Balance and sitting up

[toppedoff]

Sorry TO, you have chosen one of the tougher ways, nerve wise, into a riding career. It is going to be tough at times and you will have really cr.p times before you can feel you are up to scratch. Take it one day at a time, stop being so critical of yourself and keep at it, day after day, until you have finally built up the experience. As we used to say: " Do not let the bast.rds grind you down!". You can do this, falls and all.

Ps. Proof read for repetitions, can' t be a.rsed to correct.

Thank you, for sure have had more bad lessons than good and I've been trying to steer away from calling it "bad lessons" and more like a "challenge" who knows why I've chosen this path. I was half tempted to call my old boss back and happily take up my 24 boxes again

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I definitely want to have a go at pilates, trying to find an equestrian based one at the moment but been reading about that equipliates one too

Do you have Facebook? If you do sign up for the free 5 day Riders Pilates Challenge with RideWell Pilates for Equestrians. The next course begins 22nd January and then if you want to continue the next 6 months costs just over £100. It is so worth the money and there are strengthening exercises plus help and advice if you need it. I think it was Red on here who recommended it initially and it’s been so beneficial to an older person like me that I‘m on my second block of lessons and now more supple with a stronger core than my 21 year old niece.

 

[toppedoff]

Your core is just not strong enough yet. You need to get your abdominal muscles and back muscles much stronger so Pilates is perfect for this. However, don't just follow a video - you do need an instructor to show you how to do the exercises properly or you will just be wasting your time.
Balance is never enough - stronger muscles will help you stay put those few seconds longer and your balance will come with practice.
Another thought - are you riding with very short stirrups? I rode longer in my old age as I knew my muscles were not as good as before and that helped me in many a spook - even on my ex-racer!!

I'll work on my core more than usual I think. My stirrups may be too short actually, the instructor did put my two down by 2 holes I just struggle finding what's comfortable I think

 

[SEL]

Everyone's fallen off either no times or twice I'm just here racking up the numbers I would like an easy horse but I couldn't ride the very easy horse the other day (my instructor said thats the worse ive ever rode!) yet the horse I fell off and didn't get back on today we usually get on like a house on fire despite him snatching the reins or being a bit spooky and usually get him going really well at times. I need to ask about who I could go on next, I seem to have a fall then get put on a new horse to figure out and it usually ends up being difficult or too difficult. Supposedly to help "push through that confidence barrier"

Well if they've never fallen off then they can't have done much riding!! 7 falls to make a rider & all that (& a certain Shetland when I was a kid got me past that statistic pretty quickly)

 

[Skib]

I am not sure one needs strength or strong abs to balance on a horse. I was taught to relax and feel the movement in my seat. To count the beat of the gait. Not just feel it but allow it. It needs rider softness and mobility, If you tighten and straighten your upper body and abs, your seat will tighten too and you will get bumped about.

 

[Fellewell]

I have always found it easier to sit to canter without stirrups.
Is there any possibility of a lunge lesson?

Absolutely this with knobs on. Also be sure this is right for you, losing your nerve can affect your riding/safety.

 

[Burnerbee]

Sorry to hear about the falls.

Megan Elphick on YouTube did this video a while back where a stunt rider showed her how to fall off and hopefully minimise the damage….

 

[LEC]

I've had 4 (2 on Tuesday, 2 today!) falls this week and had 1 the other week. Out of all of em, 2 I couldn't save but the rest could of been. My balance just isn't there I also seem to not sit up enough my spine slowly goes down after a while and I'm not sure how to fix it. I fell off first lot due to not sitting up as he spooked whilst snatching a rein and the others have been from spooks I could've sat. The two I couldn't save was being taken off with and then the other time was due to bronking then dropping a shoulder

How an earth do people learn to go with the horse when they spook or be well balanced? I'm just not. My confidence is wrecked from today and my fall resulted in me not getting back due to hitting me head - this is the first time I've been scared to get back on too. I just want to learn how to be good at balancing, going with the horse and how to be straight in the saddle

I was you in 2022. I was undergoing heavy chemotherapy and it wrecked my body so that I was falling off a lot. I was the stickiest person ever until chemo came along. I went and got myself a personal trainer who understood riding and we did once a week in the gym doing a mixture of strength, balance and cardio work to get me sorted out. All while I was still undergoing chemo.

I spent a fair amount of money on it but I have very sharp horses and me falling off all the time was not doing anyone any good. It worked a treat and I am back to my normal sticky self.

This was after the gym sessions - and I didn’t fall off and was still having chemo!

