CREDIT
The life and photos of Ontario based hunter/ jumper rider, equestrian fashion obsessed wanna-be photographer; owning one horse, a Thoroughbred mare named Niall's Mozart.
Anonymous: Like... When you're measuring strides for jumping lines... How do you measure? I thought it was 4 steps is one stride but not sure

Ohhh yes! Sorry! But yes it’s 4 steps per stride! So how I count my lines out be like : 1-2-3-4…2-2-3-4…3-2-3-4…4-2-3-4. That’s how my coach taught me and I feel like it helps me keep track of what stride I’m on! 

Ask me anything about me, Niall’s or riding/tack/ ect! I’ll answer everything to my best knowledge!
Anonymous: Is it 4 steps to a stride for jumps? I always forget

Sorry I have no idea what you are asking! lol 

Anonymous: Any tips for a good leg position and heels down? :)

Practise on FOCUSING on your leg! My leg used to be not too great once I started jumping higher, but over the winter whenever I was approaching a jump I just focused hard on my leg and keeping it tight and in place (don’t pinch with your knee, but sink down into your heel and grip with your thigh). Just lots of no stirrup work and practise of really focusing on your leg helped me! 

ironic-koala: Do you know anything about the Philippe Fontaine saddles? I know Stübben makes them, and they are cheaper than the original saddles (which I have...), but I don't know o anyone who has used them. Thanks!

Hmm I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them! I just went on the website and they look like a decent saddle or the price point, I just google reviews and I found tons from the Chronicle forums. Kind of mixed reviews but that’s what your going to get with a mid/low range saddle. But they look decent for the price point! 

highonlaughterr: Ok so you use the stirrup pads you cable tie on right?? I have problems with my feet slipping out and ankle pain and stuff and some of it is my heels not being down but it's also my pads. I was gonna get the cheese grater ones but I heard they cut up your saddle... Do you like yours? :) thanks!!!

Yep! And yes I actually do like them! They wrap all the way around so I find that they really help you keep a good foot position in the stirrup and allow you to sink nicely down into your heels since you have grip all around the footbed of the stirrup.These stirrup pads will mark up your saddle, especially if you have buffalo, calf or brushed leather. My saddle does have this leather so I used dishcloths and just wrap them around the stirrup pads when I’m done riding and put my stirrups up so they don’t mark up the leather! 

I’ve never used cheese grader stirrups but I don’t think I’d use them unless they were on a Royal Rider or like composite stirrup since the cheese grader goes down a bit allowing you to have more grip on their stirrups. They are also really nice (except for the equitation ring!) and have seemed to help with people that get pain from regular stirrups. My friend has the Antares stirrups and the grader part doesn’t touch her saddle, since the grip goes down on the side your foot is one, which is outside your saddle. :) 

Hope that helps! I wrote like a novel! Any other tack or horse whatever questions ask away because I love answering!! I’ll just publish this so others can see as well!