What's the single most important contribution you can make to a safe, comfortable ride for you together with your horse? A well balanced seat, that's what; your sitting posture impacts your riding capability, massively. The right sitting posture achieves 2 benefits: it helps you stay on your horse, and creates an in sync motion between you and your horse. Bad posture can cause back pain for you and your horse.
You will have to spend a bit of time practising sitting properly, but at the day's end your efforts will pay off. I've got some ideas below for you on the best way to position your body while on horseback: what to do with your limbs, your head, your torso and your shoulders.
The seat
Start by breathing deep. Deep breathing relax you and helps you straighten up. You ought to be seated plumb in the saddle's centre, with your weight bearing down through your seat bones. Seat bones, what are they? You'll be able to find out by going thru this small exercise: sit on your butt and rock forward and backward. You'll feel your weight grinding carefully on two bones that feel a bit like a rocking chair's curves. You have just found your seat bones.
Now that you are done with that, let's get back to the saddle. Sit straight. Keep taking deep breaths, and you'll feel your back stretching and your rump settling down deeper. Keep your head balanced loosely over your shoulders and allow your legs to dangle. Give it another check to be certain your weight is centred on the saddle, not off one way or another.
The feet and the stirrups
Confirm your stirrups are hanging at precisely the right height. When you sit with your legs hanging loose, your stirrups should touch your foot just underneath the ankle bone. You'll will be pushed backward in the saddle by stirrups that have been fitted too short, while very long stirrups will have you
bouncing along merrily.
Insert your feet into the stirrups such that they push up against the balls of your feet. Your toes should be aligned with your knees, while your heels should point down. Your toes should not be markedly pointing outward or inward. You need to also make sure your feet are not pushing in; they should lightly rest on the stirrups.
Your legs should be resting against the horse's sides as well as the saddle. They shouldn't be loosely in contact, nor should they be firmly gripping the saddle or the horse's sides. You should take aim at a firm constant contact. Your inside calves should be brushing against the horse's sides. If you're sitting properly, your feet should be directly underneath your seat.
Your legs should be resting against the horse's sides as well as the saddle. They should not be loosely in contact, nor should they be tightly gripping the saddle or the horse's sides. You should aim for a firm consistent contact. Your inside calves should be brushing against the horse's sides. If you are sitting correctly, your feet should be immediately beneath your seat.
The head and the eyes
Plenty of people think that their rumps are the balancing factor, and you will pardon me if that makes me giggle, because it's your head that influences your balance. And I have more news for you: your eyes are what keep your head in control. It is in general best to look out over the head of the horse. You should not take your head down or on the side too much, as this will mess with your sense of balance.
The shoulders and arms
Keep your shoulders loose and relaxed. They should bend without rigidity. You need to keep your arms close to your sides, with the elbows a little bent. Keep your hands low, with your forearms and knuckles pointing towards the horse's mouth and your thumb on top of the reins. Your heel, hip and shoulder being in a straight line.
You will have to spend a bit of time practising sitting properly, but at the day's end your efforts will pay off. I've got some ideas below for you on the best way to position your body while on horseback: what to do with your limbs, your head, your torso and your shoulders.
The seat
Start by breathing deep. Deep breathing relax you and helps you straighten up. You ought to be seated plumb in the saddle's centre, with your weight bearing down through your seat bones. Seat bones, what are they? You'll be able to find out by going thru this small exercise: sit on your butt and rock forward and backward. You'll feel your weight grinding carefully on two bones that feel a bit like a rocking chair's curves. You have just found your seat bones.
Now that you are done with that, let's get back to the saddle. Sit straight. Keep taking deep breaths, and you'll feel your back stretching and your rump settling down deeper. Keep your head balanced loosely over your shoulders and allow your legs to dangle. Give it another check to be certain your weight is centred on the saddle, not off one way or another.
The feet and the stirrups
Confirm your stirrups are hanging at precisely the right height. When you sit with your legs hanging loose, your stirrups should touch your foot just underneath the ankle bone. You'll will be pushed backward in the saddle by stirrups that have been fitted too short, while very long stirrups will have you
bouncing along merrily.
Insert your feet into the stirrups such that they push up against the balls of your feet. Your toes should be aligned with your knees, while your heels should point down. Your toes should not be markedly pointing outward or inward. You need to also make sure your feet are not pushing in; they should lightly rest on the stirrups.
Your legs should be resting against the horse's sides as well as the saddle. They shouldn't be loosely in contact, nor should they be firmly gripping the saddle or the horse's sides. You should take aim at a firm constant contact. Your inside calves should be brushing against the horse's sides. If you're sitting properly, your feet should be directly underneath your seat.
Your legs should be resting against the horse's sides as well as the saddle. They should not be loosely in contact, nor should they be tightly gripping the saddle or the horse's sides. You should aim for a firm consistent contact. Your inside calves should be brushing against the horse's sides. If you are sitting correctly, your feet should be immediately beneath your seat.
The head and the eyes
Plenty of people think that their rumps are the balancing factor, and you will pardon me if that makes me giggle, because it's your head that influences your balance. And I have more news for you: your eyes are what keep your head in control. It is in general best to look out over the head of the horse. You should not take your head down or on the side too much, as this will mess with your sense of balance.
The shoulders and arms
Keep your shoulders loose and relaxed. They should bend without rigidity. You need to keep your arms close to your sides, with the elbows a little bent. Keep your hands low, with your forearms and knuckles pointing towards the horse's mouth and your thumb on top of the reins. Your heel, hip and shoulder being in a straight line.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather
Toms passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers, like things about barrel saddles for sale
Toms passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers, like things about barrel saddles for sale