Do You Have To Use Stirrups In A Dressage Test?

[Melia]

Hi,
I've read through the BD rule book and can see that they specify 'saddle' but not stirrups.  My OH has a knee problem and can only use the left stirrup, if he puts weight in the right one it really hurts, especially if his heel is down.  Stirrup-less he has a good, correct position and no pain.  He is really interested in dressage, but even if we go for long stirrups so he's not actually using them, he loses the right one (for obvious reasons!!) so the question is, what do we do for competitions?

Hopefully he'll have a go at a prelim dressage at the end of the summer, but short of tying the right stirrup on with an elastic band that would break if he fell, I'm not sure how to overcome this problem.  Does he HAVE to use stirrups?

It seems a bit unfair if there is no accommodation for problems like this - my pony is sensitive anyway so the actual riding won't be a problem, as she responds well to weight aids and you hardly need your legs.  So it would be a shame if competing was an issue, as that's what he wants to do....

Ideas, anyone?

[Possum]

Yes

"Stirrup leathers and irons are compulsory and must be attached to the saddle and used in the conventional way."

http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/_document...entandDress.pdf

[Torsornin]

In the states there is one woman that was given special permission to ride without them due to a neuro problem with her leg. There may be a way he can get permissions.

[Melia]

Oops, missed that bit.  We'll do the elastic band thing then .

[hollyandivy123]

it might be worth contacting british dressage, there is  a para olympic rider who doesn't use stirrups as she can't have a look at the british dressage website its linked of their home page.

http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/info/paralympic_nat.html

once you have read this you start realising that you as a person do not really have and excuse when it comes to your riding....................if you consider the level that they have attained with what ever phsyical problem they have.
i change my attitude after the last olympics..............  

[Possum]

For affiliated dressage, anyone can apply to BD  for a dispensation to deal with a physical problem. It needs to be supported by a full explanation as to why and a letter from the person's doctor. If the rider is not IPEC classified (ie. has had an official evaluation by an RDA assessor) then the dispensation will always be temporary.  RDA riders with an official IPEC classification will be given permanent dispensations.

For unaffiliated classes, obviously that is a lot of effort to go to. The practical answer is to speak to the organiser and ask them to get in touch with the judge in advance to see if the judge will allow the rider to compete without stirrups.  

[Pip]

I think the horse world is very understanding about different disabilities so hopefully you should be OK.  Just take a few rubber bands with you in case!  Good luck.

[Claire]

oddly, i've stewarded dressage loads of times and not once has anyone drawn attention to that particular tack rule; maybe it's taken as read that people will be using their stirrups?  but i'd go for the dispensation, and in the meantime if organisers are being really 'off' about it compete HC for now (at least that way you can see how you're doing and be impressing the judge at the same time   )