Balance and sitting up

[ThreeFurs]

Not same, but my now retired wb dressage schoolmaster could swerve sideways at warp speed. Coaches would joke he'd make a great barrel racer.

He would, once every ride, spook into the next postcode, then stop, wait for me to resettle, then go to work. V. diff from the racehorses. But because it was always so frequent and unexpected I learned to 'swerve' my seat with him. Course sometimes I would hit the dirt, on my arse or even sometimes even standing up!

However. What helped. In no particular order.

• Constant lessons.
• Yoga.
• Silicone breeches
• Saddle with thigh blocks [v useful when at the beach one time a balloon skier landed next to us]
• Learning which was his favourite spook direction - all horses have one. His was to the left.
• Learning to feel for that shoulder drop which inevitably precedes a spook
• Practising your one rein stops if things get hairy

Don't push your chin out like a turtle [my go to], try to imagine your chin, and heavy back of head, always staying behind your belly button, which helps you stay slightly behind the horse's centre of gravity. Sounds as if your weight comes forward over its shoulder, easy for it to then tip you forward 'out the left or right front door'.

Keep smiling! x

 

[scats]

I adopt a safety seat on anything fresh or if I’m taking a spooky horse out hacking. Sit a bit more on my bum with legs a bit further infront of me than normal.

But generally, it’s about learning to go ‘with’ the spook so you almost become that much of a part of the horse that the contact points stay attached.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

T.O I've just seen your post in the other thread about feeling sick, please make sure you mention this to the nurse as it could be a concussion symptom

 

[southerncomfort]

I adopt a safety seat on anything fresh or if I’m taking a spooky horse out hacking. Sit a bit more on my bum with legs a bit further infront of me than normal.

But generally, it’s about learning to go ‘with’ the spook so you almost become that much of a part of the horse that the contact points stay attached.

I remember reading an article by Lucinda Fredericks where she said just that i.e legs forward, heels down and sit deep.

A classical dressage instructor I had occasional lessons with recommended short periods of standing up in the stirrups while trotting to help find your balance.

 

[Skib]

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.

I too had balance practice. trotting standing in the stirrups as described above and also bare back on the lunge. It is true I had lunge lessons to, lots of them in my 2nd and 3rd year of riding when i went to a different school. I recommend them.
But forget being strong and athletic. I started riding when I was 61 years old and was neither fit nor athletic, I had 2 half hour lessons each week in the school and after 15 months changed to a hack and a lesson each week.
I am still not particularly fit nor athletic but I have outlived 3 much loved mares and am still hacking my current share once a week.
You may not call this proper riding as both my shares have been placid, compliant mares. But I guess many of us elderly riders here are fitter thanks to our riding rather than getting fit in order to ride.

 

[sbloom]

I've not read the thread but something that is barely ever talked about is stability of the pelvis, if you have a short, wide pelvis it is especially difficult to get that stability in the saddle. It's WAY more important than deep seat/big blocks, which can actually be counter productive to stability and can stop you being able to get back to the deepest part of the seat if the horse throws some shapes etc.

Even once you have the right saddle, off horse work, and ridden biomechanics lessons, can be transformative. I work with Equimech in Northern Ireland for off horse stuff, and Blue House Pilates in Teesside (who, if you're nearby, has Pilates reformer machines), both offer online sessions.

 

[Glitter's fun]

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

I know a young lady who was a very experienced and able rider. She joined the police with a view to transferring to the mounted division as soon as she'd done the basic training. She was shocked to learn that having previously done a lot of riding disqualified her. They said they always start from scratch so as to make sure everything is done their way & that there are no preconceived ideas or bad habits. *
So don't feel inferior to the more experienced riders, you'll overtake them later. Much good advice above but in the end the best exercise for getting good at riding, is riding, lots and lots of riding! Persevere & it'll come right!



*Yes, she should have checked first! She is a very competent police woman now & seems to enjoy it. She still rides a lot in her time off.

