For anyone who "gave up" stirrups for lent, or for a while...

[tpup]

I read some posts on COTH about riders who gave up stirrups for lent or another period of time......if you have, did you do it for ALL types of riding including trail? I am tempted.....but not sure I have to guts to do it on trail rides. Did you set any "conditions?" or were you 100% true and honest to it? ;)

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I have to say, that is truly commitment to your religion!!! On the other hand, I don't think God would want you to get hurt, either.

[tpup]

LOL, I know....I am not religious but I would consider giving them up for a "lenten timeframe". I've been riding a bit without them and it has REALLY helped me...I am more secure in my seat, posting is much better and more correct, and when I canter without stirrups - wow - the bounce goes away! And my horse seems to LOVE it strangely enough. So I know I need to do more, but the problem is I get tired after a few minutes so I go back to my stirrups....and today it dawned on me that if I didn't have them to go back to...hmmm...it would hurt like h*** but I would be forced to get better :)

[msj]

As a teenager my Irish trainer had us work 2 hr lessons without stirrups. We were allowed them for the first 15 minutes of warmup but only for the horses sakes, not ours. As a result, I would do the same thing for every day work between lessons. BUT I know I used them for trail riding. Safety is more important.

Why not just give them up for ring work?

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Good compromise! In grad school, I offered up to my roommate that I could give up sugar if she limited herself to 3 smokes a day (in lab, of course, there was no smoking, and she'd come back home and puff away like her life depended on it). Sadly though, she couldn't do it.

[BlueEyedSorrel]

Well as an ex-Catholic, I'd rather give up stirrups for Lent than chocolate. At least there would be some positive outcome at the end of 40 days.

As a kid, my parents forced me to go to the Catholic CCD classes and the teacher wanted everyone to write down what they were giving up for lent and come back next week prepared to discuss it. I seriously couldn't think of anything--all my addictions (horses, reading long novels, horses, drawing, horses, playing the piano, horses...did I mention horses) were healthy! My mother suggested chocolate and I was positively aghasted.

BES

[JetsBuddy]

I ride bareback a lot - sometimes with a pad, sometimes not. I've also trail ridden bareback but only on the horse that I knew would stop no matter what. I ride the pony mare in the woods and in the ring bareback more than with a saddle. I think that it definitely helps with your balance and your seat. Do what you are comfortable with and be safe.

[msj]

Well as an ex-Catholic, I'd rather give up stirrups for Lent than chocolate. At least there would be some positive outcome at the end of 40 days.


Good way to look at it as a positive outcome. :) I'm probably considered an ex-Lutheran and I can't even begin to tell you when it was but the last thing I gave up for lent was Church!

[BuddyRoo]

I dunno. No stirrup work is great if you're doing it right...but it can also create some knee-pinning situations when left unchecked.

I grew up riding bareback so this whole no-stirrup thing to me is just any other day. Old news. LOL When I first started English, my trainer had me going over ridiculous jumps for my ability level and tried to "scare" me by having me do it no stirrups. Didn't phase me. I was used to it. But I think I pin my knee horribly if I'm not thinking about it wrapping around.

Something to think about. I may stick like velcro but it might not be pretty. Sigh.

[VWBug]

I rode without them for 6 weeks.

My leg was bothering me when I put weight in the stirrup. So while I was getting my leg sorted out I just pulled the stirrups clear off the saddle because the prospect of not riding for that long was unacceptable. I even did a paper chase. I started out only being able to taking little bites of trot and canter but pretty soon I was up to full speed. And thank god my horse has a sense of humor and is honest as the day is long.

[BEARCAT]

Well ,I gave up my stirrups, but only because I have a broken leg and it would have hurt like *heck* to put it in a stirrup...
But I also grew up taking lessons were dropping your stirrups was the norm, so it didn't bother me...

[amastrike]

I gave up my stirrups last year and am doing it again this year.

I do virtually all riding without them. The only exception is if I'm riding a horse that I feel may be dangerous without stirrups. I don't think God wants me to die for lent. It's actually pretty easy to keep, I just take the stirrups off my saddle, so there's no temptation.

[5]

On occasion I have ridden sans saddle (much to the Tim's chagrin). Does that count?
If so yes.

[WarmbloodPegasus]

Eh, I love bareback riding and I used to do a lot of it, so stirrupless riding isn't a big deal for me. Although I've only recently picked up riding after a riding accident, I can tell it's going to be a normal exercise at my new barn.

It's amazing for building leg muscle and confidence in your seat. But I'd probably not do it on a horse I didn't know and/or trust...common sense should point to why!

[Transplant]

I rode without them for 6 weeks.

My leg was bothering me when I put weight in the stirrup. So while I was getting my leg sorted out I just pulled the stirrups clear off the saddle because the prospect of not riding for that long was unacceptable. I even did a paper chase. I started out only being able to taking little bites of trot and canter but pretty soon I was up to full speed. And thank god my horse has a sense of humor and is honest as the day is long.

An old knee injury is bothering me and I was thinking about taking a break from riding for a week or two to see if it gets better. I wonder if no stirrup work would help it too.

[brightwhitestockings]

I read some posts on COTH about riders who gave up stirrups for lent or another period of time......

GENIUS idea!!!!!!! haha I go to a cathlioc school so they make a big deal about giving up something for lent and all that good stuff and i was at a loss for this year :lol:.

I ride without stirrups a lot though, so much i barely notice the difference when i'm riding with/without them. I have Iron Man thighs :lol: my horse's name is Iron Man ;)

[Cruise Control]

Well not exactly lent, at my barn we have "March madness" where we give up stirrups for most of your lesson or for riding on your own. Usually we ride for about 10- 15 minutes without them in a lesson. March is crunch time and at the end of the month riders that want to have a Dollar bareback contest and the winner gets all of the cash:D. Last year it was 40 dollars:yes: But in the end the winner bought pizza for everyone at the barn. It was so much fun.:cool: