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ogismom
G.O.G Community Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 10th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 8 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 03:20 pm |
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| Hi, I have not posted here for over a year, so I hope this works. I finally bought my dream horse and he is gaited. I just love him. I have not had the opportunity to do any trail ridding until this summer as I brought him home and ride with neighbors who have trailers. Every time we have ridden for over an hour or so my akles hurt sooooo much that I can't wait for the ride to end. I wonder if my stirrups are to long or short? I do have a bad ankle (been sprained too many times, haha) but we rode 16 miles yesterday and I was hurting so badly the last hour or so. Does anyone have any suggestions? Please let me know. Any input would help. Thanks!
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whattarack
Pasture Boss
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 03:28 pm |
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If you have an Imus saddle with western fenders, it is possible that the fenders need adjusted so you will have the narrowest part of the fender above the stirrup. I've seen shorter people ride with the fenders so low that they loose the most flexible part for the stirrup. The fenders can be slid up under the saddle to allow the stirrup to hang where it should.
I don't know if this is what you are experiencing or not.
Otherwise, typically, you should sit in the saddle, relax your legs out of the stirrups and the bottom of the stirrup should hit you about at your ankle. Of course, we must adjust to our own body types and comfort.
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Being Offended is Optional.
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whattarack
Pasture Boss
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 03:35 pm |
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Example of explanation:
The lower the stirrup to the narrow end of the fender, the more supple and flexible for your ankles. Generally, fenders can be pushed upward under the skirt of the saddle to achieve more space for the stirrup.
Attachment: 4-Beat Saddle Western.JPG (Downloaded 178 times)
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Being Offended is Optional.
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TN Trailrider
G.O.G Community Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 03:35 pm |
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| You could also try those stirrup turners. Can't remember what they're called, but most of the catalog places have them .. Valley Vet, etc., and you also see ads for them in a lot of horse magazines. It's a metal thing that hangs from your stirrup fender where the stirrup usually fastens, and then another part attaches to the stirrup. The middle part is a swivel joint and this allows the stirrup to swivel so that your foot can sit parallel to the horse (or wherever else you want it) without putting any strain on your ankle or knees. It's something I've often thought about getting. Usually it's not my feet that hurts, it's my butt!!!
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Lynne
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GypsySusan
G.O.G Community Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 04:07 pm |
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I bought the stirrup turners (ours are from E-Z UP because we also got the extenders) for both my husband and I and I cannot believe the difference it has made in the comfort of our rides. We both have bad hips and backs and really experienced a lot of knee pain and foot numbness from even short rides. Now, we can both go as long as we want and don't have problems. I highly recommend them.
I'm also short and have one hip higher than the other (or one leg longer- I don't know which really) and have had a lot of difficulties getting my stirrups at the right length on both sides. It always seemed I was reaching for one side or the other. I did make the adjustment WR recommended and still have my fenders at the highest level on both sides. What I did to accomodate the leg length difference was adjust the length of my fender. Now, I can ride balanced and centered. That also helps alleviate the hip pain on my right side. This has also helped my mare become more responsive because I'm now able to give clearer cues from my legs and seat and I'm sitting still in the saddle instead of always trying to keep my balance.
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Susan http://www.gypsytrotters.com
Phil 4:11-13, 19
Missouri Fox Trotters: To Ride One... Is to Own One.
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ogismom
G.O.G Community Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 10th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 8 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 06:29 pm |
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Thanks so much for the responses to my post! I am going to find those stirrup turners for sure. I have seen them in magazines and catalogs but did not think of them. As for the fender being shortened...I don't (wish I did) have an Emus saddle so I don't think I can do anything with my fenders. I have a barrel saddle (did not do much trail riding when I bought it and needed a rounded skirt, light weight sadlle at the time). I appreciate your comments and am glad I don't feel like such a 'whimp' now as I know others have similar problems. I am 61 and feel so OLD sometimes...haha. Thanks again! 
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Brenda Im
Pasture Boss
| Joined: | Tue Dec 7th, 2004 |
| Location: | New York USA |
| Posts: | 2115 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 06:52 pm |
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Ogismom,
Thank you for sharing. I would like to say that the stirrup turners will likely make a big difference for you. Also, one of the reasons hip/knee/ankle pain is so common for riders is that the majority of saddle makers design their saddles to accommodate the traditional 'correct equitation' position of having a straight line from the top of the spin, thru the hips, and heels. In other words, place the stirrups so that your feet are almost directly underneath your hips.
This may be deemed 'correct,' but it is hardly natural, or comfortable. A bareback rider, for instance, would not adopt this pose naturally. Instead, the foot would be slightly ahead of the hips, and the shoulders (often) very slightly back of the hips.
The 4-Beat saddle is designed to place the rider in this position and, as a result, riders discover that they can ride pain free - often for the first time in years! (That was my own experience, btw.)
PB 
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You must not think me necessarily foolish because I am facetious, nor will I consider you necessarily wise because you are grave.