 

[j1ffy]

I think a few people on this thread have missed the point that you're at racing school! Knee blocks etc. really won't be relevant.

I go to a PT twice a week (lucky me!) who is an ex-jockey and works with a lot of racing people - from decent level jockeys to work riders. She has a few videos on her Instagram so you can get an idea of the work she does with them, over and above standard core / strength / cardio work (https://www.instagram.com/tara_pitman_pt/). The strength of some of her clients is unbelievable compared with their height / size.

I remember watching a YouTube video of Michael Owen getting fit for a charity race and he couldn't believe the strength needed in his thighs...and he didn't exactly have puny legs to start with!

 

[toppedoff]

[/QUOTE]

I think a few people on this thread have missed the point that you're at racing school! Knee blocks etc. really won't be relevant.

I go to a PT twice a week (lucky me!) who is an ex-jockey and works with a lot of racing people - from decent level jockeys to work riders. She has a few videos on her Instagram so you can get an idea of the work she does with them, over and above standard core / strength / cardio work (https://www.instagram.com/tara_pitman_pt/). The strength of some of her clients is unbelievable compared with their height / size.

I remember watching a YouTube video of Michael Owen getting fit for a charity race and he couldn't believe the strength needed in his thighs...and he didn't exactly have puny legs to start with!

I'll have a deep dive into your PT's account! I follow x compete too who does jockey and rider strong, I was considering maybe purchasing one of his programmes

Funny enough I've been able to stay on board more spooks or more dramatic spins from horses in pose position being out of the saddle is way more easier and my leg is stable (the one thing I'm only praised for!)

 

[toppedoff]

T.O I've just seen your post in the other thread about feeling sick, please make sure you mention this to the nurse as it could be a concussion symptom

Have said, was told to stay off for today thankfully nothing worse just need to symptoms to go away now

 

[toppedoff]

I know a young lady who was a very experienced and able rider. She joined the police with a view to transferring to the mounted division as soon as she'd done the basic training. She was shocked to learn that having previously done a lot of riding disqualified her. They said they always start from scratch so as to make sure everything is done their way & that there are no preconceived ideas or bad habits. *
So don't feel inferior to the more experienced riders, you'll overtake them later. Much good advice above but in the end the best exercise for getting good at riding, is riding, lots and lots of riding! Persevere & it'll come right!



*Yes, she should have checked first! She is a very competent police woman now & seems to enjoy it. She still rides a lot in her time off.

Never knew that, that is really interesting!

 

[sbloom]

I think a few people on this thread have missed the point that you're at racing school! Knee blocks etc. really won't be relevant.

Guilty

 

[toppedoff]

Guilty

To be fair I never clarified sorry!

 

[Matafleur]

I too had balance practice. trotting standing in the stirrups as described above and also bare back on the lunge. It is true I had lunge lessons to, lots of them in my 2nd and 3rd year of riding when i went to a different school. I recommend them.
But forget being strong and athletic. I started riding when I was 61 years old and was neither fit nor athletic, I had 2 half hour lessons each week in the school and after 15 months changed to a hack and a lesson each week.
I am still not particularly fit nor athletic but I have outlived 3 much loved mares and am still hacking my current share once a week.
You may not call this proper riding as both my shares have been placid, compliant mares. But I guess many of us elderly riders here are fitter thanks to our riding rather than getting fit in order to ride.

I don't disagree that riding is great for fitness, or that you can ride without being "gym fit". However, riding work on racehorses is a completely different skill to normal leisure riding and does require you to be very strong in your body so that you are able to support yourself in a forward position for a length of time. Simply sitting on the horse while it moves is not enough.

The gym regimes of upper level eventers and even dressage riders show that the fitter and stronger you are in your body, the more effective you will be able to be. This also links into good decision making (most relevant for eventers perhaps) as it's been shown that our ability to make quick, good decisions decreases as we tire.

