When your instructor is preparing you for work without stirrups they may ask you to ‘quit and cross your stirrups’. This means to take your feet out of the stirrups, pull the stirrup buckle slightly away from the saddle so that it doesn’t pinch your leg and then cross your stirrups over your pony’s shoulders rather than the saddle. Cross the right stirrup over first followed by the left so that it is easy to get back on if you have to dismount.

Make sure that you sit back on your seat bones and relax your leg down towards the ground. Sit as centrally and evenly as possible. However, make sure that you still remain upright. You can use a neck strap or tuck your fingers under the front of the saddle to make you feel more secure but do not hold on too tightly as you can unbalance yourself. Sit up tall and pull your stomach towards your backbone to keep you steady in the saddle. Always look ahead and sit in the deepest part of the saddle. Remember to breathe! Follow your pony’s movement with your lower back. It can feel very strange to begin with but with practice it will be much easier. This will improve your riding and help you develop a more balanced seat.