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  • Riding Your Horse Bareback

    Riding Your Horse Bareback

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    Have you tried it? For many riders, the mention of riding bareback is enough to see them running to the tack room for a saddle!  However, for those that pluck up the courage – it can change so much…

    Bareback riding is a super way to improve your posture and position as well as balance, skills, and feel. However often the greatest challenge we must first overcome in order to achieve these benefits is our minds telling us we cannot possibly do it!

    Riding bareback is not as difficult as you may think and this week I challenge you to push the boundaries of your comfort zone and try it, if only for a few minutes initially. Then gradually build your confidence and time spend ‘sans’ saddle!

    Start When Cooling Off Your Horse

    Perhaps a good place to start is once a week, after your lesson.  Simply remove your saddle to cool down your horse. His back will be already warmed up and you are both relaxed.

    Another is to ride him bareback back to the field or paddock or stable after your schooling session… little steps!

    In order to get off on the right footing I strongly advice beginning with a quiet schoolmaster who has 3 really comfortable gaits and a ‘well sprung’ or comfortable back! There are fewer things more uncomfortable than riding a not so well fleshed horse bareback!

    You should also try to ensure that the horse has smooth strides, not too bouncy and also not too hot or ‘goey’.

    Your initial few rides without your saddle should be spent focusing on your position and posture, rather than on slowing your horse or not bouncing off.

    Your Horses Comfort & Enjoyment…

    Often when we initially ride bareback, we are so concerned with our own comfort and safety that we overlook our horses. Saddles are designed to disperse your weight more evenly and over a greater area of the horse’s backs.

    Without the saddle, your weight will become more focused on a smaller space and may hurt or cause discomfort to your horse.

    If you are new to bareback riding or feel that your balance or weight may be a negative factor for your horse, start small. Rather begin fitting in a few minutes every now and then. This will get both yourself and your horse used to bareback riding.

    Once you become more balanced and better able to carry yourself, you can spend longer on your horses back.
    Riding Your Horse Bareback

    Bareback = No Stirrups!

    There are bareback pads you can get which apparently help with dispersing the pressure, however there are mixed feelings on their actual benefits, so proceed with caution.

    I strongly advise not using a bareback pad with stirrups due to the lack of a properly engineered tree.

    They may apply pressure where there should not be any and the possibility of hurting or damaging your horses back is quite high. Also, the whole point of riding bareback is to develop your seat and balance… So no stirrups!

    A neck-strap may be used if you really feel that you need something other than the mane to hold onto if things get hairy…! Simply take one of your stirrup leathers off your saddle, remove the iron, and use the leather as a neck-strap.

    1. Choose A Small Area to Ride In

    Okay, so once you are good to go, find a small space such as a lunging ring or small 20 x 40 arena. Somewhere you feel safe and comfortable to start in. Also, choose a day where things are quieter around the yard and perhaps also a day where you won’t have too big of an ‘audience’ watching you!

    Comfort is key to building your confidence

    2. Focus on Carrying Yourself

    Once mounted, make sure you are sitting up correctly, light in the saddle. Pay attention that you are not slouching. A lot of people, when riding bareback, slouch. However, this is not good for your back, or for your horses back.

    Stretch up through your waist area. Then allow your legs to drape over your horse’s sides, with the weight being focused into your heel.

    As you ride, think of not allowing creases across your tummy or your jersey/jacket/top. This is better than arching backwards with your shoulders. Keeping the front of your torso ‘crease free’ will help you to concentrate on carrying yourself, particularly through your waist and chest area.

    Imagine a child that wants to be picked up by an adult, versus one that does not. The one that does makes themselves ‘light’, the one that doesn’t make themselves ‘heavy’. Be the ‘light’ person by making sure you are carrying yourself.

    Think about being light on your horses back which will allow the horse to move underneath you. It also allows you to feel more of which individual muscles are moving and are being used for specific movements or tasks.

    3. Begin In Walk

    Begin in walk and allow your body to adjust.  Feel the deeper, more connected seat. And allow your legs to adjust as well. You will find that your legs fall into a more natural ‘underneath’ you position without your saddle.

