Strides for Success

Tag: seat

  • How to Use Your Leg While Riding

    How to Use Your Leg While Riding

    .How to use your legs while riding

    Do you find yourself a tad confused as to what exactly to do with your legs while you ride?  Do you find that even if you know what to do, degree of pressure to use or how often to apply the aid is confusing you?

    You are hearing terms such as ‘Keep your leg on’, ‘use your leg’, ‘more leg’, ‘leg’, ‘soften your leg’, ‘support with your leg’, ‘back up your leg’… leg, leg, leg!!!  You find yourself thinking back to the days when you were just happy keeping one either side of your horse!

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA416-What-to-do-with-Your-Legs-While-Riding.mp3″ title=”What to Do With Your Legs While Riding” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Confused about leg aids in the saddle? This will clear things up…” hashtag=”equestrian #deadtotheleg #horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    Knowing how to apply your leg, when to apply your leg and with what pressure and regularity is something that takes lots of practice.  It falls under the ‘feel’ category of horsemanship and riding skills.  However, you can begin to improve your use of your leg right now with a few simple steps.

    Why Your Leg Aids are So Important in Riding

    You leg is one of the riding aids you use to communicate with your horse.  It is used to influence your horses forward and sideways movement.  It also has a regulating influence when necessary. Couple this with being essential for bending your horse, as well as helping to contain your horse.

    Your leg will always be present on your horses sides while you ride.  It should never be absent or, for whatever reason, taken away.  This is often the aspect of the leg aid that confuses many riders; they initially only see the leg as a driving aid.

    Before we begin, it is necessary to understand that in order to use your leg correctly, you need to have developed an independent seat while you are riding.  Using your legs to balance or grip will make it impossible for you to use them to direct and ask questions of your horse.

    It is also important to realize that consistency is key to mastering the leg aids, for both you and your horse.

    If you wish to better your skills in the saddle, committing to being mindful and present as much as possible while you ride. This is particularly true when it comes to how, when and why you are using your legs.

    How Your Overall Position will Affect Your Leg Effectiveness

    The first aspect of beginning to use your legs as effectively as possible begins with ensuring you have a correct position in the saddle.  Many times an ineffective or ‘hokey pokey’ leg is caused by a faulty seat.  Make sure you are sitting on your seat-bones.  This will allow your legs to ‘fall’ down your horses sides.

    You ideally want to establish the first of the two all important ‘lines’ of riding; the head, shoulder, hip to heel.  What is important to point out here is that your hip is not your backside!!

    Another way to think of this line and really know if it is true and correct is to imagine that if we could click our fingers and ‘abbrakedabra’ our horse away, you should technically land on your feet; not your backside and not on your face… Your feet should be underneath you at all times in the saddle!

    Learning to ‘Drape’ Your Legs Around Your Horse

    Once you have established what is right for you, don’t squeeze or tense your legs to keep them in position, this will happen naturally if your seat is correct and your hips and pelvis is open and relaxed.

    Keep in mind that how your legs ‘fall’ depends a great deal on how you are actually put together!

    In fact, the fall of your leg will depend on many different factors, the most obvious being both you and your horses conformation as well as the saddle etc.  Sometimes taking a few photos of yourself in the saddle from the side and behind can help you establish if your position is indeed correct to the best of the situation.

    Different Situations results in Different Applications

    Next thing to begin thinking about is the type of leg aid necessary for a given situation, and the degree to which it should be used.  This depends a lot on the horse himself and the type of questions you are intending to ask with your legs.

    Generally speaking, hotter horses respond better to a consistent pressure.  Laid back, docile horses prefer to be asked and then the aid taken away.  This action can then be repeated as much as necessary to achieve the desired result.  

    One of the biggest problems faced by many riders is that both these applications of the aids almost seems to appear counter-intuitive when they initially begin working with a horse that may be similar to either of the two I just mentioned.