Toppedoff- I'm sure you are doing brilliantly, it's a tough job and all credit to you for sticking with it. Work that core as much as you can to help with stabilisation.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I too had balance practice. trotting standing in the stirrups as described above and also bare back on the lunge. It is true I had lunge lessons to, lots of them in my 2nd and 3rd year of riding when i went to a different school. I recommend them.
But forget being strong and athletic. I started riding when I was 61 years old and was neither fit nor athletic, I had 2 half hour lessons each week in the school and after 15 months changed to a hack and a lesson each week.
I am still not particularly fit nor athletic but I have outlived 3 much loved mares and am still hacking my current share once a week.
You may not call this proper riding as both my shares have been placid, compliant mares. But I guess many of us elderly riders here are fitter thanks to our riding rather than getting fit in order to ride.

I am glad your way worked for you and that you enjoy your hacking and I expect you are fitter than you think but you have missed the point. We humans are not symmetrical, we naturally favour one side and that asymmetry is then transferred to the horse usually through the pelvis because it’s crooked. By lengthening, strengthening and aligning all the the muscles we use to keep our balance (not just the core) we not only improve our position but we improve how well we react to movement of the horse beneath us.

I am also a 60+ rider and a happy hacker but I haven’t ridden since last summer due to a back issue and have lost a lot of my overall stability. My avatar pony can move sideways in a millisecond without any warning and there’s no way I would get back on him without retraining those muscles again. I know my pelvis goes out of alignment when my disc does because my left hip locks and it wouldn’t be fair to him to get on until it’s fixed and amongst other things that’s what riders Pilates does, it straightens me out equally both sides. I don’t want to feel as though one stirrup is longer than the other, I don’t want to feel like a sack of potatoes on his back and I certainly want to be able to sit with him when he disappears under me.

I’m all for trying new things and staying supple in older age which is why I took up local classes before lockdown and continued online afterwards. Why don’t you try some, you might be surprised at how easily you can do exercises one side but are much tighter the other.

 

[Parrotperson]

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

Sorry. Haven’t had a chance to read the whole thread so apologies if already mentioned but

I’d go to a good riding school. One that not only gives you lessons on the flat but also give you lessons on the lunge.

It’ll take time but you’ll get there. When I was training for my BHS exams I fell off everything I rode for a fortnight!

Take heart. It’s experience. You’ll do it.

 

[toppedoff]

Sorry. Haven’t had a chance to read the whole thread so apologies if already mentioned but

I’d go to a good riding school. One that not only gives you lessons on the flat but also give you lessons on the lunge.

It’ll take time but you’ll get there. When I was training for my BHS exams I fell off everything I rode for a fortnight!

Take heart. It’s experience. You’ll do it.

I am at the racing school it is very quick. We have been properly riding for (two of us have very limited experience) 3 weeks and now we're already learning to canter. I'm not sure if there is riding schools around here actually

 

[toppedoff]

What sticky silicone Breeches do people recommend I'm gonna start doing yoga or pilates to just be more loose and be able to really help those muscles that might be struggling

 

[Rowreach]

I think a few people on this thread have missed the point that you're at racing school! Knee blocks etc. really won't be relevant.

I go to a PT twice a week (lucky me!) who is an ex-jockey and works with a lot of racing people - from decent level jockeys to work riders. She has a few videos on her Instagram so you can get an idea of the work she does with them, over and above standard core / strength / cardio work (https://www.instagram.com/tara_pitman_pt/). The strength of some of her clients is unbelievable compared with their height / size.

I remember watching a YouTube video of Michael Owen getting fit for a charity race and he couldn't believe the strength needed in his thighs...and he didn't exactly have puny legs to start with!

I'll have a deep dive into your PT's account! I follow x compete too who does jockey and rider strong, I was considering maybe purchasing one of his programmes

Funny enough I've been able to stay on board more spooks or more dramatic spins from horses in pose position being out of the saddle is way more easier and my leg is stable (the one thing I'm only praised for!)
[/QUOTE]


I don't think I've commented on any of your threads before, but I'm getting rather angst-ridden about much of the advice you're getting on here.

