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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Trying to add speed to my runs now. I've gotten checks in 4D 3 times now!! My horse can go faster but me not so much. My feet get way behind me. Somehow. Any tips on how to remember to keep them forward? I KNOW I'm suppose to but find myself hauling to 3rd barrel or out the alley & feet are bent up behind me & have no way to brace myself. |
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  More bootie than waist!
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Location: Riding Crackhead. | Shorten your stirrups |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1066
| Find a saddle that makes your feet stay out front. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 816
| you could use a rubber band and tie it from the stirrup to the d ring to keep the stirrups forward. it would break if you got in a wreck but might give enough assistance to keep your feet forward. make sure your putting your weight in your heels. I just remember being young and riding colts and being yelled at the whole time "heels down, chin up, and for god sakes watch their ears!!" lol! I used to roll my eyes then but im telling my kids the same things now. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Would love a new saddle but no money for it right now. I've played with stirrups & they feel like right length. I split the difference between 2 holes. The shorter length felt too short but if it will help I'll try it.
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| CYA Ranch - 2013-11-19 2:22 PM
Shorten your stirrups
This! But if this doesn't work maybe they are too short? Most people I have given lessons to with this problem are riding with their stirrups to long but there is that handful that have them to short and are forced to pull their feet back to keep their butts from having a fight with their cantle!
ETA: No matter which way you go, either up or down, is going to feel awkward at first. You will need to ride with them and get used to the different feel before you run.
ALSO when I was having this problem I found that my saddle was to small  I sold my old saddle and bought a 1/2 size bigger and it made all the difference in the world. No one wants to hear their saddle is too small but wow did it make the difference!
Edited by cyount2009 2013-11-19 2:53 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| A big part of it could be your saddle. Either seat size or the way the fenders are hung. Most importantly, though really work on your horsemanship. Believe me, if you ride enough colts that could throw your butt, and you'll soon find out where your seat and feet need to be. Don't balance on your reins and DO use the saddle horn; it's there for a reason. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace. |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| Make sure the seat of your saddle is large enough. If it is not, it will throw your upper body forward and your feet will go back. |
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| nance - 2013-11-19 3:15 PM
So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace.
I ride mine really short, when I stand up in my saddle you can see 3 to 4 inches of daylight between my seat and the crotch of my jeans. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| luckyjo - 2013-11-19 3:22 PM Make sure the seat of your saddle is large enough. If it is not, it will throw your upper body forward and your feet will go back.
Is there a rule of thumb when deciding saddle seat size? Mine is a 15" with extra padding. I'm 5'4" and 145 lbs. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| nance - 2013-11-19 3:27 PM luckyjo - 2013-11-19 3:22 PM Make sure the seat of your saddle is large enough. If it is not, it will throw your upper body forward and your feet will go back. Is there a rule of thumb when deciding saddle seat size? Mine is a 15" with extra padding. I'm 5'4" and 145 lbs.
Hmmm. Mine aren't that short. I'll give it a try! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| Shoulders, hips and feet should be aligned in a comfortable position. I personally don't like stirrups too short OR too long. When you are balanced, you can easily and slightly shift your weight forward and backward. You should not have to "brace" for the turn. When you come up to the barrel, just shift your weight to your seat...feel your horse rate...and sit your turn. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| LabRat - 2013-11-19 3:34 PM Shoulders, hips and feet should be aligned in a comfortable position. I personally don't like stirrups too short OR too long. When you are balanced, you can easily and slightly shift your weight forward and backward. You should not have to "brace" for the turn. When you come up to the barrel, just shift your weight to your seat...feel your horse rate...and sit your turn.
Thanks |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | Strengthening your core muscles can also help. You should also be trying to squeeze with your knees to some degree which should help as well.
I do agree with checking your stirrups. You would be amazed what a difference it will make. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: Iowa/Missouri | You might try riding in a 14 inch seat. I'm about your size if not just a hair bigger and have always rode in a 14 inch seat. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | If your seat is to small for you it will be harder to get your feet foreward. So make sure you have the right seat size.  |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | cyount2009 - 2013-11-19 3:24 PM nance - 2013-11-19 3:15 PM So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace. I ride mine really short, when I stand up in my saddle you can see 3 to 4 inches of daylight between my seat and the crotch of my jeans.
I ride mine short too as you describe. It makes it easier for me to get up when needed, sit when needed and put my legs where they need to be. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I second the stirrup length, all my horses I ride on different stirrup lengths. I play with it till I am comfortable.
I also have to grab the mane on my one horse by her poll to pull me out of the saddle or with her power I would be behind the cantle.
So also practice grabbing the mane to pull yourself up |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | nance - 2013-11-19 3:15 PM So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace.
