Stirrups set too far back?

[sirbeastmom]

It didn’t even cross my mind until my barn owner made a comment about how far back my stirrups were set. And during my ride, it definitely felt as though that were the case (the power of suggestion, eh?). It’s been a while since I’ve ridden in this saddle, but I don’t remember ever feeling uncomfortable in it. And now it feels like I’m getting tipped forward.

Is it all in my head because of what BO said, or does it look like my stirrups are indeed set really far back? Maybe it felt fine before because that’s just what I was used to and didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Here’s the offending saddle

Thoughts?

[paulaedwina]

In my noob opinion it doesn’t look that way at all. It looks like your leg would drape straight down for a nice shoulder/hip/knee line. I do notice that Western riders tend to ride in a slight chair, but I don’t know if that’s conventional.

Paula

[Wirt]

It looks like they are set just like the stirrups on a dressage saddle.

[PeanutButterPony]

If your stirrups are too short, i can see feeling pitched forward.

otherwise they are where they should be IMO

[aktill]

Lovely balanced saddle, though it looks a little wide in front. The slight downward tilt might be what you’re feeling as the stirrups too far back, since unless your horse is rounding up your pelvis will struggle to stay flat to a slight downhill back and downhill saddle combined.

[beau159]

I agree with the above. Your stirrups seem to be set fine, but if they are too long, that will throw you forward. And in the picture you linked, it does seem to be sitting a smidge downhill on your horse.

[sirbeastmom]

Thanks for the input, all! I didn’t really see it until now, but the saddle doe’s seem to a bit downhill in the pic. I’ll play around with some shims and stirrup length to see if that fixes my alignment issue.

[goodhors]

Take some photos or video when you are NOT paying special attention to your feet and legs. Maybe when you are really tired, so you can see what happens when you quit “holding it together” for getting the true picture of your body position.

Saddle should let you fall into correct position, head-hips-heels aligned, no effort on your part to have feet “be here” or body this way.

Only thing I don’t really like is the high cantle on the saddle. They can hold you in position, not let you adjust easily if not quite correct. But lots of folks like the high cantle, feels more secure to them. I spend a lot of hours rding when we get out, so being able to move easily in the seat is important to me.