Question for long legged/tall riders.

[Tuckertoo]

Hey all. I'm about 5'8 but with really long legs. This may seem like common sense, but I just want to see what other people think.

I have found that I seem to be able to get up and stay up in two-point and just balance better over-all with very short stirrups while I'm jumping. Like, really short.:lol:

My instructor, who is several inches shorter than I am (also has shorter legs than I do), rode my horse yesterday. Today I got on and didn't have to adjust my stirrups any longer than where he had them (and he says that he likes to ride short). I was comfortable with the length that he had them at.

Soooo....do any of you find that you are more comfortable with very short stirrups compared with others who aren't as tall/long legged as you, or am I just a freak who likes to ride very short? :D

[Ishi]

I'm 5'10 with very long legs, and I also like my irons really short. For me it comes from when I used to gallops tbs and had to ride so short. Now it's just my comfort zone.

[Gryhrs]

Love this thread as I struggle with this question. I am 5'10" and did try the super short...but felt that I was too "leany" or too forward on my horse's neck. My legs are long but I also have a tall upper body. I went back to a bit longer stirrup and now feel more balanced and a bit more upright in my upper body when in two point which I believes makes my horse happier. But now I worry that my stirrups are too long for xc!

[RealityCheck]

I think a lot of times shorter riders tend to ride with their stirrups slightly long because they feel they need to to get their leg around the horse, and not just feel perched on top. (At least that's what a few people I know have told me.) I'm 5'6 but with really long legs, and I definitely like my stirrups on the short side. I think stirrup length has a LOT more to do with personal preference/comfort and center of balance than some people will lead you to believe.

[Kementari]

Just to be the odd one out, I'm 5'8" with longish-but-not-unduly-long (for my height) legs, and I like to ride slightly longer than normal. I don't know why, per se; it just makes me feel more secure and helps me with my tendency to jump up my horse's neck. I also find it easier to weight my heels with my stirrups a touch long. I guess I just have to be different! :lol:

[Tuckertoo]

Just to be the odd one out, I'm 5'8" with longish-but-not-unduly-long (for my height) legs, and I like to ride slightly longer than normal. I don't know why, per se; it just makes me feel more secure and helps me with my tendency to jump up my horse's neck. I also find it easier to weight my heels with my stirrups a touch long. I guess I just have to be different! :lol:

Hmmm, this brings up an interesting point. For me, at least. I can't put my heels down very far. I mean, I physically can't do it. Now, my heels aren't above my toes, but they are even or just slightly lower than my toes. I've gone to a podiatrist because of foot pain after running and running-related activities and he said that because my foot is limited in it's ability to flex that way (the way it does when you put your heels down), once it hits that point where it can't go any farther, it starts to roll sideways which is what causes me my pain. Now, maybe this translates over to my riding.

Since I physically can't put my heels down far enough to make me feel secure with longer stirrups, I feel more secure with shorter stirrups. Does that make any sense?:lol:

[BaileyTW]

I'm about 5'9" and also really like short stirrups. It was weird at first because I started out Dressage, so I was used to long stirrups, but once I started jumping and going cross country I learned to adjust real quick to a short stirrup. I have an AP saddle right now and its actually driving me crazy because I can't get my stirrup as short as I'd like for jumping.

[Lincoln]

So I'm six feet tall - my variation on this theme is that a regular jumping saddle feels awful (even one which "fits" according to the saddle people) but an xc saddle with a very forward flap and a big seat I can move around in feels great. I ride in an Ainsley ProNational XC. I don't know how short my stirrups are except that Denny didn't tell me to shorten them (which suggests they are pretty short). I am a dressage person so riding really long with my legs under me feels fine when I can have my whole thigh on and rolled in. But once I have to balance on my calves with my toes out for two point I want to have my knee well out in front of me and my stirrups pretty short or else I feel really unstable.

[Xctrygirl]

See now my boss SWEARS that I ride too short. She is about 3-4" shorter than me and her stirrups feel long to me.

But I think even in pics that my leg looks fine..

Me: http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Hunting%202008/JJ2.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Event%20Pics/07LAD0302.jpg

Boss:http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Hunting%202008/CathyBodie2.jpg


Conversely when I was galloping, I would feel short but actually look kind of long:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Emily%20Working/ScrappyT051705_02s.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Emily%20Working/PICT6792.jpg

Though look at the stirrup length at the walk:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Emily%20Working/PICT6830.jpg


Anyway that's what I can add.

~Emily

[flypony74]

I think a lot of times shorter riders tend to ride with their stirrups slightly long because they feel they need to to get their leg around the horse, and not just feel perched on top.

I'm 5'2" on a good day, and tend to ride a little long for this reason. I like 'em short enough that I can get up off my horse's back, but long enough that I have some leg on my horse. A delicate balance, you see.

