Bad riding/position habits - what is the one thing you'd like to change?

little_flea

little_flea

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Yesterday it was pointed out to me that my left hand, from the elbow to the wrist is crooked (or rather that I hold it crooked - there is nothing physically wrong) - this means that I can't have an even contact with my horses mouth.

I had no idea about this and don't know how long I have been riding like this and now I really need to change it asap. I thought I had such good hands! :-0

What is the one bad habit in your riding or position that you would most like to change?

(To be honest, I have quite a few more, but I'll be happy to settle sorting this one for now. )
 
I would like to sit up. I have a bad habit of leaning forward and as soon as I sit up, my horse lifts her own shoulders. It makes a huge difference, but it is a hard habit to break.
 
I am crocked all down my left hand side and have to work very hard to keep the left hand still, the left hip open and the left shoulder up! can end up with my hip getting stuck and all in all very painful! I realy realy must go and see someone and find out if I can get fixed :)

otherwise its the old "look up shoulders back and smile", as soon as something goes wrong I tend to curl up into jockey position (where its safe and comfortable and the dressage divas can't mock me!) I am working on this as it is actualy more self confidence than riding position that is the problem. :)
 
When I run into problem (say the horse doesn't come back to me after an extension, or I miss a change) I tilt my pelvis up and thus lose the connection with the horse. Tis a very bad habit and one I've worked for years to get rid of - only for it to return if I'm only riding one horse or not getting enough lessons. Arrgh. I tend to allow my hands to creep too high. But my biggest fault is over correcting. If I see that my hands are too high, the next day they will be too low. If I'm told I'm tilting forward, the next day I'll be leaning too far back. :mad:
 
Halfstep said:
Your shoulders looked fine on your video! :) what's wrong with them? Poor shoulders, you will give them a complex ;)
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I have extremely slouching shoulders. They are actually better when I am riding, but when I am sitting down they are just awful - I DO have a complex and am extremely self-conscious, I hate looking at pictures of myself precisely because I always have this horrible round-backed posture. It's caused by my rather peculiar work habits but sadly I think it's permanent (or chronic).
 
FrodoBeutlin said:
I have extremely slouching shoulders. They are actually better when I am riding, but when I am sitting down they are just awful - I DO have a complex and am extremely self-conscious, I hate looking at pictures of myself precisely because I always have this horrible round-backed posture. It's caused by my rather peculiar work habits but sadly I think it's permanent (or chronic).
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I have a similar thing. Riding wise they are fine and i have a good posture when sat on a horse, but sit/stand day to day and i have a habit of slouching. I think mine stems from a confidence thing and always been taller than school friends etc. I am at the age when i could probably still change mine (aged 20).
 
Piano hands are SO common! If you look at pictures of any number of "top" dressage riders it is something you see a lot of. I do it too a bit, worse on some horses than others. Much worse when with a single rein than a double for some reason.
 
My arms and hands leave me in despair!! Sometimes I just feel like they don't belong to me! I don't fiddle (took me years to get rid of that one) but sometimes my arms don't feel elastic enough and following the horse. My last 2 horses have been fussy in the contact (not just with me, with trainers also) which hasn't helped me. First horse used to duck behind the bit and was too light, current horse goes through headshaking periods... Have worked on this on schoolmasters and on the lunge. The worst thing is when i focus on this too much I stop riding forwards as much, and obviously this is the most important thing when it comes to contact.

So when everything fails and horse has giraffe neck and my arms lose all sense I just think ride forwards!!
 
My right hand makes a lovely outside rein with its consistent, solid contact- BUT it makes a rubbish inside as its too much in every way! And I can't change it between rein changes, or so it would appear. My body makes a great shape for left canter circle work ie. my pelvis moves correctly, and my shoulders make a lovely angle, but for right canter work....oh no.
 
Just one thing i can think of 5 things i would love to change!!!

Biggest problem atm is my Elbows i have to really think about them to make them give otherwise there like they end up stuck to my sides & don't give at all, which leads to my hands moving it's not good.
 