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[Crazy_cat_lady]

Probably helps he was my own, but with my Welsh D I'd almost do the equivalent of hazard perception in a driving test and look ahead thinking "what is he going to spook at"

As he was Welsh, it was the random things! I'd also when galloping him down the fields do more a light seat than properly forward, so I was more secure if he did spook - usually at random things.

He once spun 180 degrees on the road, whilst I was chatting to my friend - hers did the same, yet we didn't move, no idea how, but I think I was so used to him, it came with the territory.

I think the other thing down the fields, was he was a b****r to catch in his normal fields let alone massive open ones, so I think part of what made me stay on if he leapt sideways or suddenly stopped was grim determination because I had no desire to be having to try and catch him, because I knew I wouldn't be able to

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I am not sure one needs strength or strong abs to balance on a horse. I was taught to relax and feel the movement in my seat. To count the beat of the gait. Not just feel it but allow it. It needs rider softness and mobility, If you tighten and straighten your upper body and abs, your seat will tighten too and you will get bumped about.

While you need to be supple and feel the horse underneath you rider Pilates strengthens not only the core but corrects and straightens posture and pelvis alignemnt, lengthens the back, releases the hip flexors tendons and psoas muscles which actually increases softness rather than tightening and restricting it. Its not about building muscle in one place it’s about creating the most supple, level rider you can be.

 

[AmyMay]

Pretty much only just happy hacking who knows why I decided racehorses are my thing

Well remember, many (if not most) of the mounted cavalry in the UK never sat on a horse prior to starting their training.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am not sure one needs strength or strong abs to balance on a horse. I was taught to relax and feel the movement in my seat. To count the beat of the gait. Not just feel it but allow it. It needs rider softness and mobility, If you tighten and straighten your upper body and abs, your seat will tighten too and you will get bumped about.

We were all taught that! But if you are not going to flop about you need a strong core without tension.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Probably helps he was my own, but with my Welsh D I'd almost do the equivalent of hazard perception in a driving test and look ahead thinking "what is he going to spook at"

As he was Welsh, it was the random things! I'd also when galloping him down the fields do more a light seat than properly forward, so I was more secure if he did spook - usually at random things.

He once spun 180 degrees on the road, whilst I was chatting to my friend - hers did the same, yet we didn't move, no idea how, but I think I was so used to him, it came with the territory.

I think the other thing down the fields, was he was a b****r to catch in his normal fields let alone massive open ones, so I think part of what made me stay on if he leapt sideways or suddenly stopped was grim determination because I had no desire to be having to try and catch him, because I knew I wouldn't be able to

That made me laugh. I used to have a WelshDxTB mare who had been bitten by a GSD in her previous home. Hacking with sister one day, a GSD on a chain ran at a gate, barking, as we approached. My mare spun round and shot off, sister's Appy mare saw what happened and did likewise- and there we both were going at speed in the opposite direction!. We gathered them together, put my mare on the outside and ride past at a nice sedate walk. It must be a Welsh thing

 

[toppedoff]

Absolutely this with knobs on. Also be sure this is right for you, losing your nerve can affect your riding/safety.

I really want it, I just feel the universe is saying no or everything is going 1 step forward and 10 steps back

 

[toppedoff]

I was you in 2022. I was undergoing heavy chemotherapy and it wrecked my body so that I was falling off a lot. I was the stickiest person ever until chemo came along. I went and got myself a personal trainer who understood riding and we did once a week in the gym doing a mixture of strength, balance and cardio work to get me sorted out. All while I was still undergoing chemo.

I spent a fair amount of money on it but I have very sharp horses and me falling off all the time was not doing anyone any good. It worked a treat and I am back to my normal sticky self.

This was after the gym sessions - and I didn’t fall off and was still having chemo!

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Oh wow, your horse was feeling it that day. That's admirable and your efforts are fantastic!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

That made me laugh. I used to have a WelshDxTB mare who had been bitten by a GSD in her previous home. Hacking with sister one day, a GSD on a chain ran at a gate, barking, as we approached. My mare spun round and shot off, sister's Appy mare saw what happened and did likewise- and there we both were going at speed in the opposite direction!. We gathered them together, put my mare on the outside and ride past at a nice sedate walk. It must be a Welsh thing

They are so random! Was out another time with a friend and could see a herd of cows being moved at the far end of the lane, they didn't look overly in control so thought we will just turn round and go back the way we came for a bit til they're gone, it was like the minute we turned it was signal to go and both shot off, down the country lane, we couldn't pull up for about 2/300m I was praying no car came as we were toast, fortunately I managed to turn his head towards a wall and pull up, she did a little further on. We turned round and continued with the hack as if nothing had happened!