    Try to discern what muscles, tendons and ligaments you are using to achieve this, so you can try replicate it when you do have your saddle back again.
    Riding Your Horse Bareback
    I do realize that it all sounds so simple.  However, just as when you begin riding without stirrups, you will find that while riding without a saddle can initially be daunting, it soon becomes easier and you will actually ride better when you do take your saddle back again

    4. Notice Your Thoughts

    The key is to gradually push the boundaries of your comfort zone.  Once out there, allow yourself to get back to the safe place again. Little by little, your ‘safe’ place will move as your boundary moves. However, it takes time and never try anything that you feel you honestly cannot do. Take things slow and steady, day by day, week by week.

    Once you are comfortably walking around the arena begin assessing your riding. Are you using your reins for stability?

    If so, perhaps building a ‘shoot’ using poles down one of the long sides of your arena may help. You can slowly lengthen your reins as you walk down the shoot so you can concentrate on what your body is doing, rather on directing the horse with just your reins.

    Often it is a mind ‘thing’ and overcoming the fears in your head is a big part of relaxing and being successful without a saddle for support

    5. Remain Relaxed Through your Body

    Also, don’t grip with your legs to stay on or to feel secure. It is a false security and one that will contribute to a complete lack of balance and far too much bounce when you begin to trot or canter. Also, your horse will not appreciate being in a vice grip all the while you are on his back! Your legs should remain loose, but against your horses side; cultivate your balance to stay on board.

    Another important point is to ensure you are not gripping with your knees… EVER! Enough said!

    Just focus on riding as you would normally do. I mentioned earlier that your leg may be slightly more underneath you and this is important to remember if you are on a more sensitive horse where you would normally perhaps ride with your leg off…

    Start in a smaller space so your horse can become used to this ‘new’ and more correct leg position.

    Keep your hands and arms supple and soft, don’t drop your hands and try not hold onto the mane or neck-strap as it usually causes people to round their shoulder and pivot forward a little. Only use the mane or neck-strap in case of emergency!

    6. Ride Simple Transitions

    Begin with simple transitions; walk – halt, halt – walk

    Notice how your body can influence your horse and how you can ‘feel’ each muscle of your horse moving under you. Pay close attention to your horses reactions to both you and external influences…

    Feel the sequence of movement underneath you and, after time, you will begin to be able to almost predict what your horse will do next, and respond accordingly.

    Once you are comfortable travelling in straight lines, begin working on a circle, paying attention to keeping your shoulders above your hips… If you lean, this may just be the cure you have been seeking! Also, on the circle, play with your aids and notice your horses reaction in walk. Spiral the circle bigger and smaller, feeling all the time how your horse moves and how he is reacting to your subtle questions.

    Are you over depending on your hands (you will feel your horses back stiffen and brace against you)? Are you forgetting to apply your outside leg? Notice the shape of the circle and your horses ability to maintain a bend and rhythm as you travel around it.

    Feel how your movement interacts with that of your horse and then use this knowledge the next time you mount up with your saddle

    Happy riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources for Equestrians

    Have you joined us for the FREE Equestrian Fitness Challenge yet?  It will definitely help strengthen your core and legs, so being unbalanced will soon become a thing of the past.  Click the picture below to join in the ‘fun’ today!

    Connection For Equestrians

    This topic is just one of over 100 that are waiting for you inside of Connection.  In this particular group of lessons, I challenge you to spend at least twelve minutes each day without your saddle.   The lessons are filled with step by step instructions for you to ride simple exercises that will maximize the benefits, so you can commit to making this part of your riding schedule on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

    We also put the focus on transitions, particularly of the downward variety, and how you can really understand and feel what a good transition is during your time without your saddle. This will help you when you are back in the saddle in the future.  There are helpful tips, ideas, and exercises that will help you ride better downward transitions, after all, they tend to be the ones that cause us as riders to lose our balance the quickest!

    Finally, the lessons will challenge you to begin adding a little trotting and, later, cantering into your bareback routine! And don’t worry, we encourage you to take your time (even over the space of a few weeks) because it will mean that when you get to perform some faster gaits without a saddle, you are confident, secure, and balanced enough to enjoy them.  You can find out more about Connection HERE >>

  • Solid Foundations for Jumping

    Solid Foundations for Jumping

    Jumping, it has the ability to thrill and to strike fear into riders, sometimes all at once!   However, if approached in a systematic and patient manner, most of the fear will dissipate allowing both you and your horse to enjoy jumping; whether it be a pop every now and then, or a trip round a course of fences weekly at a local show.