    A ‘Hot’ Horse Versus a ‘Laid Back’ Horse

    A hot or sensitive horse almost invites us to keep our leg off, training the rider to just apply a mere hint of an aid when they feel it is absolutely necessary…  Frustratingly, this will just compound the problem and condition the horse even more that the leg is something which they must run away from.

    Strangely these same sensitive horses actually respond much better to a steady consistent pressure or contact from the leg, rather than short bursts of an aid here and there…

    Similarly, the same is true for the more laid back horses of the world.  The rider feels like they must give continuous, strong leg aids, usually to the tune of squeezing or ‘pumping’.  Unfortunately, this often increases their frustration as their horse ignores them more and more… These types of horses respond better to short, concise directions that are given when needed…

    Like all things worth doing, learning which aid to apply to a particular horse for the best result takes time.  However it is well worth the investment in the long run.

    The Varying Degrees of Pressure

    The third factor to consider when applying your leg aids is the degree of pressure that you use when applying the aid.  Again, this depends on many factors.  These include those we have already spoken about and others.  The feed your horse is receiving, if he is stabled or turned out.  Look at the work he is doing, his fitness levels.

    Even outside factors such as the weather conditions at that time, the riding conditions…  The list is endless and as I mentioned at the beginning, this again falls under the category of developing your feel as a rider.  Luckily, all of these things, you can work on daily and become aware of every time you get into the saddle.

    In fact, only through increasing your mindfulness will you have any lasting success in increasing the effectiveness of your leg aids.

    When it comes to actually applying your leg aids,  we can broadly break the term leg aids down into three different and distinct categories.  It is important to keep in mind that within these three categories, the aids can be further divided up based on degrees of pressure and regularity of occurrence.

    Your Driving Leg Aid

    The first is the driving aid.  Terms to describe this particular aid can often be heard resounding around arenas, ringing in the ears of exhausted riders.  Exasperated instructors and trainers can be seen, turning red in the face and heard roaring “Put Your Leg On!!” or “Give Him Some Leg!!”.  Sometimes, a short, repetitive and quite often effective ‘LEG!!” will do the trick.

    What the instructor or trainer is trying to say is ‘Use your leg to create initial energy in your horse’… Hmmm, come again?!

    I suggest thinking of your driving leg as turning the ignition or key in your car, or just switching on the vacuum cleaner. You ask and it responds without having to be continuously pushed in or turned.  When your horse is truly listening to your aids, this will also happen when you apply this aid.

    I recommend  that you imagine your legs are going to wrap underneath your horses tummy and pick him up.  Try lengthening your leg and then imagine that using your calves, you are going to lift his barrel up underneath you.  Of course, if you do really imagine doing this, your seat and core will also begin to respond in the correct way to ask for the forward movement.

    Your Maintenance Leg Aid

    The second use of the leg aid is a more maintenance aid.  Once your horse is going forward, this will be used to keep him doing so in the way you desire.  This is often expressed as ‘Keep Your Leg On’ or ‘Hold Him with Your Leg’.

    There is confusion surrounding this application of the leg aid.  Many riders turn purple in the face from the physical exertion of squeezing continuously while riding… Which of course is not what this means at all!

    If you can think of your legs as being the barriers on the side of the road.  Except instead of keeping your horses direction on the straight and narrow (which of course your legs help to do) rather, for this aid, think of keeping the energy being created focused where you want it go.

    Its like when you use the accelerator pedal in your car to go faster (your driving aid).  Once you have reached your desired speed you lighten the pressure.  This is while still keeping your foot on the pedal.  You are now maintaining that speed (keeping your leg on).

    Your Relaxed ‘Leg Off’ Leg Aid

    The final term and leg aid that often confuses riders is the ‘Relax Your Leg’ or ‘Take Your Leg Off’.  Again, this does not literally mean what it says.  In fact, trying to lift your legs off your horses sides for any length of time will quickly tire you out! This often results in twisting your upper body to compensate.