Just the one thing!!! Where could I start. At present I would like to be able to ride as I am off games but when I am back to riding there are a whole host of things. I have recently had some lunge lessons to suss out my basic fault and a lot of things do seem to stem from looking down to the inside on the right which then throws my whole body out of shape. I also carry my hands way too low. And hi original poster I am not an eventer either - I am retired show jumper, now would be show rider.
 
Halfstep said:
Piano hands are SO common! If you look at pictures of any number of "top" dressage riders it is something you see a lot of. I do it too a bit, worse on some horses than others. Much worse when with a single rein than a double for some reason.
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Yes! My trainer said to me yesterday that one of the top German riders (can't remember who it was) has completely unlevel hands - one flat, piano hand, and one correct. However, the bit is centered in the horses mouth, so obviously the contact on both reins is the same - she must have found a way of compensating the unevenness, rather than sorting out the hand position.
 
I broke my right knee & now my right toe points out when I'm jumping, does my head in when I see pics!!

I've also started leaning back slightly which will be nipped in the bud pronto!
 
Well too many faults at the moment due to me not doing any schooling so riding very lazy!! My left hand is always going too far foward and uneven control down to this. I find it hard to keep them level, too low. My shoudlers get tense too. O lower legs move too much too!! Need to get back into the gym for pliates which will help loose off the tense in my hips then it should get my legs more stable fingers crossed!! O dear the shame lot's to work on now!!!! Now that his saddle's are check one been all clear another is not equay the corert fit so might be looking for another saddle soon!!
 
tilting my head, i don't feel myself doing it at all, very annoying.
shoulders, not back far enough, i find it impossible to get them flat, prob my worst fault.
left leg tightening up in lateral work in left bend.
my hands are fairly good actually, because i spent a whole winter's hacking concentrating on getting them totally under control, even, upright, and independent. i hate seeing "piano hands".
one of the FEI magazines had a pair of perfect piano hands pictured on the front cover, my trainer nearly had an apoplexy!
 
Ever since I've had my knee surgery my lower leg is alot weaker.. it's generally being out of practice but so frustrating when it was good before!

and my xc position is very secure but for some reason when I SJ I get 'I must throw my weight forward' disease as I'm so concious of giving with my hands!
 
Tiling forwards thought my shoulders, i know i do it but i cant help it until things go belly up then i sort my life out and ride properly. Not very useful really.
After watching a vid of me trying the new horse, it seems after nearly a year of not riding properly i have developed a wobbly leg :o I have no idea what its doing, its not going backwards and forwards but out from his side and only from the ankle down. I think (hoping, praying!) that its because im weak in the leg and that the slightly longer stirrup didnt help. ;)
Oh and i also noticed that i collapse slightly to the left and bring my hip up but its only slight so hope for me yet.
 
Yes, I hate to see piano hands too! It's one of the things that irritates me the most.

For what it's worth, my hand position has visibly improved since investing in a pair of the new bling Roeckl gloves -- as the Swarowski crystals are only on the side, if you want people to actually see them you have to keep your hands 100% upright and straight, RESULT! :P

(Surely this has got to be the easiest, most pain-free solution to any problem ever)
 
My left fingers always open on the reins if I am not always keeping an eye on it causing my horse to lean on my right hand. I have started to wear white gloves all the time to remind me.
With regards to shoulders- think shoulders 'open' rather than back- this has worked wonders with me as I had a terrible upper body position as seen here:
112.jpg

Yuck- last year

l223.jpg

meeka2.jpg

This yr- still work in progress but better!
 
i use my heel instead of lower leg to squeeze with and just cant seem to stop it! any advice on that would be much appreciated!!

i look down

sometimes nag with my leg if my horse is having a lazy day

dont sit properly on my seat bones if im not thinking about it

hold my hands too low

give too much with my hands

my elbows are usually good but i do tense them a lot when my horse is on her toes which is terrible!!

there are many many more but you only asked for one and ive already given quite a few!
 
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