How To: Adjust Your Stirrups Properly

   There are many times when you get on a horse you realize your stirrups are either too long  or too short. As a new rider many times your trainer will adjust your stirrups for you in order to get your lesson under way. When riders begin to learn how to adjust your stirrups while mounted many will drop their reins and take their feet out of the stirrups. They do this to see what they are doing and fully concentrate on the task they are trying to accomplish.

   The danger in this is that you are sitting on a living, breathing, prey animal. Even the most trusted school horses can give something a little spook. Without holding on to the reins or keeping yourself balanced with your feet in the stirrups you place yourself at a greater risk of falling off if you horse is to do something unexpected.  Read on below how to properly and safely adjust your stirrups while aboard your horse.

---

Start with both feet securely in the stirrups.

Put both reins in one hand to maintain control of your horse while you adjust your stirrups.

Start by pulling the buckle down and away from the stirrup bar. This allows you to adjust the stirrups with ease.

Proceed to unbuckle the stirrup leather and either shorten or lengthen the leathers to your desired length.

Once you've selected your new stirrup length and have re-buckled the leather, pull on the back part of the leather to bring the buckle back up to the top of the stirrup bar. 

Straighten out the excess stirrup leather that gets tucked into the keeper and you are all set.