normal with stirrups in a safe and quiet arena. This will ensure that both horse and rider can get their body moving in a comfortable familiar setting and allow for all appropriate tack checks to be performed prior to removing the stirrups.
Once horse and rider are ready the rider should halt, and while standing the stirrups should be crossed over the horse’s withers in front of the saddle. When crossing the irons, be sure they are under the reins and that the safety strap attached to the pommel is still accessible should the rider require it for added balance. It is important to ensure that the rider is carrying their weight over their leg and that they are not carrying all their weight through their seat. This is best achieved by staying tall, symmetrical, and level in the saddle maintaining good vertical alignment through the shoulder, hip, and heel. Only then should the rider ask for a walk, and begin getting accustomed to the new feel of riding without stirrups.
Once the rider has found comfort in walking freely without stirrups they can progress their skills through changes of gait, exercises created to promote upper and lower body workouts, and other fun exercises and activities.
If you would like to read about some of our favourite Upper Body or Lower Body workouts click the hyperlinks.