Advice on devloping seat and improving riding

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katesmith22

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Just after some advice. I have recently got back into riding in the last year after a long break, I rode for many years as a child and in my teens but gave it up when I started working. I am currently sharing a lovely TB who I ride a few times a week. We mainly hack out but his owner occasionly gives me a lessons.

My problem is that I feel my riding is not at the standard I would like it to be. As a child I was never really taught about how my seat can influence the horse and I feel that my position is poor in comparision to other riders and I am relying too much on my hands for balance. In addition to this I have never been taught how to work a horse properly so when being given lessons by my share horse's owner and I am asked to ride in an outline I find it difficult to understand what I am trying to achieve.

I just wondered whether anybody could reccomend some good books re improving your seat and learning how to school a horse correctly which could help me. In addition to this if anyone is aware of a good riding school which would take me back to basics and concentrate on my position and giving clearer aids to the horse I would be very grateful. I am in Norfolk/Suffolk area but would be willing to travel within reason if it was for a good riding school

I did book some lessons with a local riding school a couple of months ago but I found they didn't really focus on the areas which I am trying to improve and it was more a case that they were happy with my ability straight away because I can walk/trot/canter already whereas I know that I need a lot of improvment

Many thanks for reading
 
There's Definitely some good advice around in the net without having to purchase books. YouTube vids etc too...can you get an instructor to give you lessons on your horse? A good instructor can make the world of difference :)
 
Lunge lessons and if you can find somewhere local with a mechanical horse they are good too.

I had numerous sessions early part of last year trying to find my seat!! And I didn't have the excuse of not having ridden for years lol!
 
Lung lessons would be good as then they can take your rains and stirrups away then you have to concentrate on your position and you could get an instructor out like el_Snowflakes says
 
Also, riding in an outline is not something to just 'do' - the horse should be working through from behind first (of course he may be very well schooled, if so then I apologise) but I see a lot of people putting their hands low and pulling one hand then the other until the horse lowers its head, and then they exclaim about the wonderful outline while the back end is still trailing behind and the horse has gone behind the vertical. I don't know your area, I'm afraid, but I'd ask on the local Facebook groups or something. Perhaps look at getting some lunge lessons to give you a more secure seat and enable you to separate your hands from your body better? Hope you find a good place, sounds like you have the right drive and eagerness to learn that will really benefit this horse :-)
 
Hazel Heaton at Nine Acres Equestrian is a perfectionist at getting the basics well established so you have a rock solid base to build on.

Might also be worth looking at the basis Mary Wanless RWYM DVDs - she again specialises in rider biomechanics.
 
Thank you very much for the responses, all very helpful. I've looked up Nine Acres Equestrian and it looks amazing and the lesson prices really reasonable. Think I will book a course of lessons there as a starting point
 
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