No Stirrup November has arrived and that means the stirrups will stay in the tack room this month! Riding without stirrups is supposed to improve the balance, posture and seat of the rider, but if you do it too often and not in the correct way it can cause your horses to feel uncomfortable and even injured.
In the beginning it is best to take it slow. Constantly riding without stirrups right from the start is not a good idea. It's normal that in the beginning the body is not well balanced and has to adapt to riding without stirrups. For the rider this can cause muscle pain (we all know the feeling), but also the horse is not used to this and may suffer from it. Start with a few minutes and gradually increase it.
It is also important to warm up first. This goes for yourself as well as for your horse. Starting your ride without stirrups is not recommended. Make sure you warm up so the muscles of your horse (and yourself :-)) are supple and ready to work.
Photo: Pinterest