>>> The hip, knees and ankles absorb the movement. There are several reasons >>> why it could >>> be difficult. Trying to stand with tension in the legs ie. using the >>> stirrup as a >>> brace. The stirrups are set wrongly on the saddle, too far forward or back. >>> I can't do >>> it in my current saddle, not even at halt. I hate to think how my trot >>> feels to >>> Corrie. Maybe it would be a good test for a saddle? Surely it should be >>> possible to >>> balance 'on my springs'at a halt.
It is a great test for a saddle. I like treeless saddles and since Tivar is a trotting horse, I got a lesson in reality recently. I realized that the stirrup bars on that blue Torsion saddle I ride him in are set too forward for me - it makes it hard for me to post. I haven't had that saddle long, so I guess I haven't posted enough before Tivar to notice. Shame on me. Any way, I have a couple of spare adjustable stirrup hangers that I had a local saddler make for me, like the Freeforms and Sensations have as standard now. I use one of them on the Torsion, so I moved it back about 1/2". MUCH better. :) And you're right, if you stand in your stirrups, your ankles can't flex and absorb shock. Ever notice how stiff-legged many of the "top level" Icelandic riders are? I'm sure that is the "base" of their pogo-stick. Karen Thomas, NC