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA356-Building-Solid-Foundations-For-Correct-Jumping.mp3″ title=”Building Solid Foundations for Correct Jumping” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Jumping with your horse? Here is how to get it right from the start…” hashtag=”equestrian #horseriding #jumping” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Generally speaking, all horses can jump, however some horses have more jumping ability than others and it is important to work with your horses natural ability and focus on improving it using a specifically tailored program.

    We should also remember that some horses no matter how much time and effort is invested in their training, just don’t enjoy jumping and that must be respected as well.  Be sure that your horse enjoys the task as much as you do!
    Building a Solid Foundation for Jumping
    In order to produce a horse that is both safe and competent over fences his jumping schooling must be combined with basic flat work or dressage schooling to develop suppleness, balance, strength and agility.

    The stronger the horse, the better he can use himself and his natural ability.  Strength takes time to develop and pushing your horse before he is physically or mentally ready will potentially cause him to become tense or anxious about jumping which can show itself in a whole host of problems, from rushing to running out.

    The key to building a solid foundation is to develop confidence; both your horse’s and your own.   This confidence will ensure relaxation through your horse, which will soften the neck, back and body in general so it can be used correctly and fully both between and over fences. 

    Also in jumping, timing is everything however in order to time correctly, there needs to be a few key pieces in place first, namely; Rhythm, straightness, balance and impulsion.  If anyone of these parts are missing, the likelihood of a smooth, successful jump diminishes greatly.

    Firstly, lets begin by looking at you, the rider.  

    Before you begin jumping I strongly recommend that you have an independent seat.  A quick ‘challenge’ you can do to test this is having the ability to hold the 2 point seat for at least a couple of laps of your arena without falling over, your legs swinging or collapsing on your horses back.  This sounds easy enough, however 30 seconds in your body will know all about it…!

    I also suggest using this quick and simple exercise while out on hacks or trails; pick different markers such as trees, shadows of telephone poles, fence posts and pretend they are a jump.  Begin trying to judge where your horse would take off and being able to ‘slip’ into your jumping position when necessary.  You can initially do this in walk, then in trot and, if you have a grassy bridle path or somewhere else suitable, in canter also.

    You can then take it one step further by beginning to see if you can adjust the ‘take off point’ for your horse and use that accordingly.  I find doing this exercise really helps you ‘feel’ what a balanced jumping position is like, helps you quickly adjust your body in and out of the jumping position and also helps to begin training you to ‘see a stride’.

    Back in the arena a really useful and extremely versatile exercise can be ridden by placing a single pole on the center line at X and working over it in a similar fashion.  Test yourself initially in walk to see how straight you can make your approach and then, once successful, move onto trot and, later, canter.  See if you can judge the take off point and adjust your position to suit this accordingly.

    This exercise is always a good exercise to come back to when ‘tuning up’ both you and your horse.  You can also begin improving your ability to ‘see a stride’ by counting backwards the last three strides to your take off point, “3,2,1 Jump”, and when more experienced, “5,4,3,2,1 Jump”.

     

    Once mastered, the pole can be ‘popped’ from different angles, all the while making sure you remain riding on a straight line of your choice.  Imagine two long narrow triangles, their points touching at the pole to create a long angular figure of 8.  Ride each line, popping the pole each time at an angle and then balancing your horse around the ‘turn’ at the top of each triangle to come back on the opposite line.

    Again, begin at walk, choose your line or path and once mastered take up trot and then on to canter.

    Secondly, it is important as a rider to allow your horse to ‘figure things out’ for himself.

    I know myself how tempting it is to interfere and ‘help’ but this will only lead to problems further down the line when your horse cannot get himself out of trouble.  At some point in your riding, you will inevitably get it ‘wrong’ and you need your horse to firstly realize this has happened and secondly to make a plan of his own to get you both out of trouble.

    This comes more naturally to some horses than others, however you can also begin to teach your horse this invaluable skill by not interfering.

    I personally think one of the most difficult things to do on a horse is nothing!  However, as riders we sometimes must do just this!

    In the arena, use simple grids to work on both you and your horse, separately and together, to grow your skills over bigger more demanding fences.  Make sure that you are guiding your horse all the way through the grid, however that you are also allowing him to see that adjustments must be made and to actually make the adjustments himself.  Often horses pull through fences only because the rider is pulling through the fences.  You need to disengage and allow your horse to jump the jump.

