01/26/2026
⚠️Stirrup length isn’t one-size-fits-all approach.
It needs to take into account what the rider is doing, what they can physically do, and what their current problems are.
This rider has arthritic hips and often felt sore for days after riding. She felt comfortable with long stirrups – but comfort doesn’t always equal support.
With long stirrups, she pushed her legs forward to feel secure, which placed her back onto the cantle in an anterior pelvic tilt. That position felt stable, but it didn’t allow her legs or pelvis to relax, absorb movement, or be effective.
Rather than being supported by the saddle, she was gripping with her hips and groin muscles to hold herself upright. In arthritic hips, that extra loading and muscle tension is a big reason riders can feel sore after riding.
After improving her pelvic position and shortening the stirrups:
• Her legs were supported rather than hanging
• The pull on her pelvis reduced
• Her pelvis could sit more neutrally
• Her hips didn’t have to work so hard just to stay upright
With a slightly more flexed hip and knee, her pelvis could finally start to move, her leg became more effective, and she felt more in control. Her muscles were working in an easier-to-access range than when her legs were straight.
This is why I don’t believe in blanket advice like “just ride no-stirrups” or “make them longer.”
This is about finding a position and posture that supports the rider’s individual body, taking into account their physical ability and medical history.
First, work out what the problem is and why it’s happening.
Then choose a strategy that addresses that issue – for that rider.
Every rider needs a Riding Ready Position – one that reduces strain, improves balance, and allows controlled movement.
If you have pain during or after riding and feel like something just isn’t working, book in for a rider physio session so we can find a strategy that supports your body and helps you ride more comfortably.
*edit-This post looks at rider capacity and response to change. It is not an assessment of the saddle.
This saddle was fitted to the rider and her horse by a qualified saddle fitter. My role here was to assess the rider within her current setup.
Would I recommend a new saddle immediately? No. First, I want to see what happens when we stop aggravating her hip symptoms by adjusting stirrup length, alongside appropriate off-horse exercises, and then reassess.
Could things look different with a different saddle? Possibly. But given her current physical limitations, no saddle, knee block, or equipment change will create a neutral pelvis or a fully draped leg if the physical capacity isn’t there. Something may look better without functioning better.
That conclusion is based on a full on- and off-horse assessment and two hours of clinical work with this rider.
