I'm curious why almost everytime an individual asks for advice about their riding or how to fix an issue with their horse there are several people commenting and saying "shorten your stirrups" ... I'm far from being an expert and I think many people that claim to be, aren't.... but I always see that advice... to me most don't look like their stirrups are "too" long... like that would be the last thing they need to worry about. I myself have a pretty darn long inseam 38 I like my stirrups how I like them... I've never been told to shorten them, and if someone told me to, I'd probably not feel very comfortable hiking them up.. I like having my leg against my horse and have always thought shorter stirrups would make it more difficult to set deep and if your horse decided to get stupid it would be more difficult to stay put. .. I guess what I'm asking is why do people think stirrups need to be shorter.. one person will say that then 3 or 4 more will chime in the same thing... (I've never posted video or asked for advice on a video online, I just don't think you can tell very much from a video anyway.) But that seems to be the "go to" advice.. 

I always loved the good advice of Martha Josey on stirrup length.  When you're sitting straight up in the saddle and look down past your knee you should be looking at the toe of your boot.

On rein length again Martha.......when your horse is standing relaxed the end of your round reins should come to the saddle horn.  

Stirrup length too short is miserable and so is rein length if it's too long or too short.

Agreed ... especially on the reins! When I went to the josey clinic they actually had each person stand up in their stirrups to check length... I was left alone but several were adjusted up or down. I just have to go with what feels comfortable to me. I read thru several posts on Facebook of folks asking for help with their horses issues on this or that and it never fails there are always 3 or 4 people saying shorten up... its not even related to the question at hand...  just trying to sound helpful or like they know something I guess..

Depends on the horse.

Shorter stirrups allow you to get up over the horse easier, because you're not thrown back on your pockets because your feet have very little to no purchase when the horse is rocketing out from underneath you. 

If they are too short, you'll be thrown forward.  Too long and you're behind.   Most of the videos I see where people are suggesting to shorten the stirrups, the rider is thrown back on their pockets and behind, struggling to catch up. 

Barrel racing stirrup length is not comfy trail riding length.  

Running length and riding around length doesn't have to be the same length. I am by no means a professional but depending on the horse I might take them up half a set when I run and let them out after I run. When I say take them up to run I am talking last minute because sometimes just that half a set can be uncomfortable but make the difference in me keeping up with my horse and getting behind, More solid horses I like to take them up so I don't get behind especially if I need to stay over one. Now I have a horse now I take them up because the way he turns I grab up and if I leave them regular length (without rubber bands) I will lose a stirrup every time somewhere. I don't think taking stirrups up is the fix-all but if a person is getting behind their horse it's usually an easy fix.

That makes sense. 

I see...that makes total sense if they are being thrown back trying to catch up... the one that actually sparked my question was being done in the slow work ... there were many many issues going on that I could see with my novice eye, stirrup length wouldn't have made much a difference at that point, I don't think. But yes, I can understand that theory now when the rider is not able to get up with the horse. I probably ride mine a little longer than most would think is acceptable but I'm also not going fast enough yet to justify being left behind! Lol! I'll definitely keep this in mind when we start adding speed

I went to Amberley Snyder's clinic this past sat. Best clinic ever. I have so much respect & admiration for her & her sister. Anyway I talked to them about stirrup length & asked if they felt mine was good. They said that one way to tell is your knee should line up with the ring that your breast collar strap is attached to. To short will bounce you. Anyway they said mine was fine :)  

When I see people bouncing, out of balance with their feet behind them and no upper body control, (then they use thei reins for balance)it's usually from too long of a stirrups.if you can keep your feet under you, you have no balance. Too short of a stirrup is uncomfortable but if it's adjusted where you can take your foot out the stirrup and have the bottom of the stirrup be level with your ankle, that's a pretty good rule of thumb. 
I think it gets over suggested but I can also tell you too long of stirrups, reins too long and too long of headstall are super common problems when someone comes to me for help. 

What you described right there about the bottom of the stirrups being level with the ankle when foot is out is  exactly what my trainers use to live by in my hunter jumper days... that's kind of what I go by myself... old habits die hard! I'm use to posting the trot because that's what I grew up doing, and when we had to sit the trot we didn't need any extra help bouncing around up there lol!  

Yes !  I rode English a lot also and found that rule of thumb crosses over pretty well. I absolutely understand if people have knee and ankle problems that longer stirrups help. 
I do use the Martha Josey "see your toe" rule for helping people make sure their feet are under them. 

Stirrup length is a completely personal thing. Sometimes you just need to raise or lower your stirrups until you find that sweet spot. When I see people telling someone shorten your stirrups that isn't necessarily what a person needs to do. Finding your length by where it hits your ankle is very general. Forward hung stirrups are completely different from those that are not forward hung. If your stirrups aren't working for you try taking the up. If that doesn't work the way you want, let them out. It's what you like the feel of. 

I mainly ride cutters/cowhorses but getting back into barrel racing. Cutters tend to ride with the shortest stirrup of the western disciplines and I ride with that short of a stirrup because it does set me down on my pockets while still being able to use my legs efficiently.

Loping circles at home, at work or moving cows all day I let them out. In the show pen they get jacked up a hole or two.

What I have been noticing going to some local jackpots, those that have their stirrups so long that they look like a clothespin on top of a horse. Gripping with their thighs and knees, toes pointing directly down reaching for their stirrups. Looks pretty hard to use your legs and feet. But what do I know?

Just for poops and giggles next time I cruz thru the pattern at home I'm going to try to move my stirrups up a hole and see how it feels because now I'm curious! 

You know, actually I do get left behind a bit at 1st (not at 2nd and 3rd, not sure why only at 1st...) But I am going to try this next time too. Not while riding, it hurts my knees and ankles too much...

Did English for a couple of decades before switching to western and most of the time rode with my stirrups short.... jumping short.... but now I am older my knees and ankles can't take it if I ride like that. But just for the run I should be able to bear it. 

It is a personal thing and a lot depends on how the individual uses their stirrups.  Some people keep all their weight on the seat, while others distribute more weight down into their legs and ultimately the stirrup.   I personally ride a lot on my feet and therefore prefer a shorter stirrup.  Opposite seems to be true for peeps who keep all their weight on their butts.

One thing I will say is that Slanted Stirrups are a game changer for the knees and ankles with the shorter stirrups.