    Building a solid foundation for jumping

    This also means being balanced over the fence, not throwing your weight about and not depending on your horses neck, body, mane, reins etc for your balance and support, which we spoke about earlier.

    The hours spent practicing over the smaller fences will ensure you can both successfully negotiate a course of larger fences when the time is right.

    Lastly, you can begin to improve both you and your horses effectiveness and technique

    Once both of you are confident, you can then begin looking at improving your style and effectiveness and your horses technique and skills.  However, again, this can only really begin when the foundation has been properly cultivated and developed.

    You can do this using grids that ask more questions of your horse, such as bounces, shorter distances, longer distances, angles, bends, types of fences.  The list is endless and different elements will be more beneficial to improve specific parts of your horses technique.

    At the end of the day, you are looking for the best way to allow your horse to really reach his full potential in a happy safe manner.

    Horses should not be jumped every day.  Remember most of the time spent jumping a round of fences is actually spent on the flat, between fences.  Use this ratio when creating your training program for your horse.

    Also remember that if you can negotiate the smaller fences easily, the larger ones won’t prove a problem… However anyone can get from A to B over a small fence… Getting there correctly and with style is what counts.

    Invest your time training over the smaller fences and less complicated grids and return there regularly as often bad habits slip in when least expected and only every now and then, test your knowledge and skill over larger fences.

    Happy Jumping!
    Lorna

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  • Riding a Hot Horse

    Riding a Hot Horse

    Have you ever found yourself riding a hot horse where the slightest touch of your leg sends them shooting forward with the speed of a snake strike?  Even worse, once they start on that forward trajectory, they get heavier and heavier on your hand.

    It becomes more and more unbalanced until, eventually, there is an epic tug of war happening.  Horse and rider pitted against each other, often at speeds, which for the space you are currently occupying, are breakneck

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA346-Riding-a-Hot-or-Sensitive-Horse.mp3″ title=”Riding a Hot or Sensitive Horse” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Is your horse a little too ‘hot to trot’?! Here is what to do:-” hashtag=”HottoTrot #equestrian #hothorse” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Think ‘Increase Relaxation’ rather than ‘Slow Down’

    Horses become like this as the result of many different factors and influences.  It may be that they experienced pain or anxiety in a similar past situation.  Some horses are just a naturally more anxious or sensitive by nature.

    What’s important to remember is that rather than slow your horse down, you are instead looking for more relaxation.   This is both when he is being ridden and when he responds to your aids, particularly your leg and seat.

    Understanding Excess Tension

    Often when horses run away from the leg, they become tense all over.  They hollow their back, they raise their head, their muscles become stiff and taunt.  They also invite you to ride really badly… which is why the first part of retraining your horse is to make sure you are asking the correct questions in the correct, timely manner.   Also, that you are responding to your horse correctly.

    This takes consistent ongoing effort and rewiring if your horse is to accept your leg and seat aids.  Ongoing meaning months, if not years.  However, the effort is always worthwhile, for both you as the rider and the horse.

    Ruling Out the Obvious Culprits

    The first part of this is making sure your horse is not running away from anything causing him discomfort or pain.  This means checking him thoroughly for any medical or health issues as well as back or muscular problems.  Then ask a professional to check your tack and of course, have his teeth seen to on a regular basis.

    Riding a Hot Horse

     

    Correcting Your Position and Leg Aids

    Once you have covered all possible outside influences, we can begin to look at what you can actively do to retrain your horse to happily accept your leg.  To do this, I think it bears mentioning that you must have an independent seat and knowledge of how your legs must be correctly applied and the correct result or outcome to this application.

    So, once you are clear that your position in the saddle is correct and you have a sound knowledge of how to apply your leg and seat aids, I suggest investing some time developing your often overlooked voice aid. I really believe for horses like this, the voice is a tool you can use to begin reprogramming their reactions in a calm controlled way.

    Spend Time with Groundwork

    You can begin doing this by lunging your horse and observing their behaviour and their way of going.   Notice things that trigger a reaction.  Then, slowly, using your voice along with your other lunging equipment begin to ask more demanding questions of your horse.  Of course, all the while backing every question and response up with your voice.