    Rather this means that, given the situation, think of softening your leg in order to achieve a particular outcome  

    For example, often relaxing your outside leg while leg yielding will allow your horse to actually move to the outside.  It creates a ‘door’ of sorts for him to move through.  Again, the use of this aid depends a lot on the situation and circumstances of it being applied.

    Becoming more mindful as to how you use your legs involves paying attention to the reaction you receive from your horse.  Keep in mind that only through consistent correct practice will you eventually achieve a ‘better’ leg.  This will lead to having almost invisible conversations with your horse.  Quiet and soft, with the result you desire.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    You can purchase the audio trainings on this topic HERE

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  • Harnessing the Power of the Half Halt

    Harnessing the Power of the Half Halt

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA406-Harnessing-the-Half-Halt.mp3″ title=”Harnessing the Power of the Half Halt” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]

    The half-halt should be one of the earliest things that riders learn to master when learning to ride their horse. It is a vital part of riding well and being able to perform accurate, balanced movements with your horse.

    However, while many riders understand the concept of the half-halt in theory, unfortunately, the carrying out of the actual movement leaves a lot of room for improvement.

    What is the Half Halt?

    The half-halt is essentially a rein check or a postponement. You are asking your horse for his undivided attention and letting him know that something is about to happen.

    When ridden correctly, the half-halt can be used to re-balance your horse, to ask him for his attention, prepare him for an upcoming movement, to ask for more self-carriage or collection, to steady or slow him down, to set up transitions and, in fact, should be sprinkled generously throughout your ride from start to finish.

    Harnessing the Power of the Half halt

    When and Why Should I Use It?

    There are so many different situations where the half-halt is required while riding that many riders may become confused as to where exactly to perform the movement. How often it should be applied is also a source of confusion. Along with what intensity or firmness.

    Each half halt, in essence, is similar regardless of the reason for using it. However, there are slight differences depending on many factors between the horse, rider, and present circumstances. 

    The more you ride and practice the half halt, the better you will become at using just the correct amount of pressure at the correct time. Regardless of the horse or circumstances.

    How Do I Ride a Half Halt?

    To perform the half halt, the rider uses three different aids, the seat, the legs, and the hands. Many riders struggle to use all three aids in such close conjunction with each other. And, often, this lack of co-ordination from the rider often results in a deterioration of the horse’s way of going.

    A true half halt, as we mentioned before, is a postponement of the forward energy.

    However, what is important to notice here is that the forward energy must remain and continue to be created by the rider, at the correct times, so the horse does not stop or break from what it is doing.

    There is a previous blog post & audio lesson HERE on using your seat while riding

    Its an ‘Invisible Aid’…

    The other point worth mentioning before we get into the nuts and bolts of the half halt is that it should be barely visible to others watching you ride. I say barely because if a person is well-trained in what to look for, they will of course see these little ‘rein checks’.  However, to the average spectator, it will look as though nothing is happening.  The horse is simply remaining in a balanced and consistent way of going.

    The half halt does require a certain amount of strength and development from the horse, as there is a transfer happening from the front end, more onto the back-end.  

    Strength & Training

    This results in the hindquarters coming underneath the horse and bearing more weight. Many riders forget to allow for this lack of training and development in young or green horses. They can become frustrated when the half halt does not result in the desired action happening underneath them.  Or as ‘big’ of a difference occurring. Horses must learn what the movement is, and over time, become capable of performing it correctly.

    Practice by firstly using the thought of the half halt as an opportunity to correct and ‘fix’, if necessary, your position while riding

    Setting Up the Movement

    Check that your basic position is free of any obvious errors and that your legs are underneath you.  It is important that your legs must remain underneath you throughout the half halt.  In order to maintain the forwardness of your horse’s movement and energy, your legs must be ‘on’ and applied first when asking for the half halt.

    Once you have engaged your horse with your legs, you will then use your seat and hands together to ‘resist’ or ‘slightly contain’ the energy and perform that ‘rein-check’ that we spoke of.  This will only happen for a split second. Then you will soften allowing your horse to move forward again. From here, use your legs once again to help create that forward energy.

