How long does it take to go from hunter stirrup length to dressage stirrup length...typically?

[Willesdon]

OneGrayPony, that is lovely to hear!

[OneGrayPony]

Update, saddle fitter came out and we bought a new saddle…and lengthened two more holes

The new saddle has a surprising amount of thigh block (for me it was surprising) but it immediately felt like an awesome comfortable shoe. My horse went well in it too, and actually got very forward after a few adjustment circles.

Now I feel like we can actually start properly. I’m so so very pleased!!!

[TheMoo]

Aside from the good advice you’ve already gotten, what has helped me is to think about “draping my leg around the horse.” It’s what one of my trainers always told me when I would start getting tight and shortening my leg up.

[Lunabear1988]

So glad to hear things are on the right track for you!

[Wanderosa]

@Posting Trot

I think that, in addition to some of the great advice you’ve gotten above, riding in a dressage saddle with longer stirrups requires a lot more abdominal strength to feel that same degree of security. You need to be able to trust that your abs will actually stabilize you (without becoming rigid), as opposed to relying on your leg muscles.

So Pilates I think is great, largely because it tends to focus both on the abs and on the inter-relationships of the various muscles. Getting your body to “re-think” itself is a long-term project. (I speak from my own experience with Pilates). It helps if you can find a Pilates instructor who is also a rider, or who has experience in working with riders.

I’d also recommend getting a gel seat-saver. This will give you a little extra “stick” in the saddle which I’ve found useful even as I also routinely wear full seats.

Also, go for hacks in your dressage saddle without worrying about getting the super-long length in the stirrups. Going up and down hills, through the woods, at various gaits in the saddle will also help you develop more trust and stability.

Yup! I’m a weirdo and hack out in a dressage saddle all the time. I prefer it to a jumping saddle. Rarely bother shortening my stirrups unless I know we’ll be tackling the incline on this one particular trail. (Though, I’ve always preferred longer stirrups even when I rode in Hunter land.) We only walk because of and old injury and the horse’s anxiety issues with fields. But my trainer rides out in a dressage saddle unless she’s planning to do speed work or jump. Her gelding needs the mental refreshment of the field several rides a week. So they do all kinds of stuff in the field - collecting and extensions, lateral work using a fence line or driveway as a guide, etc. The uneven terrain also helps strengthen the horse.