    This time spent working correctly on the lunge will also allow your horse to experience how comfortable and enjoyable things can be if he relaxes and uses himself correctly… Without the interference of the rider.  Remember, often our horses are running away from us, whether we like it or not and sometimes the key to retraining is by taking us out of the equation initially!

    Training  to the voice first on the lunge gives you a ‘back up’ for your legs as you are riding.  It allows your horse to begin understand when he has indeed taken a step in the correct direction.  This is especially true when used in conjunction with an ‘offering’ of the inside rein to reward while riding.

    Your Actions Affect Your Horses Relaxation

    Talking also keeps you breathing while in the saddle.  This simply means you are less likely to tense up and become stiff, which your horse will inevitably pick up on and perhaps be affected by.  Your voice also focuses your horse on you and calms them.

    As I mentioned, the other great advantage of lunging is the fact that you can spot other influences that are causing certain reactions.  We had a particularly ‘sensitive & hot’ mare here a few years ago.  She was an OTTB and quite ‘goey’ as well as ticklish.  We noticed that when she was wearing a square saddle pad, rather than a shaped numnah, the her attitude changed and she became more difficult to work with.  We figured out that this was due to the corner of the pad ‘tickling’ her close to her sensitive flank areas.  We changed the saddle pad and while she was not ‘cured’, she was certainly easier to work with afterwards.

    Changing Things Up and Getting Out of the Arena

    The second suggestion I have is getting out of the arena.  Often sensitive horses over think things a little and begin to anticipate.  We then, in response to this anticipation, begin to tense up and a vicious cycle is born.  In these cases riding on roads, lanes or trails works well to relax a sensitive or hot horse.  It also demonstrates what you are actually looking for when you do venture back into the arena and how you are going to ask for that in future.

    You can begin this by focusing on regulating the tempo in trot while on the trail.  You are initially looking for a long, relaxed and low, if necessary, shape to begin setting a new ‘normal’ which you can work on improving in the arena.  Regulating the tempo has a calming effect and being out, perhaps with a friend, often relaxes horses and allows them to be more open to suggestions.

    I have to stress the importance here of consistent use of your leg.  Your horse has to begin to realize that you leg on their side is normal and not something to run away from and often the trail is a good place to start this due to the more relaxed feel of the ride.

    The Importance of Understanding How To Use your Leg Aids

    Remember keeping your legs off and only using when absolutely necessary, while initially will seem like it’s helping, will only prolong an already irritating situation.  He may initially rush or run away, however by keeping your legs there, quietly he will begin to relax and the tempo may slow, while the stride becomes longer.

    All the while I urge you to keep your leg on, gently..  Not gripping, not nagging, just there and asking questions when needed, such as inside leg for impulsion, outside leg to balance and straighten etc.  Once you have mastered this on the trail, you can then begin to look for similar results in the arena, using your voice in a similar manner to when being lunged and the same leg and seat aids from the trail.

    Ignoring the Invitation to ‘Ride Badly’!

    When you do begin working in the arena, or an enclosed space you may find that your horse will again speed up, fall onto the forehand and lose balance…  In order to end this tug of war, it is extremely tempting to take your leg off, however only reinforces in the horse that the leg means go and only go.

    You must essentially ignore all his invitations asking you to join in to that tug of war and rather stick with consistently applying your leg aids in a correct and also using the half halt to balance and regain his attention.  When you get a positive reaction, no matter how small, be sure to acknowledge it by rewarding with inside rein and allowing him to move forward again

    Do not allow him to rush, pull on your reins or lean on your reins and also do not stop using your leg.  Rather gently insist with half halt, remembering that so much of the half halt is your legs and seat, that he comes back and when he does so, rewarding with voice and a softening of the inside rein.

    Focus on Consistent Rhythm and Tempo

    When in the arena, work on regulating tempo but be careful of horse becoming stiff and tense though their back.  They sometimes lock against the rider, resulting in a horse that is noticeably ‘slower’ but that is stiff throughout their body and not using themselves to their full potential.

    Keep you leg in contact with the horse at all times, not gripping, but in contact.  If you need to desensitise him you can, beginning at walk, gently ‘rub’ or ‘swing’ your legs against your horse’s side.  Each time he tries to run forward, use your half halt, again including your leg, to let him know that it does not always mean rush forward.  However, I must caution you that I personally think desensitising him will open another can of worms later down the line, but I do know of people who have had success with this so it bears mentioning.