[imapepper]

I ride on the short side too. I am 5'8" and most of my height is in my legs. I just feel more balanced. I am more likely to jump ahead and duck when I ride longer.

BTW - I also galloped racehorses for several years and rode about the same length as Xctrygirl :)

[Xctrygirl]

BTW - I also galloped racehorses for several years and rode about the same length as Xctrygirl :)

Ahh and you know what I am gonna say here... Popular racetrack slogan

"The longer you ride, the longer you ride"

~Emily

[imapepper]

Ahh and you know what I am gonna say here... Popular racetrack slogan

"The longer you ride, the longer you ride"

~Emily

:lol: I heard that often enough :lol: I did drop my irons for babies fresh off the farm :) But most of the time, I rode a bit on the short side :)

[TheHunterKid90]

I'm 5'8" or there abouts with a crazy disproportionate body....aka legs that go on forever and a very short torso. I also ride very short...it makes me feel more secure and less likely to over jump etc.

[Ashby]

I'm 5-10 1/2" and I like to ride rather long. Partly this is due to dressage background and partly because I find it's a lot harder for some whack-job OTTB to dislodge me when I have my toes knotted underneath his belly. ;)

[deltawave]

I'm 5'8" with longish legs, too, and I USED TO prefer stirrups quite short. Now at age 43 it's not quite so easy. :lol: I look at photos of myself jumping and am SHOCKED at how long my stirrups are--they just don't feel that long. :sigh:

It also really, really depends on your saddle--a saddle that's not the right fit for your leg length/preference can make short stirrups feel really weird and scary.

[Lori B]

Ashby -

I find it's a lot harder for some whack-job OTTB to dislodge me when I have my toes knotted underneath his belly.


Funniest thing I've heard this week. :-)

[melodiousaphony]

I have absurdly long legs. As in the saddle I'm using in my profile picture is Denny's Stackhouse, which he made me do because he seems to despise the balance of any saddle I ride in, and my knee threatens to go over the flap. I'm only 5'9"; but, I'm very long in the leg, both thigh and lower leg.

All that said, my stirrup length is more dictated by the horse than me. Spot, my TB, lacks much in the way of sides and tends to crack over jumps so I prefer to ride a little short on him. Heidi, my little QH mare, generally saves cracking for instances when it is totally necessary so I can ride a little longer on her. She's also got a nice groove right before her belly that holds leg fairly well.
It's strange, though, I ride the same length in my dressage saddle for both and I'm starting to feel like I should ride longer in that saddle on Spot than Heidi.
I try to go with what makes me feel stable on the particular horse and saddle more than anything.

[Eventcrazy]

Ahh and you know what I am gonna say here... Popular racetrack slogan

"The longer you ride, the longer you ride"

~Emily

He He! My trainer says that!

I'm 5' 10"! I have just recently really shorted my stirrups because I finally got a saddle that really fits me. But I can't say I ride really short. I guess I follow the pony club rule of jumping stirrups need to hit just above the ankle and XC stirrups need to hit just above that.

[vbunny]

I'm 5'9 and I have always ridden just a little shorter than people think I should. I am very comfortable there and find greater security and balance and range of movement. I hate being stuck in the saddle. I think it has to do with the way your leg fits against/around the horse. I know too that if you can't get your heels down (although I can if I want to) that if you raise your stirrups and set your weight behind them it will improve your balance too.

[Groro]

I am 5'9" and have a 38" inseam. While my stirrups are longer than what most 6'4" men ride in, they are still short compared my height.

What I have realized over the years is that I adjust my stirrups according to the shape of the horse. Because my thigh is so long, I have to make sure my knee is at the widest part of the horse's barrel to be comfortable. Consequently, I cannot use a dressage saddle very easily as my leg will not conform to the horse's side.

When I ride a 16.2 hand slab-sided TB, I feel like I am riding a pony. I ride with a much shorter stirrup so I can have my lower leg in a place where it is effective. My primary horse is a 17.2 hand Oldenburg mare that has a huge barrel. I am the most comfortable on her and can ride with a longer stirrup.

[bigbaytb]

i'm 5 10 with really long legs (especially the thigh bone, haven't had a clinician NOT comment on it the first time they meet me, HA)...Lincoln nailed it. I used to really struggle with stirrup length and jumping position. i had one saddle fitter get me to ride in an 18" saddle so i could shorten stirrups and give me some more room for my thigh..then also suggested a very forward flap saddle. i lucked out and found an Amerigo pinerolo on ebay that fit me and my horse. I ride in very short stirrups for stadium, xc and hunting. i feel so much more secure and my jumping has improved since getting my legs just right, i'm very balanced now....

on dressage, i ride very long legged. a few years ago, i purchased a dressage saddle from tad coffin. he noted how long my legs are (from a picture while sitting in a demo saddle) and made my dressage saddle with a slightly forward dressage flap. he did this for when i ride a smaller horse so i can shorten my stirrups to get my calf on a smaller barrelled horse. I love that saddle too!

