Four months ago, in the middle of January, I put away my stirrups.

I'm told that the Spanish School in Vienna and the Saumur both have their new riders work without stirrups for a few months, and my coach advised me to do it, so I did.  Took them right off my saddle and hung them up, so I would not have the option. No cheating, no cutting, this was it, if I couldn't go on, well then that was the end of the session. At first, I tried crossing them over the pommel, but that just didn't work. Within a few minutes my legs would feel "tired", "I just needed them for this next exercise" and... well... I wasn't riding without stirrups, now was I?

So, gone. Only one choice, march or die. No, wait, that's the French Foreign Legion.... I meant ride or quit... no, that's not it, either.

I meant ride until you cannot ride any longer then quit.

Once I took them off, I immediately noticed that, while my legs were screaming in pain after 5 minutes of rising trot, I could push through it and ride quite a bit longer. Alternate between walk for a few minutes, trot again,  so my rides really ended after 30 minutes when I really, really, really couldn't take any more. That was truly it and there was no cheating.

My legs got stronger, fast.

By mid-March, I was doing a rising trot for 30 minutes at a stretch. My posture and seat became vastly improved, along with my balance. My leg signals became much clearer and more distinct, and my feet weren't flopping around at the trot any more.

In April, I got asked to ride another horse, one that everyone else was reluctant to ride. He tried to act up, but I found my seat and legs were vastly improved, when he spooked and jumped (and I don't fault him for that: I was startled, too) I found myself responding to his movement, my seat never shifted, and my balance stayed right with him. It felt good... very good.

I have a much better feel for cadence and his motion. It's easier to collect Oakley at the trot, and I can tell how collected he is, just by how it feels in my butt.

My leg aids are much clearer and more precise and lighter. Oakley responds more readily and with a much nicer gait. No question but this has been a very good stretch for both of us.