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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 622
 
Location: Paducah, Ky | My new horse drops hard when he turns and I am struggling to keep my legs in front of me. I was already thinking about getting a new saddle anyway but I was wondering which ones you ladys would recommend to help keep your legs from getting behind you. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
  
| The first thing I would say is that your seat is too small and you cannot get far enough back in the saddle to get your feet forward. If you you buy a new saddle buy a large enough seat. Josh saddles have forward hung stirrups which helps tremendously. I am not thin but not particularly fat and my saddle is a 16 inch. It took a little used to but it has really helped my riding. I wear a size 12 jean if that helps. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Shorten your stirrups. Like a lot. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| classicpotatochip - 2017-08-02 11:58 AM
Shorten your stirrups. Like a lot.
This.
You have to be able to get weight in your stirrups to get your feet out in front. Like a lot of weight.
I probably have about 12" of space between the seat and my bum when i stand up.
It'll feel really weird at first.
Kendra Dickson has a great video on trainingbarrelhorses.com called "keep your feet to keep your seat" |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I agree with shortening your stirrups first and see how that works for you.  |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6444
Location: Montana | Definitely shorten your stirrups...great place to start...really works! |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| Yes, shorten your stirrups. I've recently changed to the Wall stirrups that have the 3" base, and they've helped my leg placement. |
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 Saint Stacey
| Are your stirrups too long? Some saddles do naturally throw you forward and that kicks your legs out behind you. Barrel racers are notorious for riding in too small of a seat. Not everyone fits into a 13.5 inch seat.
For the time being, just tie your stirrups forward. Just run a piece of parachute cord around the fender up under the seat jockey, pull the fenders forward and tie to the breastcollar D's at the front of the saddle. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 682
Location: Northwest | SKM - 2017-08-02 3:56 PM
Are your stirrups too long? Some saddles do naturally throw you forward and that kicks your legs out behind you. Barrel racers are notorious for riding in too small of a seat. Not everyone fits into a 13.5 inch seat.
For the time being, just tie your stirrups forward. Just run a piece of parachute cord around the fender up under the seat jockey, pull the fenders forward and tie to the breastcollar D's at the front of the saddle.
I also suggest just tying your stirrups forward. I've done it in the past and it worked great. |
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 Sorry I don't have any advice
Posts: 1975
Location: Sunnyland Florida |
It's your saddle - if your stirrups swivel backward, and are not hobbled or built to hang straight or forward, they will swivel back. I'd recommend changing saddles. If you jack your stirrups up, they still can go back. What type of saddle are you currently riding?
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Curve Ball
Posts: 2258
Location: Pelham, TN | I ride in a Shallow Creek Secure Ride that has a deep seat and helps keep your feet forward. I like room in my saddle so your legs do not hang straight under you. |
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Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| OhMax - 2017-08-02 12:08 PM
classicpotatochip - 2017-08-02 11:58 AM
Shorten your stirrups. Like a lot.
This.
You have to be able to get weight in your stirrups to get your feet out in front. Like a lot of weight.
I probably have about 12" of space between the seat and my bum when i stand up.
It'll feel really weird at first.
Kendra Dickson has a great video on trainingbarrelhorses.com called "keep your feet to keep your seat"
Me too. When I'm having trouble with a horse on the pattern, I usually try shortening my stirrups first.
Saddle seat size makes a difference, go up. If it's too small the cantle can pop you forward and throw your feet behind you.
If your stirrups are short enough, it forces your feet forward and forces you to engage your core. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | I certainly like the idea of raising your stirrups-I see a lot of riders struggle because they are barely int their stirrups. However, due to my age and shape I struggled, even after shortening my stirrups-it was a long road to finding what I liked and I've found the Mary Walker saddle is awesome for keeping my feet where I want them. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | How does your saddle fit your horse? Is it downhill?
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I had a 15" saddle made for me and the first thing that happened was my feet going behind me when I made a run. Had the saddle maker make me the same saddle in a 14.5" and the problem went away.
I totally agree with shortening your stirrups. I ride with my weight in my stirrups.
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| While a saddle "may" help or make things worse....I would suggest an English saddle and lots of hours in it. When you can control your legs with that little stirrup leather, you will have more control over your legs in a barrel saddle. You are not just dealing with legs issues here, you are dealing with balance and your center of gravity.
JMHO |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| OhMax - 2017-08-02 1:08 PM classicpotatochip - 2017-08-02 11:58 AM Shorten your stirrups. Like a lot. This. You have to be able to get weight in your stirrups to get your feet out in front. Like a lot of weight. I probably have about 12" of space between the seat and my bum when i stand up. It'll feel really weird at first. Kendra Dickson has a great video on trainingbarrelhorses.com called "keep your feet to keep your seat"
?f
? i could nver keep my feet in them so i never worried about only time i had feet in sturrip was going down alley way and i useally lost them before i got to first barrel
?but never lost balance or pull on my horse
ride bareback get you balance get strenght in leggs
Edited by vjls 2017-08-03 8:40 PM
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