The ability to drop your stirrups and effortlessly pick them up again is a skill that requires practice and whose uses are not limited to equitation tests in the show ring. Many times on course in a jumper class I’ve lost a stirrup, and being able to pick it up again without a fuss is essential to quickly regaining composure and balance.
In the equitation ring, you will often be asked to drop stirrups on the flat or even to perform tests over fences without them. Most often in these circumstances it is as much a test of your ability to quietly and quickly pick them up again; the judge will want to see this in addition to your stability without the stirrups.
In the show ring the option to cross or not to cross your leathers is a choice often left up to the rider and trainer. If the judge wants the whole flat phase or course performed without stirrups, they will give the competitor the option of removing them, but on the flat the quickest, safest, and most comfortable option is to let them hang.
When we are practicing at home, I have my students let their stirrups hang when they drop their stirrups for several reasons. If the judge asks you to drop your stirrups on the flat, you have to leave them at the horse’s side, and it’s good to practice not having them crossed so you can learn how to keep that stirrup from banging against the horse’s side. Horses that are green, particularly sensitive, or have a lot of ‘blood’ may object to the stirrups hanging at their sides. This is where a rider’s educated leg and experience without stirrups will come into play, as it’s also a skill for the rider to be able to keep the stirrup quiet at the horse’s side [accomplished by keeping your foot in the correct position beside the stirrup to stop it from swinging around.]
If you are crossing the stirrups, for comfort pull the buckle of the stirrup down before crossing the leather in front of the saddle so it’s not rubbing against your leg. There is the odd horse that doesn’t like the weight of the metal stirrups on its shoulders, so be aware that it may be an issue if you’ve never tried it before. I do think the issue of the stirrups flinging up and hitting you in the face is something of a safety concern when they are crossed. This seems to be more of a risk nowadays because of the lighter stirrup irons that many of us use. If we’re doing a whole lesson without stirrups, we take them right off the saddle for everyone’s comfort –and then there is no cheating allowed!
In a competition, if you happen to pick up your stirrups and the leathers are twisted, continue on. Losing a stirrup in the hunter and equitation classes can result in a very low score, but if you are quick about picking it back up, the judge may not notice. At home I think it’s important to practice leaving the stirrups hanging, most importantly because it gives you experience picking them up efficiently should you ever drop a stirrup on course. To be able to drop your stirrups and pick them up is a skill that applies to any division.