    Remember, the half halt only lasts a split second; any longer and you are having a tug of war!

    Your Seat When Asking…

    One of the biggest challenges riders have is when they activate their seat and core in the half halt. Their lower legs tend to shoot out in front of them. This results in the rider’s feet being somewhere near or on the horse’s shoulders!

    Practice engaging your core in a ‘resisting’ motion for a split second. All the while making sure your legs are correctly underneath you.  Your legs are vital to keeping your horse moving forward and working correctly.

    As I mentioned earlier, the half halt is a slight postponement of the energy, not a cancellation!

    When using your seat and core, make sure you are carrying your upper body, to allow the muscles around your pelvis to work correctly.  Try not to brace your lower back, in an attempt to lean back.  This will result in a jarring feeling and the beginning of the end with regards to the forward energy you have created!  Also, make sure you don’t crouch or curve your upper back. This movement generally correlates with an overuse of the hand and lack of seat and core in the half halt.

    Not A ‘One Time Only’ Event

    Also keep in mind that you may need to perform numerous half halts in order to achieve your desired outcome.  

    Keep each one short, quick and correct.  If you ‘hold’ the position or the half halt for too long, your horse will begin to lean against you. This is exactly the opposite of what you want to achieve in the first place.

    Take time to begin coordinating your different aids so that once ‘put together’, your half halt will appear seamless and fluid. It will work with your horse. Not against. This will help to both balance and steady.  It often helps to say something while you are performing the movement, as it will help you better establish the cause and effect that you are making happen underneath you.

    A simple ‘Steady’ said out loud can be enough to help this movement become a subconscious one for you in the long run.

    Timing the Half Halt

    As with all things relating to horse riding, the timing of the movement and aids are also important.  Once you have successfully managed to use your different aids together to achieve the desired result, begin noticing what is happening underneath you.

    As you become more adept at feeling which foot is falling when you will grow more confident in asking for the half halt at the correct time.

    This is usually when the horse’s back hoof has been placed on the ground.

    Harnessing The Power of the Half Halt

    Sprinkle Around the Arena

    Train your body to automatically begin using the half halt in particular areas of the arena or parts of your ride.  I initially suggest using corners, bends, or changes of direction as the initial trigger you use to remember to half halt.

    Soon, riding this movement without thinking about it during one particular aspect of your work will become second nature. This will allow you to free up your mind to begin working it into other areas.  Again, I suggest methodically and consistently until it again becomes something that just happens while you ride.

    Finally, mindfully develop your ‘feel’ as you use the half halt…  

    Different levels of intensity or different ways of riding the half halt will be necessary depending on the various factors that make up each situation, such as rider, horse, and circumstances surrounding that particular ride.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

    Additional Resources for Equestrians:-

  • Improving Your Feel in the Saddle

    Improving Your Feel in the Saddle

    Developing Your Feel in the SAddle

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    Feel…  A hugely important component of successful horsemanship and something that is often considered as a talent that you are either gifted at birth with or your not!

    From years spent helping and watching people ride, I do agree that some people seem to have a more natural feel than others. However, I have also found that, often, riders who seemingly lack natural feel can learn it. They can develop it with consistent effort and diligence.

    What Is Feel?

    So what is feel?  My explanation of feel is the ability to know the right time to ask a question of your horse without having to consciously think about it.  It is also the skill of reacting correctly, in a timely fashion, to almost all situations without, again, having to think too long or hard about it.

    True feel is not a conscious thought, rather a subconscious response to the present situation to affect the outcome you want.

    However, often the frustration felt while trying to find your ‘feel’, is the very thing that will prevent you from developing your riding skills and mastering your body. This prevents you from getting in tune with your horse and dancing the same dance.