    The final point I want to make is that very often being sensitive to the leg means being sensitive all over, and horses like this pick up on the rider being tense and stiff.  I mentioned earlier the benefit of the voice, and from this point I believe it works both ways.

    Retraining a horse that runs away from your leg takes months of consistent work; paying attention to asking correctly and then rewarding when small progress is made.  Keep in mind that there is a big difference between allowing him to go forward and asking him to go forward; meaning that you must be prepared for the response to the questions you ask.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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  • Riding Just to Ride

    Riding Just to Ride

    A couple of weeks ago I was faced with a particularly irritating scenario; the clients who had booked for the final lesson of the day didn’t show…  Not a word of explanation… Nothing!

    I am sure you have had similar experiences, whether you work with horses or not, and can relate to how I was feeling at that point; tired, frustrated and annoyed!  After ten minutes of ‘busying’ myself around the yard and admonishing myself for thinking the worst in people (it is possible they had a mishap on the way here, you know… Hmmm!), I finally accepted the fact that they were not coming and I was left with a barn full of ponies, all tacked up with nowhere to go.

    But just before I let myself completely wallow in the ‘Poor Me’ mindset of no return, I looked for ways I could turn this whole scenario around on its head…  What if?

    Riding to Just Ride

    What if I were to just take one of the ponies out on the trail, no schooling, no lessons, no ‘being an example to all who see me’.  What if I were to just mount up and ride like I used to ride when I was younger to, quite frankly, just enjoy the actual ride.

     What if we just let loose, not giving a care in the world as to how we looked, not even a thought towards considering all the finer points that I know now but didn’t know or care to know about then…

    And that was when magic happened, literally.  As I mounted my favorite pony I had this feeling of excitement and anticipation that I honestly have not felt in years.  Like Christmas Eve… when I was 6 years old!  The feeling that anything was possible; the feeling that we were just going to enjoy each other, together, on the trail.

    And as we left the yard, it was almost as though this feeling was contagious and this wonderful little mare was reading my mind and becoming giddy with the possibilities…

     What a ride we had!  I spent that time just ‘being’ with my pony, present in the moment.

    I think sometimes, as adult riders we become so caught up with having to ride a certain way that we sometimes lose the initial passion for why we ride in the first place.

    We are always trying to improve ourselves and our horses, which is not wrong, but perhaps sometimes, every now and then, to just let loose and forget all that we know is often the key to being able to return to our work of self-improvement with a renewed passion and a better understanding of what it actually means to be blessed enough for this wonderful animal to allow us the life changing experience that it is to ride on their backs, with them.

    This coming weekend, I challenge you to just spend time with your special horse or pony… Relax, relate and reignite those initial sparks that got you into the saddle in the first place…

    I would love to hear about your thoughts or experiences on this in facebook group of the Rider Fitness Challenge – details below!

    Happy riding
    Lorna

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  • Developing Your Riding Seat

    Developing Your Riding Seat

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    There’s always a desire among riders to develop their seat in the saddle. Most riders understand that developing this one aid is a key part of improving as a rider. But what does it really mean? And how can you start to do it?

    Developing your riding seat begins with understanding that your seat must be used to signal to your horse.  It is not there to interfere or disrupt his natural movement.  

    In order for you to utilize this aid successfully, it is imperative that you be relaxed first.  Relaxation is not floppiness, it is just an awareness of your body and how you are using it without any excess tension or resistance through your muscles.

    Control Without Excess Tension

    The problem and confusion over developing your riding seat often begin right at the start when we first learn to ride. We hear certain phrases repeated continuously. Phrases like “sit up straight, shoulders back, heels down, look up, bend elbows”.  The list goes on and on.

    However, all those commands, while each in their own way is correct and coming from a good place, can very often have the negative effect of making us stiff and resembling a poker!

    Developing your riding seat essentially the ability to control your core muscles, both when you need to use them and when they should remain passive or neutral.

    Many riders think that this is a foreign thing for them to do; using their core to influence something else. But cast your mind back to when you were small and enjoying the sensation of the wind in your hair as you swung back and forth on a simple swing. Yes, the ones with two ropes hanging from a branch or beam and a plank in the middle for you to sit on.

