An Adult Amateur's Survival Guide for No Stirrup November

by Meagan DeLisle
As I dropped my irons for the first time in November, I made a mental note to look up just who thought it would be a good idea to make No Stirrup November a thing. It was a crisp, fall day and Joey was definitely feeling the chill as he shot his head as high in the air as he could. I thought of a million reasons why I could opt out of participating: I need to be able to walk tomorrow, Joey may not be the most reliable stirrupless mount, God gave us stirrups for a reason….but, none of my excuses could outweigh the results of this dreaded month so I sucked it up and started trotting. 

​It’s easy to overdo it too much in one day and you should transition into this painful month with ease or else you’re not going to be able to participate to the fullest extent. The best thing to do is to have a plan for the month that you feel is something you can follow, while pushing yourself just the right amount.

1. Think of your goals: The best way to set goals that are tailored to you, is to consider three things: your weaknesses, where you are in your riding career now, and where you want to be one year from now. For me, my core and my lower leg could be a lot stronger, I have just the tiniest little swing in my ankle that drives me bananas when I watch videos of myself riding. Riding without stirrups will help me rely on my core independently from my leg. Currently, Joey and I are happily jumping 2’-2’6” courses at a canter on a good day, but this time next year I would love to move up to some higher fences and into the jumper ring. Knowing that a strong leg will be key over larger fences helps me understand the importance of building up my own strength.
2. ​Prepare yourself: Drink lots of water all day on the days you are going to ride, this helps prevent your muscles from fatiguing easily and keeps you from being too terribly sore. Eat healthy, protein-filled food in plenty of time before your lesson. We are all tired after a good long lesson, but riding without stirrups is a little extra work. You don’t want to be bogged down from a big meal before a ride, but you also don’t want to be starving and have no energy to burn.
3. STRETCH!: I mean it! Don’t take this part lightly or else you will hate yourself, I promise. Stretch like you used to do in gym while you complained that it was volleyball day….oh wait…was that just me?
4. Lunge your horse: Seriously, only a lucky few won’t have to perform this part of the plan. I am not one of those people. Joey is really winding down from track life and his high strung personality and while I know he isn’t the kind to spook or take off, a seriously swinging leg and me flopping around on his back while I find my strength towards the end of my stirrupless-session may make him a tad bit on the speedy side. Do yourself a favor, lunge the horse.
5. Know your limits: Burn is a good thing in any workout, but pain is not. Know your limits. For example, I have only been back in the saddle for about seven months now full time and I don’t expect to be able to jump a full course without stirrups on my first day back. That leads me to the next task….
6. Set your goals: Have a clear goal for each ride that is one step up the progressive ladder from your last ride. For me, I increase my intervals on each task by five minutes. If you don’t have the opportunity to ride without stirrups in your lessons, your warm-ups are a great time to test yourself. If you are uncomfortable starting out in the arena, have a friend put you on the lunge line or in a round pen so that you feel a little more in control of the situation.
7. Have fun tasks: Don’t just do rail work! Enjoy pushing you and your equine partner by trying new things as you feel you can tolerate them. Serpentines, trotting/cantering over ground poles, transitions-transitions-transitions (especially halt, trot, halt, walk, trot, and HALT!), introduce the two point (and be prepared to hurt).
8. Work with your trainer: Your coach isn’t going to push you past your breaking point, but they are going to push you. Talk with your coach about your goals for No Stirrup November. Have a clear goal in mind for the end of the month whether it be trotting a crossrail or cantering 3ft fences. Your coach is going to help you align reality with your expectations.
9. Have fun: If you aren’t challenging yourself, you aren’t learning and if you aren’t learning you are not going to develop as a rider. Have fun with this month and be adaptable. Sometimes you will find the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the month are not going to happen just like that. Push yourself, laugh, and remember to breathe. The rewards are worth the pain….at least….thats what I tell myself as I cry myself to sleep at night.
   

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​​​Make it through the rest of the month and suddenly you’re going to feel up to a bareback puissance…..maybe.