Sounds like you need some horsemanship lessons to teach you to put weight in your stirrups. I've seen many people that when they add speed to a run they bring their legs up and squeeze with their knees putting them into a fetal position. Your body gets tilted forward and your feet will go behind you.
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| I am moving forward from this issue. At first I thought shortening my stirrups would help, but I discovered that lengthening them helped much better.
These are things I have done to also help:
Tie my stirrups forward with twine
Think "FEET" in the dash
Push all my weight to my feet to keep them from going "back"
Sometimes I almost think LOCK MY KNEES to keep them forward.
So far all of these things have really really made a difference for me. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Nevertooold - 2013-11-19 7:02 PM nance - 2013-11-19 3:15 PM So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace. Sounds like you need some horsemanship lessons to teach you to put weight in your stirrups. I've seen many people that when they add speed to a run they bring their legs up and squeeze with their knees putting them into a fetal position. Your body gets tilted forward and your feet will go behind you.
That is exactly what happens Nevertoold - I end up squeezing with my knees, feet up behind me & body leaning forward. Like riding those little motorcycles, crotch rockets. Which come to think of it, felt about that fast last nite. I'm sure I would benefit from lessons. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | While practicing tie the back strap/ fender to the cinch ring, this will keep you from swinging your legs behind you. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Nevertooold - 2013-11-19 7:02 PM nance - 2013-11-19 3:15 PM So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace. Sounds like you need some horsemanship lessons to teach you to put weight in your stirrups. I've seen many people that when they add speed to a run they bring their legs up and squeeze with their knees putting them into a fetal position. Your body gets tilted forward and your feet will go behind you.
I have seen this happen quite often. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | nance - 2013-11-19 7:26 PM Nevertooold - 2013-11-19 7:02 PM nance - 2013-11-19 3:15 PM So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace. Sounds like you need some horsemanship lessons to teach you to put weight in your stirrups. I've seen many people that when they add speed to a run they bring their legs up and squeeze with their knees putting them into a fetal position. Your body gets tilted forward and your feet will go behind you.
Do a lot of bareback riding. Teach yourself to use your core muscles and proper balance and IMO no better way to do that than riding bareback. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| Thanks for all the good ideas. I'll play around with stirrup length but suspect it is more of a rider issue than anything caused by my saddle.
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | a saddle that is to small will kick your feet out behind you and tip you forward.........
m |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| Maybe the position of your feet in the stirrup throws your balance off? If you ride on the balls of your feet, try putting your whole foot in the stirrup or vis versa. |
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 Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | mruggles - 2013-11-20 1:14 PM a saddle that is to small will kick your feet out behind you and tip you forward.........
m Ditto... One thing I have recently learned is seat size is so important... I am not huge, but I have a few extra pounds, when I have my stirrups adjusted where I like them (I ride with alot of leg) I like a bigger seat to sit down on my pockets for a nice whoa and when Im holding on around a barrel. When I tell people I like a 15" seat they tell me I don't need a 15"... well as a matter of fact I do, because where I like my stirrups a little shorter I need the extra room to sit back.
You will be amazed at when the angle of your thigh is right and you have the right saddle seat size... the ride is awesome. As far as your feet going back, I would suggest trying someone else's saddle, in a little bigger size then your current saddle...and see what happens, cause when you are allowed to get down on your pockets your feet stay forward.
Edited by cindyt 2013-11-20 2:34 PM
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Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | nance - 2013-11-19 7:26 PM Nevertooold - 2013-11-19 7:02 PM nance - 2013-11-19 3:15 PM So how do you decide if stirrups are at the right length? This is an honest question. Where they are now is comfortable & they stay forward when loping or even high lope. But last night he ran faster than I've ever gone heading for 3'rd and as we got there I panicked cause my legs completely out of position to brace. Sounds like you need some horsemanship lessons to teach you to put weight in your stirrups. I've seen many people that when they add speed to a run they bring their legs up and squeeze with their knees putting them into a fetal position. Your body gets tilted forward and your feet will go behind you.
Agree NTO with putting weight in your stirrups, it is why I ride with a shorter stirrup, I can't fit more then a couple fingers under me and my saddle standing up, so they aren't like a jockey, lol but I like to be able to use them stirrups! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| cindyt - 2013-11-20 2:32 PM mruggles - 2013-11-20 1:14 PM a saddle that is to small will kick your feet out behind you and tip you forward.........
m Ditto... One thing I have recently learned is seat size is so important... I am not huge, but I have a few extra pounds, when I have my stirrups adjusted where I like them (I ride with alot of leg) I like a bigger seat to sit down on my pockets for a nice whoa and when Im holding on around a barrel. When I tell people I like a 15" seat they tell me I don't need a 15"... well as a matter of fact I do, because where I like my stirrups a little shorter I need the extra room to sit back.