    Now, think how you were more than able, on your own steam and without touching the ground, to make each swing go higher than the last… You were essentially using your ‘driving seat’ to do that.  

    Likewise, think about when you wanted to get off the swing; you used your body to slow the momentum down and bring the swing to a halt; your resisting seat.

    How Your Seat Can Influence Your Horse

    This same approach applies when riding a horse, although admittedly used in far more subtle applications.  We can use our seat to drive our horse forward.   We can also use our seat to slow our horse down or gather our horse up a little.

    In fact, when we start being mindful about what we are doing and the effect it has on our horse, we realize that our seat is an important factor in going, turning, stopping, starting, transitions, not to mention the more intricate movements such as lateral and adjusting suspension and movement within a gait.

    Developing Your Riding Seat

    But just as being able to guide your horse along to perform what you wish of him, equally as important is the ability to shift your seat into ‘neutral’ and allowing our horse to actually do his job.  

    Often when people begin realizing how powerful their seat is in riding, they are quickly horrified as to how much ‘chatting’ they are doing without realizing it every time they are in the saddle!

    Becoming Mindful of Your Seat

    So, what do we need to do in order to begin tapping into our seat aid and using it when we ride?

    First and foremost, you must have or begin to condition your body to have, a strong core in order to correctly use your seat.  So many people are after this ‘independent seat’ but are not willing to put in the necessary effort and time that it takes to achieve it.  Learning to use your seat correctly is not something which we achieve overnight.

    It takes years of practice to develop the ‘feel’ and conditioning of your bodies in order to truly support you when you ride

    30 Day Rider Fitness Challenge

    It seems so strange, but so many riders just don’t carry themselves when on their horse… And those same riders get awfully upset when their horses refuse to carry themselves as well!

    You also must become almost obsessive about the cause and effect of every movement while in the saddle.  Being finicky and playing close attention initially to each movement and the reaction that it causes is the key to being able to perform what appears to be an effortless ride in the long term.

    Negative Effects of Excess Tension

    Earlier, I mentioned how essential it is to relax your body while riding.  One of the reasons is to prevent gripping!  I see so many riders in the saddle and they seem like they have the fear of God inside them that they might just fall off!

    Firstly, you will fall off if you stay riding long enough.  It is as enviable as the sun rising in the East each morning and setting in the West every evening.  Secondly, gripping will only work to get you there sooner, trust me!

    When you find yourself tensing and beginning to grip, catch yourself in the act and then rather relax.

    Think of a stone and a piece of jelly on a plate.  If you bounce the plate up and down, which bounce off first?  The stone of course!  Don’t be the stone.

    Confusion in Communication

    Gripping also works against you because it tells your horse a different story to what you are really perhaps trying to convey.  I have come across quite a few horses, particularly OTTBs, whose riders get a little nervous and begin to grip.

    The horse’s general reaction is always something that moves them farther from what the rider actually was trying to achieve and quite often ends with the horse showing his athletic ability with a few cartwheels for good measure.  This of course causes the rider to grip more, drive more and so the cycle goes on and on.

    Learn to relax both your mind and your body while riding. This will improve your ability to really develop your seat

    Your Position and Your Seat

    We can also look at the rider’s position when speaking about seat.  Make sure you are sitting in the lowest part of the saddle and not leaning back towards the cantle of the saddle. Leaning back will cause your legs to stick out in front of you with your toes tipping your horse’s shoulders or elbows.

    When a rider is continuously tipping back while in the saddle, the horse will begin to hollow his back all the time in order to get away from the uncomfortable pressure of the rider’s seat-bones.

    Equally as important is to guard against crouching over the pommel of the saddle.  People who ride like this are completely unbalanced and will never cultivate an independent seat.

    Also, you cannot ride a horse sitting on their neck; so don’t try it!

    30 Day Rider Fitness Challenge

    ‘Driving Seat’ Challenges

    Another position fault I see with riders, particularly when they try and use a driving seat is the ‘Quasimodo Position’.  They have tucked their pelvis so far forward that their back and, in particular, the area between the shoulder blades become curved into a C shape.

    In this position, the core is being ‘squashed’ making it impossible to carry the upper body, with the effect being that the rider becomes extremely heavy and cumbersome on the horse’s back.

