| First off, stirrup length on your western saddle is | | | | Then put your feet in the stirrups and stand up. |
| a matter of your own preference. What feels | | | | Yes, stand, just stand, you should have about a |
| comfortable to you might not feel good to | | | | fist size space between your seat and the saddle. |
| someone else. Do you like to ride more relaxed | | | | If you have barely any space you need to |
| with longer stirrups out trail riding all day, or | | | | shorten them so that you clear the seat of the |
| deeper in the saddle feeling with shorter stirrups | | | | saddle. Way to much space and you feel like a |
| when riding a colt or speed events? What kind of | | | | jockey on a race horse and you will want to |
| riding you are doing does play a big factor. Or like | | | | lower them a bit. |
| me, I have had soo many surgery's on my right | | | | From the ground, stand next to your horse and |
| knee, I ride with my stirrup a bit longer on that | | | | we are going to measure the length of your arm |
| side, so it doesn't ache. That's all it takes is a bit | | | | to start. With your hand touching where the |
| of adjustment and I can ride comfortably,without | | | | stirrup leather attaches to the saddle (underneath |
| the aches and pains. | | | | the seat), adjust the length so that the bottom |
| There are a few guidelines to follow and you will | | | | of the stirrup reaches your armpit. With this |
| be in the ballpark so to speak.You can adjust your | | | | method you can get on knowing that you have |
| stirrup length two ways.From the saddle setting | | | | your stirrups adjusted somewhere in the right |
| on your horse or from the ground. | | | | area. |
| From the saddle, get on and set relaxed, let your | | | | If you are a beginner rider, it is going to be better |
| legs hang down naturally out of the stirrups. | | | | to err on the side of shorter length stirrups.This |
| Adjust your stirrup so that the bottom of the | | | | will give you more control of your body positioning |
| stirrup is level, slightly below your anklebone. Your | | | | while you are learning your balance and riding |
| leg should also follow pretty closely the line of the | | | | skills.It just takes a few minutes of adjustment |
| stirrup fender. So don't have your legs tucked up | | | | and you can make your ride more comfortable |
| close to the swells,just set relaxed and let your | | | | and enjoyable. |
| legs drop. | | | | |