[Flipper]

I am 5'9" and have a 38" inseam. While my stirrups are longer than what most 6'4" men ride in, they are still short compared my height.

What I have realized over the years is that I adjust my stirrups according to the shape of the horse. Because my thigh is so long, I have to make sure my knee is at the widest part of the horse's barrel to be comfortable. Consequently, I cannot use a dressage saddle very easily as my leg will not conform to the horse's side.

When I ride a 16.2 hand slab-sided TB, I feel like I am riding a pony. I ride with a much shorter stirrup so I can have my lower leg in a place where it is effective. My primary horse is a 17.2 hand Oldenburg mare that has a huge barrel. I am the most comfortable on her and can ride with a longer stirrup.

It's so nice to hear that others share my long-leg-need-big-barrel syndrome! I'm 6"3 with 36" inseam. My 'slab-sided' 16.2 H TB became my trail horse when I started eventing, 'cause I couldn't ride with stirrups short enough to keep my feet from hitting his elbows when galloping!
My event horse is 17.1 with a moderate size barrel, & my dressage instructor keeps after me to not point my toes down every time I try to reach his side with my spur, 'cause my feet are below his belly...
Anyway, I wasn't really able to ride 'short' in the jumping saddle until I got my xc forward flap saddle, which could accomodate my long thigh. I had thought I was riding short enough (& at my knees' comfort level) until Denny told me I needed to punch a couple more holes in my leathers 'cause those suckers were going up higher!
Once I got over the knee pain.... I really did find that I was much better balanced & felt more 'secure' riding short.

[purplnurpl]

I'm 6' on a short day.
I like my peddels a little longer up to about 3'6''. Then they have to be jacked up otherwise my ass taps the saddle. Also, my knees and hips are janked from years of competitive swimming. So usually after gallop sets I hop off and hit the ground. I have to slowly untangle the angles.
I hide behind trees when I hop off so no one sees the pain. : )

I tip forward in shorter stirrups. But I have a feeling that has to do with core strength. It will whoop up on me soon and I'll have to deal with my shortcommings and whip into shape.

here is an 18" XL forward flap. And it's not quite large enough!!
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p189/xckaboom/sale1.jpg

[GO-dog-GO]

I am 5'9" and have a 38" inseam. While my stirrups are longer than what most 6'4" men ride in, they are still short compared my height.


I'm 6' 9" and we have the same inseam......scary.

I'm very comfortable riding pretty short.....more so then longer. I couldn't do so until Stubben made me a couple saddles with the flap in the right place though.

[2016 RoyalCrown KTug]

Im not tall tall, but 5' 8" with relatively long legs but also a tall upper body... I tend to ride with my jump stirrups very short when im eventing and doing the jumpers... But when I am doing the hunters i go a hole longer and the equitation 2 holes longer.

I think that the length of your stirrups is up to you, you need to feel comfortable and centered . . . Someone can suggest lenthening or shortening your stirrups, but in the end, it is your choice. You need to feel balanced and in control. For certain things you make like you sturrups longer and for other things shorter. :winkgrin:

[flyingtails]

:yes:

I'm not super tall, but have the hip to knee length of some one who is typically almost three feet taller than I am... go firgure. Makes saddle fitting extra fun as most of the companies that make the saddles with the extra long high forward flap seem to start at about a downpayment for a new condo level :o...
I actually often jump in my bareback pad bc my trainer says I jump better in it. This leave my leg really long but keeps me closer to the horse, which she is forever trying accomplish with various torture instruments like jumping with my hands on my head, no stirrups no reins etc... Anyhow when I ride with the stirups having them SHORT short, helps me stay closer to the horse better and not allow my hip flexors to lock as easily (causing to go too far up the neck or pop way up into the air), which is also a problem I have. Needless to say the two exaomples are opposites. Talk about weird:confused: So I think for some people its not an ankle issue but a hip flexor issue. I have very tight ones. I did some beginning ballet and am trying yoga to loosen them up. It seems to be helping
I wish some kinesioligist that events would find this thread and do a study on it. But I think riding with shorter stirrups does seem to help people flex at their ankle or fold at the hip better.
I think its all bout what works for you and your particular muscle groups and confirmation. Different types of muscling and muscle development occurs on people of same height and leg dimention. Another words having the same height does not mean you have the same body.
The beauty of eventing is its not an equitation class. Long as your positions looks decent who cares if your stirrups are up by your chin or if you have Waaaaay down there some where? I say forget about it, close your leg, fold and give. :lol::winkgrin: