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Heels Down Mag Home of the Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast on the Horse Radio Network. 🎙️🎧

“We’re just past the midpoint of   and guess how many times I’ve ridden without my stirrups? Zero. Big fat goose egg. An...
25/11/2024

“We’re just past the midpoint of and guess how many times I’ve ridden without my stirrups? Zero. Big fat goose egg. And there’s a really good reason why: I don’t want to.

I came from an old school riding system where every young and capable rider rode without stirrups regularly. As a junior equitation rider, I quite frequently rode and jumped without irons because there was a very good chance your Maclay or Medal test could and would be jumping or flatwork sans stirrups. I could and did win 3’6” junior equitation classes after testing over fences without stirrups. I know exactly how much strength and body control it takes to be able to hold yourself still and quiet while flatting or jumping. And right now, I don’t have it.

But what I do have is a lovely horse with a beautiful trot that has so much suspension at moments that I wonder how he even has functioning suspensory ligaments left. I spent years as a younger adult learning to sit that trot and it was damn difficult. The reality is that now, after taking a few years off and getting a little older, I’m not the same rider that I was. Now, riding without irons would mean a boatload of crippling back and hip pain even if my horse is obedient and the ride is uneventful. The kind of pain that would make my day job a nightmare for many days. And what might my stirrup-less seat do to my horse’s back? I’m not willing to find out.

To all those adult amateurs in a similar situation – those of us who aren’t quite strong enough or able to ride without irons like our younger or more athletic counterparts – I say we make November about being fitter and stronger, not about riding without stirrups. There’s plenty of other exercises you can do with stirrups to increase rider fitness that virtually anyone can do with less risk to their horse’s back and their own. My personal favorite is to see how long I can stay in my half seat. It helps improve my legs, core, and balance plus my horse enjoys it too. Everyone wins.

So keep your stirrups if you want to. Don’t give into the fad. Getting stronger doesn’t mean you have to cripple yourself.”

Read our 🔥at heelsdownmag.com:

https://heelsdownmag.com/im-anti-no-stirrup-november-and-this-is-why/

The team at Heels Down is happy to highlight some of our favorite brands and products that made a difference in our ride...
24/11/2024

The team at Heels Down is happy to highlight some of our favorite brands and products that made a difference in our rides this year. We’re sharing our honest, tried-and-true reviews of some gift-worthy items with you, perfect for the equestrians in your life, just in time for the holiday shopping season. 🎁

We’re sharing our honest, tried-and-true reviews of some gift-worthy items in our 2024 Heels Down Holiday Gift Guide.

I love riding in the cold and dark. No really, I do. I do. 🫠
22/11/2024

I love riding in the cold and dark. No really, I do. I do. 🫠

May the odds be ever in your favor.
21/11/2024

May the odds be ever in your favor.

It’s November and we all know what that means. Drop those stirrups and get to work! Heels Down Mag compiled five of our favorite no-stirrup riding exercises to get you started on your path to super strong legs, seat and core. Good luck to all tackling the no-stirrup challenge this month. May the ...

I am focusing so much on my riding that nothing interrupts it.
20/11/2024

I am focusing so much on my riding that nothing interrupts it.

Let me say that again, riding has a similar effect for my mental health as taking Xanax, a prescribed, addictive medication.

We are one week away from our Holiday Trunk Show! Grab a cocktail and join us on Zoom to see all our gift guide picks up...
19/11/2024

We are one week away from our Holiday Trunk Show! Grab a cocktail and join us on Zoom to see all our gift guide picks up close. All participants will have access to exclusive coupons from our gift guide partners.

It's free to attend! Please pre-register today!

Brands included in our holiday gift guide will join us on Zoom and have the opportunity to showcase some of their latest products.

Are they cruel and unnecessary? Or are draw reins a training tool that can help overcome sticky situations? 👀
18/11/2024

Are they cruel and unnecessary? Or are draw reins a training tool that can help overcome sticky situations? 👀

Discussing draw reins can cause a fire-fight. They’re spoken about in hush-hush tones to avoid arguments and judgement. They’re taboo in the hunter jumper world, hated in the dressage ring, even prohibited at events. The root of the debate comes down to this: are they cruel and unnecessary? Or a...

Is it just me or is horse ownership really just a crash course in survival?
15/11/2024

Is it just me or is horse ownership really just a crash course in survival?

Horses are accident prone. Do I now use these diagnostic skills to identify problems on myself and my human family? You betcha.