    The last position problem that I want to mention today which is common when riders try to engage that ‘driving seat’ is an upward and forward thrust of the pelvis, coupled with an equally powerful thrust backward of the shoulders.  The result is again, a complete loss of any core engagement and an extremely arched and uncomfortable position for your spine to be in!

    When we look at what causes riders to do any of the above, it tends to circle back to two underlying reasons.  The first is a lack of time spent cultivating that all-important feel for the seat. And the second is a lack of strength and flexibility in the core of the body.

     

    Step by Step Training on This Topic

    This week in Daily Strides we are working on your seat. Specifically learning how to begin feeling it and then how to influence your horse with it.  The second lesson focuses specifically on asking our horse to move forward and how the seat is the first part of this ask.  Think about how you subtly adjust your body just before you stand up out of a chair.  This is a similar use of your core.  You will be riding exercises to help you use your ‘forward going’ seat correctly and also the correct application and use of the driving seat.

    In Wednesday’s lesson we knuckle down on how we can use our seat correctly while slowing down and stopping.  We are working on transitions between gaits themselves and using your seat to encourage a change within the gait itself.  This seat is often called a resisting seat. And if used correctly can be the difference between a connected and fluent transition; or a hollowed and choppy one!

    Finally, we put this all together on Thursday…  And for the brave few, I lay down a challenge that will open your eyes to the consequences of using your seat aids correctly. And the unfortunate issues that can arise when riders choose not to!

    The aim of this group of lessons is to help you to sit quieter in the saddle. This will lead to greater influence and better understanding of all the intricacies you are communicating to your horse as you ride.

    All this week’s lessons are available for you right now inside of Connection.  In fact, there are over 500 audio horse riding lessons on a huge variety of different topics in there. All ready for you to dive into with your horse.

    We will also help you set goals and create a plan to reach those goals – and equally as important.  You can find out more about Connection HERE >>

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    Additional Resources on This Topic

    30 Day Rider Fitness Challenge

  • Keeping a Hoof Journal for Your Horse

    Keeping a Hoof Journal for Your Horse

    We have all heard the old saying ‘No hoof, no horse’, and any of us that have been around horses for any length of time know it to be true.

    But, aside from just the regular picking out and greasing of your horse’s hooves, what else are you actively doing to ensure the long term integrity of your horse’s feet and how closely are you paying attention to the small changes that can sometimes lead on to big problems?

    Often as owners and riders we just assume our farrier is doing his job well and the hooves are ‘all good’, however when you begin to consciously get involved in monitoring the subtle changes on a weekly or fortnightly basis…  You stand a much greater chance of keeping your equine friend sounder for longer.

    Hoof Care Checklist

    So, why should we record and chart our horses hooves?

    Well, horses feet change for variety of reasons, both environmental or mechanical.  Because of this I think it is vital to note the facts of the hooves themselves but also keeping records of other outside external factors which may be contributing to healthy feet or subtly causing problems to occur.

    Factors such as

    • Feed and forage
    • Supplements
    • Weather
    • Stabled or living out
    • Type of bedding
    • Stable management routine
    • Work surface
    • Chiropractor
    • Inoculations
    • Tack
    • Type of work required
    • Rider (weight, experience, height, habits and style of riding)

    Keeping a hoof journal for your horse will help keep track of your horses hooves, but also perhaps notice any changes early enough so as to intervene before they become a problem.

    Hoof Care Journal

    Your journal can be as basic or as detailed as you wish, however I would recommend tracking the following details

    • Hoof shape and size – photographs and measurements
    • Hoof condition – monitoring cracks, brittleness, exposure to moisture
    • Hoof growth – measuring, photographs and any topical or supplements you are giving to promote
    • Hoof quality – photographs and notes concerning texture

    Also those external factors that I spoke of earlier such as farrier details, work, diet, supplements and a whole multitude of other influences which may or not be unique to your horse.

    To help you with this I have created a free checklist for you to download and use when at the barn.  You can print it off and keep it in your records file, or digitally fill it in and save it on your phone or computer.

    hoof Care Checklist

    Along with this checklist, I have also created a fully comprehensive hoof journal which along with the above mentioned checklist, is also filled with a whole host of more detailed, quick and easy understand and use pages that you can use to capture all those small but important details keep track of your horse’s feet and deal with any issues right at the beginning.

    So, here’s to healthy hooves!

    Lorna

    Hoof Care Journal

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