Sydney Smith (1771 - 1845)
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ssecmft
G.O.G Community Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 8th, 2008 07:58 pm |
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| I soak my fenders really well with a good saddlers oil and then twist them all the way around, twice, facing the back of the saddle. Then I place a piece of 2x4 in the stirrups to hold them that way. I use the 2x4 even after the fenders will hold this shape. The better you soak the fenders, the faster it works. Just a suggestion.
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TN Trailrider
G.O.G Community Member
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Posted: Thu Sep 11th, 2008 03:07 am |
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| I just got a Country Supply catalog and the stirrup things are in there. There are two: One is called a Stirrup Straight (pair $19.99) and the other is an E-Z Knee Stirrup Corrector by Cashel (you can go to Cashel's website) for $29.65. They aren't made like I described (I've seen those that swivel in the middle somewhere!) but they are designed to hold your foot parallel to the horse's body without any twist in the fender. I think Country Supply's web is http://www.horse.com. If you go to the web for their catalog, it's on page 23.
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Lynne
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ogismom
G.O.G Community Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 10th, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 8 |
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Posted: Thu Sep 11th, 2008 02:45 pm |
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| Thanks for the information about where to get the stirrup rotators. My neighbor and I may go to Big Dees this weekend and look also, before I order online. Thanks a lot, everyone!
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souzko
G.O.G Community Member
| Joined: | Fri Oct 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
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Posted: Fri Sep 12th, 2008 02:56 am |
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My neighbor and I may go to Big Dees this weekend and look also, before I order online
Does that mean your located in Ohio? Or are there other Big Dees?
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Susan O.
http://www.miragecardigans.com
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racknrollfilly
G.O.G Community Member
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Posted: Fri Sep 12th, 2008 09:13 pm |
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Hi Ogismom,
If your saddle leans more towards an english style, I got these great stirrups from National Bridle.
http://www.nationalbridle.com/product-p/1-6829.htm
They look weird and I can tell you that they have sparked a few conversations but they are wonderful. No more aches of any kind.
The only trouble I had was getting use to not having to turn my stirrup when I get on, it is already done for you. I guess old habits are hard to break..lol
They also have the stirrup swivels as well.
~Becky
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Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail ~Emerson
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ogismom
G.O.G Community Member
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Posted: Tue Sep 16th, 2008 01:45 pm |
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Yes, Souzko, I am in Ohio....Salem. Are you near there?
I am getting nervous, my husband talked to a friend who told him a 'homemade' way to do the swivels.....YIKES! I think I will just go out and get them before he tries....I want them to be right and sturdy to have confidence. What do you think?
We got hit this weekend by the effects of IKE and still have no electricity all around us. No school yesterday and most of our time has been spent hauling water and making sure our generators and stuff are working and cleaning up fallen trees and broken stuff. We have great neighbors down the road that have a huge generator and stopped at each of our homes (who had horses) and told us to get as much water from them as we needed....how wonderful, huh? Sure makes me feel for those that got hit really hard by Ike. Prayers go out to all of them, for sure.
Last edited on Tue Sep 16th, 2008 02:59 pm by ogismom
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redhorsemama
G.O.G Community Member
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Posted: Wed Sep 17th, 2008 05:08 am |
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I think you might be happier with homemade stirrup turners, if you're looking at the metal ones sold by a lot of the tack stores on line. We have some that are made of real thick leather...cut into a sorta rounded-corner rectangle... with holes punched in the ends to allow a long bolt with a washer and nut. I like them alot better than the metal ones....(we have both)...they're not as heavy and they don't rub against/bang your ankles as bad.
I say, let hubby have take a shot at it...you might like it better than store-bought!!!
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RedHorseMama@Cup-a-Joe Farm
Home of Kaydie, Ginger, Annie and the much beloved and ever irascible, Joe
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ogismom
G.O.G Community Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 10th, 2005 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 22nd, 2008 03:35 pm |
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Thank you all so much for your advice...I bought the stirrup rotators this weekend and went on a 16 mile ride on Sunday.....wooooohooooooo! Did they ever make a difference!!! My whole ride was so much more enjoyable! We had a lovely day and I think my horse (Jesse) felt the difference in me too. We rode at Beaver Creek State park (horseman's). There were a LOT of trees down from the wind storm we had from IKE so we did a lot of detours and improvising, but had a GREAT time. My husband had to do some adjusting to get the rotators on, but he 'got er done' and I am happy. Thanks again for all the advice and suggestions!!! 
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souzko
G.O.G Community Member
| Joined: | Fri Oct 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
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Posted: Tue Sep 23rd, 2008 02:02 am |
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Yes, Souzko, I am in Ohio....Salem. Are you near there?
No, I'm north of there, though my Mother lived in Columbiana for years and my Dad grew up in Leetonia. So I know the area.
We got hit this weekend by the effects of IKE and still have no electricity all around us.
We got hit as well, fortunatly we have a generator wired into our house. Poor Mo is still stuck in the paddock while I clean tree debri from his pasture.
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Susan O.
http://www.miragecardigans.com
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