Met a swan once in the road, he was fine with it. The poo the swan had left that we came across on the way back? Oh that was terrifying! Same with flu tipping Vs mud on the road....

I don't ride anymore but it would be interesting to see if I could sit spooks on others or if I was just so used to his randomness! I only came off him once, we were jumping with floodlights, he decided the jump was scary (tiny innocuous jump) and stopped before ducking to the left, I went straight on. Never jumped him in the dark again after that, he did my confidence in jumping as you never knew entirely if he would go, so rode very tense and defensive, almost braced for a stop. Frustrating as he was so careful because he was so spooky

 

[paddy555]

As he was Welsh, it was the random things! I'd also when galloping him down the fields do more a light seat than properly forward, so I was more secure if he did spook - usually at random things.

He once spun 180 degrees on the road, whilst I was chatting to my friend - hers did the same, yet we didn't move, no idea how, but I think I was so used to him, it came with the territory.

Welsh says it all. With mine we may be going happily forwards and then we would in an instant be going 180 degrees in the opposite direction. We could be walking along a road parallel to a bank and we would go up it sideways still parallel to it. It was like riding in the world of the unknown and when he met a CAT by the roadside we were happily going absolutely nowhere. Our own cat slept over his back in the stable. He hadn't been introduced to roadside cat. And he needed to be introduced to every single sheep we met out riding. We met 50 on an average ride, sometimes more. He was a tedious horse to ride. I never quite got the"Welsh" thing.

TO
you are probably falling off more than the rest because they simply have done a lot more riding so they have a lot more strength, more ability to read the horse etc. They will have fallen off just as much to get to that stage its just that you haven't been there to see it. They also probably started riding on quiet horses with lots of time to learn rather than immediately being put up on your sort of horses and having to cope.

have you watched the video in post 37? I have just watched it, well worth it.

 

[BronsonNutter]

Ride long, live long! Drop your stirrups a few holes if you need to in order to feel safe. You won't have as much control over slowing them down using your weight as with shorter stirrups, but at least you'd have a bit more leg round the horse to stay on if they spook.

Unfortunately I think things like riding without stirrups, on the lunge etc are probably not much help when riding racehorses (especially if those are the only horses you have to learn on - if I tried to ride without stirrups on any of our racehorses they'd have panicked!)

I'd focus on getting your core and legs as strong as possible as if they are tired you're more likely to flop off a racehorse. Things like wall sits, using the balance ball, planks etc can all help. And then unfortunately it is just practice practice practice!

 

[toppedoff]

Ride long, live long! Drop your stirrups a few holes if you need to in order to feel safe. You won't have as much control over slowing them down using your weight as with shorter stirrups, but at least you'd have a bit more leg round the horse to stay on if they spook.

Unfortunately I think things like riding without stirrups, on the lunge etc are probably not much help when riding racehorses (especially if those are the only horses you have to learn on - if I tried to ride without stirrups on any of our racehorses they'd have panicked!)

I'd focus on getting your core and legs as strong as possible as if they are tired you're more likely to flop off a racehorse. Things like wall sits, using the balance ball, planks etc can all help. And then unfortunately it is just practice practice practice!

How do I know when it is too long? I think sometimes when I try to I put it for way too long. That's also how I came off the first time I just can't seem to win

 

[toppedoff]

Welsh says it all. With mine we may be going happily forwards and then we would in an instant be going 180 degrees in the opposite direction. We could be walking along a road parallel to a bank and we would go up it sideways still parallel to it. It was like riding in the world of the unknown and when he met a CAT by the roadside we were happily going absolutely nowhere. Our own cat slept over his back in the stable. He hadn't been introduced to roadside cat. And he needed to be introduced to every single sheep we met out riding. We met 50 on an average ride, sometimes more. He was a tedious horse to ride. I never quite got the"Welsh" thing.

TO
you are probably falling off more than the rest because they simply have done a lot more riding so they have a lot more strength, more ability to read the horse etc. They will have fallen off just as much to get to that stage its just that you haven't been there to see it. They also probably started riding on quiet horses with lots of time to learn rather than immediately being put up on your sort of horses and having to cope.

have you watched the video in post 37? I have just watched it, well worth it.