Learning to ride on racehorses is a whole different game to learning on riding school horses, or having private lessons anywhere, or sitting on a saddle that doesn't allow you to move much, or at all.

I spent a few years working in racing, a couple of years point to pointing, and another few years working in a college with a racing school, so I have a bit of experience here. If you have a reasonably stable lower leg, then yes getting out of the saddle is how you stay aboard in any pace, over fences, on the flat, during a spook or buck or plunge - but you have to know what to do with your hands, how to place them, how to sit against the horse when necessary and when to allow it to move forwards/sideways/up and down. your stirrups need to be short enough that you can get your backside out of the saddle, but long enough that you still have a leg either side. You have to be flexible and supple and you have to have feel for the horse you are on.

I suspect that tension is your biggest problem (and I can understand why you might be tense). Ground based work will help you with strength and suppleness, but ridden work will be necessary for you to overcome any insecurities and tension. I'd be putting you on the quietest horse for a while and letting you find your confidence with it, before moving you onto something else a bit more challenging.

Finally, I understand why you are posting for advice on here, but please please understand that the majority of people on here have never sat on a racehorse, and that the racing school staff have far more knowledge and experience to give you (seriously, they have seen it all before) than you will get on here

 

[toppedoff]

I'll have a deep dive into your PT's account! I follow x compete too who does jockey and rider strong, I was considering maybe purchasing one of his programmes

Funny enough I've been able to stay on board more spooks or more dramatic spins from horses in pose position being out of the saddle is way more easier and my leg is stable (the one thing I'm only praised for!)

I don't think I've commented on any of your threads before, but I'm getting rather angst-ridden about much of the advice you're getting on here.

Learning to ride on racehorses is a whole different game to learning on riding school horses, or having private lessons anywhere, or sitting on a saddle that doesn't allow you to move much, or at all.

I spent a few years working in racing, a couple of years point to pointing, and another few years working in a college with a racing school, so I have a bit of experience here. If you have a reasonably stable lower leg, then yes getting out of the saddle is how you stay aboard in any pace, over fences, on the flat, during a spook or buck or plunge - but you have to know what to do with your hands, how to place them, how to sit against the horse when necessary and when to allow it to move forwards/sideways/up and down. your stirrups need to be short enough that you can get your backside out of the saddle, but long enough that you still have a leg either side. You have to be flexible and supple and you have to have feel for the horse you are on.

I suspect that tension is your biggest problem (and I can understand why you might be tense). Ground based work will help you with strength and suppleness, but ridden work will be necessary for you to overcome any insecurities and tension. I'd be putting you on the quietest horse for a while and letting you find your confidence with it, before moving you onto something else a bit more challenging.

Finally, I understand why you are posting for advice on here, but please please understand that the majority of people on here have never sat on a racehorse, and that the racing school staff have far more knowledge and experience to give you (seriously, they have seen it all before) than you will get on here
[/QUOTE]
Thank you, I'm gonna try to talk my instructor but she has a very much a "just get on with it" mentality I'm sure she'll understand though. I really need to sort my tension out its no good being tensed on a horse who's Job it is to gallop!

 

[NinjaPony]

Just to say don’t be so hard on yourself! Racehorses are a whole different kettle of fish to your average horse, and you’re just learning to ride properly for the first time! Of course you’re going to have some hiccups, it’s a whole new style of riding on pretty unforgiving horses! I really admire your willingness to learn and keep getting back on; it will get easier as you get more experience! I suffer with nerves from time to time and I find it helpful to sing in my head in rhythm with the horse to stop me holding my breath.

 

[Rowreach]

[/QUOTE]Thank you, I'm gonna try to talk my instructor but she has a very much a "just get on with it" mentality I'm sure she'll understand though. I really need to sort my tension out its no good being tensed on a horse who's Job it is to gallop!
[/QUOTE]

The quote function is doing something weird today.