    Warm Up Before Riding

    Firstly, before you hop into the saddle, invest some time warming up your body.  This will ensure that you are just as ready to work as your horse is.  I think as riders we can definitely improve our own personal performance in the saddle if we invest even a quarter amount of the time and dedication we spend on warming up our horses, warming up our own bodies!

    Some initial simple stretches & exercises can be a huge game-changer when you do then mount up.

    Correct Your Position & Posture

    When in the saddle, begin by engaging your core. Then make sure your shoulders, pelvis, and legs are aligned as they should be.  More times than not, a locked pelvis or hip joint is what works against you developing your natural feel as a rider.

    Pay attention that your legs are not too far back, leaving you sitting on your crotch. Also that you are not squeezing or pinching with your thighs or legs which stops you from releasing your knee.  Allow your legs to hang. Then look at ‘wrapping’ them around your horse, keeping your knee off so your legs do not ‘stick out’.

    Relaxation is, as always, of the utmost importance in order for you to be receptive to the horse & his movement.  Excess tension in either you or the horse will stop most of the feel between horse & rider. And stop you from absorbing the movement as it happens.

    It is also important to remember that your horse must be allowed to move forward. When he does you,as the rider, should follow your horse. Make adjustments based on what you are feeling, when, and with each body part.  Only when you, the rider, can truly feel the horse underneath you can you then actively begin to make adjustments based on what is happening, or what you desire to happen.

    Developing Your Feel in the SAddle

    Increase Your Awareness

    You need to become aware of your horse and be sensitive to their every movement.  I suggest taking things back to walk. Then, with your feet out of your stirrups, allowing your legs to drape over your horse’s sides. From here,  begin counting each footfall in each stride your horse takes.

    Begin to notice which hoof is the 1, which is the 2, the  3 and the 4 of each stride.

    Once you can accurately tell which hoof is moving when in the sequence, begin paying attention to your body. Notice how your horse’s moving is affecting & influencing your movement. If you are in a safe, enclosed space with a horse you trust, you can even close your eyes. This will help you to block out other distractions and really allow you to feel what is going on underneath you. So, as your horse is walking, first begin to feel the rhythm of the walk, the 1, 2, 3, 4…

    Notice The Hind Legs Moving

    Once this is established, begin focusing on which of the beats is your horse’s inside back leg moving forward (before) he puts his hoof on the ground.  Your left hip (on that same side) will dip down as his leg lifts off the ground to move forward underneath you both.

    This is because his barrel will swing out to the opposite side to make room for the leg coming under him.  Often this is an easy way to remember this…

    Concentrate and focus on the movement, rhythm, and beat.  If necessary, have a person on the ground first tell you when this is happening.  Then notice and remember how your body reacts to this movement.   If you are not fortunate enough to have a reliable person on the ground and you are still struggling to feel, it often helps if you place your hands on your upper thighs and feel which thigh goes up and down, and when.

    Only through correct repetition of this exercise in a calm, relaxed manner will you begin to enhance your powers to feel what is happening and from there, begin to move with your horse as a real team.

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

    This topic is just one that we regularly cover inside of Connection. If you are interested in finding out more about Connection, have a look HERE >>

    Additional Resources for Equestrians

  • Developing Your Riding Seat

    Developing Your Riding Seat

    [fusebox_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA341-Developing-Your-Riding-Seat.mp3″ title=”Developing Your Riding Seat” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” ]

    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

  • Using Your Core Muscles To Correctly Follow Your Horse

    Using Your Core Muscles To Correctly Follow Your Horse

    Using Your Core to Follow Your Horse

    Horse riding is really one long conversation between horse and rider.  One of the ways that we look to improve our riding is by being in constant harmony with our horses.

    The ability to ‘follow your horse’ and be a balanced, conscientious rider comes from our ability to balance and control our own bodies… Core strength.

