Relaxed Versus Stiff Positions

George H. Morris is the former chef d’équipe of the U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Team. He serves on the USEF National Jumper Committee and Planning Committee, is an adviser to the USEF High-Performance Show Jumping Committee and is president of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame.

I like this rider—her basics are excellent. Her leg is reminiscent of those from the 1950s and ’60s. The stirrup iron is across the ball of the foot and her foot is touching the inside branch. It is twisted so this branch leads the outside, making the iron perpendicular to her foot, not the girth. Her toes are turned out almost to the maximum 45 degrees. This stirrup and foot position allows for a strong, viselike leg, which is OK for cross country, but I suggest she modernize it—you don’t see great eventers like Boyd Martin with this type of stirrup position/leg. Today we’ve