The trouble is that with racing school the instructors are working to a limited timescale, so the get on with it mentality is firstly because of time pressures and secondly because that's kind of how it is in the industry - and it's preparing you for that. But there's no reason why they can't be teaching you a few tricks along the way and supporting you with an easier horse to practise them on, for a while at least.

 

[southerncomfort]

No need to get angst-ridden RR, people are just sharing what worked for them, as requested in the original post.

The OP didn't clarify that she was at racing school until further in to the thread.

 

[Rowreach]

No need to get angst-ridden RR, people are just sharing what worked for them, as requested in the original post.

The OP didn't clarify that she was at racing school until further in to the thread.

Well I appreciate that not everyone will know that the OP has posted widely on the forum for months about what she’s doing, but many people on this thread have posted on her previous threads and the sort of stuff they’re coming out with is at best irrelevant and at worst confusing and potentially dangerous (given it’s the polar opposite to what the racing school will be doing). Anyway, that’s broadly why I’ve kept off these threads before but I actually worry for the OP which is why I commented above. So if I feel angst-ridden, forgive me.

 

[Tiddlypom]

toppedoff, what sort of horses are being provided for the students to ride? Are they mostly former racers?

You’ve posted elsewhere on the forum that two more students came off today, and then the loose horses couldn’t be caught. It all sounds really rather chaotic, there simply shouldn’t be so many falls with the new intake of students.

ETA I see that 4 people came off today . That’s really not great at all. I hope that these falls are being correctly recorded and logged.

 

[toppedoff]

toppedoff, what sort of horses are being provided for the students to ride? Are they mostly former racers?

You’ve posted elsewhere on the forum that two more students came off today, and then the loose horses couldn’t be caught. It all sounds really rather chaotic, there simply shouldn’t be so many falls with the new intake of students.

ETA I see that 4 people came off today . That’s really not great at all. I hope that these falls are being correctly recorded and logged.

All former racers aside from a couple that are from the BHA. I just find I'm not being capable here of riding here that's how I feel after majority of my lesson. I think we've just been moved on the more difficult ones way too quickly but we have our string canter assessment in less than 4 weeks in order to graduate to the outdoor school. It's going so fast

 

[paddy555]

All former racers aside from a couple that are from the BHA. I just find I'm not being capable here of riding here that's how I feel after majority of my lesson. I think we've just been moved on the more difficult ones way too quickly but we have our string canter assessment in less than 4 weeks in order to graduate to the outdoor school. It's going so fast

there was an earlier thread here about the BRS. I expect you have seen it but link below anyway.
british-racing-school-anyone-been.450256

probably not any help but may be something to read.

 

[tristars]

i cannot believe people are being decked so often

sounds way too dangerous to me

how are they supposed to gain confidence riding horses that deck them all the time

you need to ride horses that allow you to practice and strengthen your seat, you need get fit, this takes time, not go from hacking to riding tb`s of the arty crafty type

 

[expanding_horizon]

All former racers aside from a couple that are from the BHA. I just find I'm not being capable here of riding here that's how I feel after majority of my lesson. I think we've just been moved on the more difficult ones way too quickly but we have our string canter assessment in less than 4 weeks in order to graduate to the outdoor school. It's going so fast

You are currently riding in an indoor school? Next step is an outdoor school?

 

[planete]

Racing is a whole different mindset from other kinds of riding. You ride hyped up thoroughbreds every day, everybody falls off, I am afraid it is just part of the job. They are teaching the pupils to ride and also, perhaps, they want to see who is cut out for it? Once you are an employee you are not asked what you want to to ride, and even if you are given a notorious rogue, you just have to get on with it. The school is not going to change the way it runs the course for TO, she needs to weather it and adapt. It is tough but they turn out people for the racing industry every year so I would assume they know what they are doing. Sorry, TO, I wish you all the best and hope you stick at it.

Edited: I quit in favour of eventers and dressage horses!