Balance!

[Skhosu]

Has anyone got any tips for staying in balance?
Particularly in canter,I find I am restricting him too much as if he goes in a 'proper' canter I bounce all over the place!
HE is a big 17hh tbx if that makes a difference, and I'm less than 5"5 (roughly that height I think...)
Thanks if anyone has any advice!

 

[showjump]

Hi,

I have been taught by my SJing instructor to stand up in ur stirrups, this can only be done if your leg is in the correct postion and therefore improves balance. I can do it in walk, trot, canter. Also do poles ect and take a 'light' seat. This is not standing, more hovering out of saddle, and just concentrate on your balance and the weight in your heels.

You can also take the stirrups away completely, this will help to lengthen your leg.

Hope this helps abit.

 

[Iestyn]

I've been taught the same technique of standing out of the saddle. Got to have jumping lenght stirrups and I've got to do it in the jumping saddle for some reason!

 

[viola]

try riding in a jockey lenght of stirrups - gives incredible results after a while!

 

[MissDeMeena]

lunge lessons.. take your stirrups away all together, and probably your reins too!!!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If you get your horse to soften through the back you'll be able to sit him without the bouncing. This is down to flatwork training, flexion, leg yielding & using your outside rein correctly to encourange him to lower his head, loosen through the back & be more balanced. When this happens he'll be into self carriage, you won't be holding him in restricting him & you will sit him easily in both trot & canter. I'm afraid standing in the stirrups is a quick fix, it isn't altering the way he moves or holds himself & quick fixes rarely work in the long run.

Good Luck

 

[Skhosu]

ok. will me sitting in the saddle for long periods not be bad for him?
I did an hour w/out stirrups two weeks ago and am concerned I would be doing him harm? (He's not the most robust)
Instructor has already started lunge lessons! Good suggestion though.
Will standing in the stirrups help my overall seat?
How do most people sit, gripping with any muscles or just..sitting? This always confuses me!
Sorry, lots of q at the mo, just really unhappy with how we're working right now.
thanks.

 

[viola]

There should be no gripping involved. I assumed you were talking about fast canter/gallop but it was obviously not the case. However, riding in a very short stirrups (standing in your stirrups) will definitely improve your overall balance and the feel for the horse's movement.
How to work on your balance when seating - it's such a massive subject! - try first to put both hands underneath your seat so you sit on them and feel your seat bones. Then, try to close your eyes and feel how they move in relation to the movement of your horse. Notice what happens when your horse turns left and right and what you have to do to keep the same weight on both seat bones. For example: when your horse turns left (and you do absolutely nothing) you will feel like more of your weight is shifted to the right. In order to keep the same amount of weight on both seat bones (i.e. be balanced above the horse's centre of gravity) you would need to consciously put more weight on the inside (left) seatbone by 'lengthening' your left leg, stepping more into inside stirrup, using left abdominal muscles to keep your core (top of the body) straight (think about your sternum -the bone in the middle of your chest - being stretched and long).

Exercises that will help you to feel how to balance should concentrate on you relaxing and thinking of what is happening to your body when your horse moves. The control centre of your movements is your pelvis, not your legs (there are amputees who ride with great balance despite having nothing to grip with). Your legs should hang in a relaxed manner from your hip joints (the more stretching exercises you do at home, the better - Pilates is very good for riders) and the movement of the horse is absorbed through your pelvis, your back and abdominal muscles.

A balanced, secure seat require a lot of practise and a lot of understanding from the rider. You may need to read a lot if you don't a have a good trainer on hand. You may also want to look for some lessons on different horses, not only your own (especially if he is rather vulnerable). There is an excellent book that you could try to read: 'Balance in Movement - The seat of the rider' by Susanne von Dietze, published by J.A. Allen - your horse will thank you for reading that book!!