I'm gonna watch it a tad later but it is definitely interesting, I would like to do more fall training

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Welsh says it all. With mine we may be going happily forwards and then we would in an instant be going 180 degrees in the opposite direction. We could be walking along a road parallel to a bank and we would go up it sideways still parallel to it. It was like riding in the world of the unknown and when he met a CAT by the roadside we were happily going absolutely nowhere. Our own cat slept over his back in the stable. He hadn't been introduced to roadside cat. And he needed to be introduced to every single sheep we met out riding. We met 50 on an average ride, sometimes more. He was a tedious horse to ride. I never quite got the"Welsh" thing.

TO
you are probably falling off more than the rest because they simply have done a lot more riding so they have a lot more strength, more ability to read the horse etc. They will have fallen off just as much to get to that stage its just that you haven't been there to see it. They also probably started riding on quiet horses with lots of time to learn rather than immediately being put up on your sort of horses and having to cope.

have you watched the video in post 37? I have just watched it, well worth it.

I never got it either, sometimes I saw the humour in it but more often than not I wanted to tear my hair out, it was infuriating! E.g. trimming his legs when suddenly he'd decide the hair on the floor was terrifying and start jerking away from it, snorting...

 

[paddy555]

I never got it either, sometimes I saw the humour in it but more often than not I wanted to tear my hair out, it was infuriating! E.g. trimming his legs when suddenly he'd decide the hair on the floor was terrifying and start jerking away from it, snorting...

We just thought they had forgotten to put his brain in. Never again.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I definitely want to have a go at pilates, trying to find an equestrian based one at the moment but been reading about that equipliates one too

I do a pilates class via Zoom every week , it's aimed at horse riders and taught by a horse rider.
Although we are in the SW I guess it doesn't matter where you are as it's done via Zoom.
Having core stability is so important to riding , this would definitely help you.

 

[BronsonNutter]

How do I know when it is too long? I think sometimes when I try to I put it for way too long. That's also how I came off the first time I just can't seem to win

It should feel comfortable and not at all that you are 'reaching' for your stirrups, and that you can wedge your lower leg forwards. Have a look at the stirrup length that the event riders at 5* level go XC at - they're short enough that they can get out of the saddle to allow the horse to gallop, but long enough that they're not perched just on top - they've got a bit of leeway if the horse lurches sideways over something.

Practicing on the simulator might be helpful to find your balance, position and ideal stirrup length, especially whilst you're a bit nervous having had a few falls (especially as i gather some of the racing college horses can be a bit clever and take advantage at points!) - can you ask for a bit of one-to-one help?

 

[Lois Lame]

Pretty much only just happy hacking who knows why I decided racehorses are my thing

For what it's worth, I think you're pretty brave riding those things.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I agree with this! I’ve never been much of a jumper, but in the few lessons I had, the instructor would always give me something in the distance to look at. She said, the head is the heaviest part of your body, and to always keep it upwards.

It's not only true for horse riding, but for a lot of activities: if you look at the ground, then that's where you're going.

Head up, look at the horizon or even at the gutters of the building ahead of you.

 

[Kunoichi73]

It's not only true for horse riding, but for a lot of activities: if you look at the ground, then that's where you're going.

Head up, look at the horizon or even at the gutters of the building ahead of you.

So true. It wasn't until I saw a video of me snowboarding that I realised that I was looking down a lot and it was contributing to me catching the front edge and face planting.

 

[ponynutz]

Don't have too much advice other than the usual sit deep and wrap your leg round (appreciate this is hard to do if you're in a race saddle). Also keep breathing and relax into your pelvis as much as possible (should feel like you're swinging over-dramatically with the horse) because it centres you and you become moveable - if you're tense and immovable you're more likely to fall off.

But otherwise I get the feeling your confidence is really taking a knock and you're comparing yourself to the others at the school - I really wouldn't, everyone will learn at a different pace and they'll all be facing different challenges (and if they're not they will be at some point). Be kind to yourself and focus on you, nobody else - if they were nice people they'd be supportive.

 

[Fellewell]

I really want it, I just feel the universe is saying no or everything is going 1 step forward and 10 steps back

If you haven't seen it already, check out the jockey Elaura Cieslik on YouTube Salon-de-Provence 2018. She loses her saddle, rides for a finish and wins. Can't imagine what the universe was saying to her at the time (probably no).

 

[Barklands]

Lunge lessons with the removal of reins (you may be tipping forwards as a result of inadvertently using the reins to balance) and then the removal of stirrups! Try thinking about a piece of string pulling you up through the top of your hat, keeping elbows softly by your side and chest up and out!