advice on riding position please :)

[Equine_Dream]

Hi

If you saw my previous thread you'll know Ive had some issues with my confidence when riding. Im working on my confidence and trying to rebuild it.

Anyhoo while out riding with a friend recently she pointed out that I tend to lean forward when I ride especially when I get nervous. Definitely not good considering my main fear is my horse bolting eek!

So I was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions about how to correct my position?

 

[Mrs C]

Ah the old foetal position! I do that myself! Do you have a schooling area? When I'm in the school, I'll do exercises such as riding leaningforwards, then riding leaning backwards and really tucking under my seatbones, then riding in between. Really exaggerating leaning forwards on the seatbones and leaning back on them makes you more conscious of how you're sitting. Also do half circle of canter in a 'light seat' then half circle 'sat down'. Again just makes you more aware of your position and keep a the weight down to your feet. Hope that helps give you some ideas
Ps if you can get lessons, a good instruction will do wonders for position and confidence

 

[JustKickOn]

Think about aiming your belly button to the sky, and stretching your pony tail down your back between your shoulder blades.

If you're tipping forward, you also won't be sat on your seat bones. Try standing up in your stirrups, pushing your hoohaa forwards and tilting your hips up and then sitting down. Once sat down, roll your shoulders back and down, keeping your core strong and not collapsing.

Relaxing down into the saddle and keeping your core strong comes with practice, so if you make a conscious effort every time you ride, it will soon develop.

Lessons with a good instructor will also help- both with your confidence and your position.

 

[Clouds]

Try riding with a whip/stick across your back. If you put slide it between the crook of each elbow and across the Middle of your back whilst riding it will force you to sit upright with your shoulders back and every time you start to slouch it will dig you in the back forcing you to stay in the correct position.
I used to have the same problem and my instructor suggested doing this and it really helped

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

A good way to practise your position without worrying about what the horse is doing is to have a lesson on a mechanical horse/simulator. Then lunge lessons possibly on a horse which specialises in such things, rather than on your own or friends' horses. Then lessons on your usual mount, even just having a friend on the ground or riding alongside on a hack who can give you a reminder is useful, as long as the friend does it in the right spirit.

 

[Tnavas]

Standard position for a nervous rider.

Try the 'Check and correct' mantra. Every so often, check and correct your position, before long you'll be sitting up tall and elegant.

It's something I teach all my riders so that they become aware as to how much their position can affect their horses way of going.