Originally Posted by RichardAustin
i'll give it an honest try.
if your feet/stirrups are sitting below you with your weight in them bracing, a hard stop will use the force like a pendalum and push you forward up and out of the seat. if you're "sitting" by tucking your butt underneath yourself, you melt into the horse with the stop and are riding him thru it instead of getting in his way.
someone mentioned they couldn't trot a horse without standing in their stirrups. if you have a seat and post to the inside leg not only will you be much more comfortable and less tired end of a long day, when those wild ones get to spinning in 1/2 a second you'll still be seated.


This does make sense. I was taught to put pressure on the stirrups and when the horse comes to a fast stop I am up on his neck. Or at least pushing on it with my hand. I figured I was doing something wrong, but couldn't figure it out since I was doing what I was told. I don't consider myself any great shakes at riding though.

I do recall however, being fairly relaxed while riding so sitting more in the saddle having young horse jump one way or the other from some imagined danger and being able to stay in the saddle fairly easily.

On another note I think I wouold like to try those crooked stirrup now that my knees are getting bad.

Last edited by Just a Hunter; 05/17/12.