    [smart_track_player url=”https://op3.dev/e/traffic.libsyn.com/dailystridespodcast/SFA276-Using-Your-Core-Muscles-Correctly-To-Follow-Your-Horse.mp3″ title=”Using Your Core to Follow Your Horse” social_linkedin=”true” social_pinterest=”true” social_email=”true” tweet_text=”Following your horse is not as difficult as it seems…” hashtag=”equestrian #horseriding” twitter_username=”strides_success” ]

    The Ability to Carry Yourself While Riding Your Horse

    It seems strange to think about this, but carrying yourself while in the saddle is essential for becoming a balanced, effective rider.  Many riders will bemoan the fact that they have ‘no core’ or a weak core.  They allow this perception to hold them back from improving.

    However if you can walk over to your horse, before you mount up, you already have the necessary core strength to carry yourself in the saddle. 

    It may not be a strong or developed as you would like, however carrying yourself simply requires that you engage your core. If you can walk to your horse unaided and unassisted, you can begin to follow your horse today.

    Think of Standing Up Rather than Sitting Down

    For most riders, as soon as their bum makes contact with the saddle they ‘sit down’.  Unfortunately for most of us, sitting down means that we are slouched.  Bad posture and completely relaxed.

    One of the simplest ways to carry yourself when in the saddle is to engage your core as though you are ‘standing’ rather than sitting.  

    Yes, you are still sitting in the saddle.  However, your core will feel and act as though you are standing.  This way you will remain aligned, your posture will become more correct.  There will also be the necessary ‘space’ between your ribs and your hips that is necessary for your seat to follow your horse’s movements.

    Working to Follow Your Horse While in the Saddle

    I suggest beginning to work on improving your ability to follow your horse in the walk.  Keep the emphasis on relaxing through your body, and allowing your horse to move underneath you.

          1. Relaxing our hips and pelvis
          2. Relaxing our leg, without tension or gripping
          3. Sitting up through your body, making sure your rib cage and upper body are not ‘crushing’ your organs and pelvis.

    If all these points are in place, in harmony, with each other, you can then begin to concentrate on following your horse.  Doing so will help you to become a more independent and skilled rider

    Following Is Different Than Driving or Shoving!

    Keep in mind that when you follow your horse, it does not mean that you are driving, shoving, or pushing!  So many riders confuse ‘digging a hole’ with their seat bones, and just being supple enough to follow.

    Relax enough that your horse can bring you along with him.  Then, simply allow the movement to happen.

    Happy Riding

    Lorna

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  • Learning To Adopt a Defensive Seat While Riding

    Learning To Adopt a Defensive Seat While Riding

    If there was a soundtrack for having a defensive seat while riding, ‘Jaws’ music would be it!  It would sufficiently set the tone for what is going on in your head.

    Anyone who has been caught off guard by their horse while in the saddle, knows what I mean about this.  It usually begins when your horse does something ‘unexpected’.  You lose your balance a little.  And this all coincides with you beginning to experience that awful feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach.

    You know, the one reserved for when your horse gets his back up a little. And, you just know, that in the next few seconds will begin to show you exactly how athletic and agile he can be!

    Having a horse buck underneath you is not a good thing!  Being able to stay on and ride your horse through this challenge is essential for many riders.  Especially if the horse in question learns to take advantage of the situation!

    Learning to Adopt a Defensive Seat While riding

    A Defensive Seat While Riding

    ‘Staying power’ is a term that describes what many riders wish for in moments like these!  The ability to remain in the saddle, moving and working forward with your horse.  Leanring how to transition quickly into a more defensive seat while riding will help you achieve this.

    So, rather than just accepting your fate.  Simply allowing your horse to push the ejector button when he feels like it, here’s a few suggestions to not only keep you in the saddle but also ride your horse through the bucking and back to working with you in the arena.

        1. Push your heels down (really down!)
        2. Bring your shoulders slightly behind your hips, stretching out the front of your body
        3. Distract your horse by riding him through the problem and get him to use this energy elsewhere!

    I have written some more comprehensive blog posts surrounding this topic that you may find helpful to read or listen to (there is a short 12-minute podcast episode on each as well).

    Happy Riding
    Lorna

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