You will be amazed at when the angle of your thigh is right and you have the right saddle seat size... the ride is awesome. As far as your feet going back, I would suggest trying someone else's saddle, in a little bigger size then your current saddle...and see what happens, cause when you are allowed to get down on your pockets your feet stay forward.
Well I think maybe my saddle IS too small. I paid alot of attention when riding tonight and I'm sitting halfway up the cantle. When I try pushing my feet forward I run into the cantle & can't really get them out there. Also when sitting straight my feet are a little behind. This is bad. I can't afford a new saddle.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 591
| Awhile back someone here suggested loping your horse around with your feet out of the stirrups. This helped me a lot. It shows you where your seat should be down in the saddle and where your feet should be too. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 319
| reditorun - 2013-11-20 7:04 PM Awhile back someone here suggested loping your horse around with your feet out of the stirrups. This helped me a lot. It shows you where your seat should be down in the saddle and where your feet should be too.
I'll try that. Thanks. |
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Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | If you have barrel racing stirrups as in narrow swap them out for roper stirrups. This allows you to balance on the whole ball of your foot. |
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Ms Bling Bling Sleeze Kitty
Posts: 20904
Location: LouLouVille, OK | nance - 2013-11-20 6:41 PM cindyt - 2013-11-20 2:32 PM mruggles - 2013-11-20 1:14 PM a saddle that is to small will kick your feet out behind you and tip you forward.........
m Ditto... One thing I have recently learned is seat size is so important... I am not huge, but I have a few extra pounds, when I have my stirrups adjusted where I like them (I ride with alot of leg) I like a bigger seat to sit down on my pockets for a nice whoa and when Im holding on around a barrel. When I tell people I like a 15" seat they tell me I don't need a 15"... well as a matter of fact I do, because where I like my stirrups a little shorter I need the extra room to sit back.
You will be amazed at when the angle of your thigh is right and you have the right saddle seat size... the ride is awesome. As far as your feet going back, I would suggest trying someone else's saddle, in a little bigger size then your current saddle...and see what happens, cause when you are allowed to get down on your pockets your feet stay forward.Well I think maybe my saddle IS too small. I paid alot of attention when riding tonight and I'm sitting halfway up the cantle. When I try pushing my feet forward I run into the cantle & can't really get them out there. Also when sitting straight my feet are a little behind. This is bad. I can't afford a new saddle.
Can you try someone else's saddle that is bigger? Just to try?
that always helps :)
Im fixing to list my 14.5 I just bought a few months ago... I just need a 15... sad I notice the difference in that 1/2" |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | cindyt - 2013-11-21 7:41 AM nance - 2013-11-20 6:41 PM cindyt - 2013-11-20 2:32 PM mruggles - 2013-11-20 1:14 PM a saddle that is to small will kick your feet out behind you and tip you forward.........
m Ditto... One thing I have recently learned is seat size is so important... I am not huge, but I have a few extra pounds, when I have my stirrups adjusted where I like them (I ride with alot of leg) I like a bigger seat to sit down on my pockets for a nice whoa and when Im holding on around a barrel. When I tell people I like a 15" seat they tell me I don't need a 15"... well as a matter of fact I do, because where I like my stirrups a little shorter I need the extra room to sit back.
You will be amazed at when the angle of your thigh is right and you have the right saddle seat size... the ride is awesome. As far as your feet going back, I would suggest trying someone else's saddle, in a little bigger size then your current saddle...and see what happens, cause when you are allowed to get down on your pockets your feet stay forward.Well I think maybe my saddle IS too small. I paid alot of attention when riding tonight and I'm sitting halfway up the cantle. When I try pushing my feet forward I run into the cantle & can't really get them out there. Also when sitting straight my feet are a little behind. This is bad. I can't afford a new saddle.
that always helps :)
Im fixing to list my 14.5 I just bought a few months ago... I just need a 15... sad I notice the difference in that 1/2"
A lot of people do not seem to realize that seat size is not just about the size of you butt. The legnth of your legs and where you ride you stirrups comes into the equation when it comes to seat and whether you are setting on your pockets or if you are rolled up on your crotch. When you are forward on your crotch, it is going to be much harder to keep you feet from getting behind.
Another factor in keeping your feet forward is your weight distribution. Is you weight all on your seat as opposed to all or some portion being on your feet/stirrups. |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16572
Location: Displaced Iowegian | nance - 2013-11-20 12:51 PM Thanks for all the good ideas. I'll play around with stirrup length but suspect it is more of a rider issue than anything caused by my saddle.
I agree with the horsemanship....but you can take your saddle to a saddlemaker (repair person) and have your fenders "blocked" forward. This keeps them from swinging back so easily. |
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How to keep feet forward