Did I get rid of any of it? Nope. Not one thing.
14/11/2024

Did I get rid of any of it? Nope. Not one thing.

The move gave me a chance to clean and organize all of my tack and miscellaneous things before arriving at a new place.

Horse Girl friendships last a lifetime – they bond people of different ages, backgrounds, lifestyles and personalities a...
13/11/2024

Horse Girl friendships last a lifetime – they bond people of different ages, backgrounds, lifestyles and personalities all by one common theme – the love the horse.

No matter the marketing scheme or the filters on Instagram, they can't change what it means to be a Horse Girl.

Are you giddy for the holidays? They’ll be here before you know it! 🎄This week, we’re sharing our top gift picks for the...
13/11/2024

Are you giddy for the holidays? They’ll be here before you know it! 🎄This week, we’re sharing our top gift picks for the equestrian in your life 🎁 and we’re talking about our favorite end-of-year horse shows, from the Royal Winter Fair to the Maclay Finals. Thanks for tuning in. 🎧🎙️

On Episode 130 of the Heels Down Happy Hour podcast we share our real tried-and-true reviews of all the products included in our 2024 Heels Down Holiday Gift Guide. ❄️ Plus, joins us to discuss how he and start their young horses. 🏇

🌟SAVE THE DATE:🌟Sip & shop 🍷 with us at the Heels Down Holiday Trunk Show on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Join our hosts on Zoom to learn more about the products in our gift guide and see them up close. Plus have a chance to win prizes and special coupon codes. It’s free to attend! Please register at heelsdownmag.com.

You can download or stream Episode 130 on , Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Cheers! 🍸

https://heelsdownmag.com/heels-down-happy-hour-podcast-episode-130-very-very-merry/

Time management, for sure, is not an equestrian’s strong suit. But there are other issues we face, too.
12/11/2024

Time management, for sure, is not an equestrian’s strong suit. But there are other issues we face, too.

Horses are magical creatures, and they work wonders on the brains of adults who love them. Time management, for sure, is not an equestrian's strong suit.

This week, we’re sharing our top gift picks for the equestrian in your life and we’re talking about our favorite end-of-...
11/11/2024

This week, we’re sharing our top gift picks for the equestrian in your life and we’re talking about our favorite end-of-year horse shows, from the Royal Winter Fair to the Maclay Finals. Thanks for tuning in.

This week, we’re sharing our top gift picks for the equestrian in your life and we’re talking about our favorite end-of-year horse shows.

It’s the most wonderful time of year – filled with family, food, celebration and warmth.🧣Whether 2024 was the year you r...
08/11/2024

It’s the most wonderful time of year – filled with family, food, celebration and warmth.🧣

Whether 2024 was the year you reached your goals and added exciting new horses to your string, or you spent the majority of it rebuilding for the next year, there’s plenty to reflect on and celebrate.🎉

The team at Heels Down is happy to highlight some of our favorite brands and products that made a difference in our rides this year. We’re sharing our honest, tried-and-true reviews of some gift-worthy items with you, perfect for the equestrians in your life, just in time for the holiday shopping season. ❄️

Please enjoy our top picks in our 2024 Heels Down Holiday Gift Guide. 🎁

Hear all our personal reviews by tuning into Episode 130 of the Heels Down Happy Hour Podcast on the Horse Radio Network. The episode publishes this weekend. ❤️💚❤️

Happy Holidays from all of us at Heels Down. Cheers!🎄🥂

Read more about all our picks in the full guide published at:

https://heelsdownmag.com/its-here-the-2024-heels-down-holiday-gift-guide/

There’s a lot of bad clip jobs to log before you start getting good at it.
07/11/2024

There’s a lot of bad clip jobs to log before you start getting good at it.

I’ll be the first to admit that I hate to body clip. It’s time consuming and requires a lot of finesse. Kudos to the masters out there.

So make sure you just laugh it off when lesson kids ask if you can still practice barrels with all the jumps in the ring...
06/11/2024

So make sure you just laugh it off when lesson kids ask if you can still practice barrels with all the jumps in the ring.

I started riding western in college. What I did not know was what it would truly be like to be the only western rider at a hunter/jumper barn.

But when it comes to horses, I hope we can agree that clear, direct language is the best course of action.
05/11/2024

But when it comes to horses, I hope we can agree that clear, direct language is the best course of action.

In this day and age, the language we use matters even when we're talking about horses. We should all intend to be clear with our words.

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