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IN THEORY (i.e. accoridng to textbook definitions and contemporary riding theory, not necessarily what is currently popular in the show ring)

It is difficult to compare the length of western stirrups to "english" stirrups, because there are so many different "english" disciplines that have so many different stirrup lengths. The hunt-seat stirrups is short to emphasize closed angles which allow you to get off your horse's back and follow their movement over jumps. Dressage stirrups are longer to allow you to wrap your leg around your horse's barrel and provide precision of aids. Many people also refer to "English" as in English Park horses, in which case I BELIEVE (never ridden that kind of english) your stirrup is also very long. The western stirrup is very long to allow you to sit farther back on your seat and relax into the saddle. In most western riding you very rarely rise out of the saddle, so there is no reason for the stirrups to be short.

Now, as to measuring western stirrups. I'm going to say right off the bat, that I am TERRIBLE at stirrup length, and anyone who is more knowledgable in western riding than I am is welcome to correct me if I'm completely off base.

The base of support in western riding should be the same as it is in english. This is the alignment of the hip and the heel. No matter what discipline you're riding, the hip and heel should form a perpendicular line with the ground. This is the same in western pleasure, hunt seat, dressage, etc. (according to the generally accepted riding theory. Again, different "fads" in show rings may differ) The change comes in the alignment and inclination of the upper body. In hunt seat, because you have a more closed knee angle, you close the angle of your hip and incline your upper body slightly forward. Because your knee angle is open in western, your hip angle should be the same. This is the classic "Ear to Hip to Heel" line that we have all heard so much about and have learned to love...

Your stirrups should be there to serve as a basis of support in the western saddle, but like I said, you don't have to use them to get yourself up out of the saddle like you need to when you're jumping. Therefore, your leg should be long with an open knee angle. When your feet are in the stirrups, your leg should be hanging long and relaxed with the ball of your foot on the bar of the stirrup, but you should still be able to keep your weight in your heels. You don't need to jam your heels way down, but they should be slightly below level. When you stand up in the saddle, your crotch should be able to clear the seat of the saddle without having to stand on your toes.

Honestly, unless you're showing, then it has more to do with what you're comfortable with. If you're used to a shorter stirrup, and you feel like you're reaching when you have it long like the WP riders generally do, then you're not going to ride as effectively. As long as you're still sitting evenly in the saddle and allowing yourself to sit back on your seat pockets, instead of forward like you do in a hunt-seat saddle, it doesn't matter if your stirrups are a hole or two too short.

In the picture that you showed, theoretically, his leg is too far forward. Now, fashions and fads in the show ring change like the weather. Most of it has to do with the clothing that you wear, but some of it has to do with the way of riding. The Super-low, peanut roller headset was VERY in style when I was showing western, but starting to phase out. I believe they have lifted the horse's head back as the ideal headset, closer to the picture that you posted. The way you hold your "extra" hand has changed (does it go on your thigh? hold it up beside your rein hand like you're holding another rein? Closed in a fist at your belt buckle?) The position of the leg is also subject to the shifting tides of fashion. When my trainer was a kid, they bought boots that were too big because she was told that she should be able to see her toes over her knees when she looked down. When I was showing western, they wanted your leg farther back, more in line with your hip. The leg may have migrated forward again since then, I don't know. I haven't been in the show world for a few years, and have no intention of returning.

Hope that long and rambling post was somewhat helpful! It was certainly helpful to me in putting off my NARHA research that's due tomorrow! xd

First off you will need to post in western{there is a western 'jog' which you sit and when you post the horse usually speeds up a tad} so you will need to stand up. The way I learned it was you start by adjusting it so when you sit in the saddle and let your legs hang loose{out of the stirrups} the very bottom of the stirrup should be about your ankle then it goes by taste if you want it a bit shorter make shorter or longer for that matter.

Well, there are still instances where posting is appropriate. Depending on your school of thought (this is one that I particularly perscribe to) you shouldn't get on your horse and immediately sit the trot. Their back isn't warmed up enough to be able to lift and support your weight. You should also not start off right into that perfect slow WP jog, because, like you said in another post, it's incredibly difficult for them to do. Always warm up with a nice forward moving gait to get their muscles nice and loose and supple, then slow and collect them back down into the nice WP gaits. So, during the warm-up, you would want to post.

But, again, this is only one school of thought. There's also the school of thought that says if you want your horse to go slow, you should never allow them to go any other pace. There's also the school of thought that encourages tying the horse's nose between it's legs to teach it the proper headset...

Sorry, trying not to get cynical xd It all depends on what you and your horse prefer, and how you have been taught/think.

heh, well she is a MARE, afterall. razz J/K!

That is a good point though. A lot of people don't put enough stock into getting the horse's mind focused as part of the warm-up.

xd

Um, not a straight line.
Straight lines make you lock your joints. Even in western, while you're sitting, you should still be soft and supple in your knee and ankle. It doesn't absorb as much shock as it will when you're jumping, but it should still be able to perform the same action. Straight lines aren't soft. Straight lines are rigid. You want a very open angle, but not quite a complete 180 degrees. More like... 160ish. smile

I actually love super-long stirrups, so that's fine with me. rofl