Finding better balance and seat?

Pikachu

Pikachu

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Hi

After coming off last week i wondered if any of you can give me some advice for getting better balance and deepening my seat. I've often been told that i perch rather than sit in the saddle but im working on it. Im also not a confident rider and although i've done a little work with no stirrups, im not up to a lot (had just taken them back before i came off). The fall wasn't the horses fault, he spooked and i just lost my balance although i had been saying that i didn't feel very balanced up there, should have given up then really!

I have had one lesson on the new boy and have another one booked for next week, as long as arm has healed a bit more by then. Had a little pootle round in walk last night but arm hurt more than i thought it would. I also have my new saddle arriving next weekend (fingers crossed) although the one i've borrowed fits him very well.

So if from any of the above ramble you have understood what im trying to ask, any help and advice would be great.

Thanks
Jeni
 
When I was about to get back on my horse after 3 months box rest, I was worried that my seat was not seure. I went to a local riding school and had 3 lunge lessons - can't recommend them enough, honestly! In 1/2 hour my seat and position and balance had improved dramatically - it worked wonders. When I did get on my horse again I was soooo glad I had done it, as I had much more balance and confidence in my seat. You would only need a few lessons and school horses tend to be nice and well behaved.

I can't say enough how much this would help you! Good luck, I'm sure you'll get there!
 
Try get a stability ball it will stregthen your core muscles which are vital for balance. Persevere without stirrups just a few minutes each day gradually increasing. Can also help to put your stirrups up a few holes and do some work in a light seat.
 
i think you know the answer but i know it can be boring .lots of lunging without stirrups.and relax try doing some streches before you get on and whilst mounted.and dont worry the more you fall the better you will get at staying on lol
 
Also you could try this exercise, with someone holding your horse if you are not confident... with no stirrups bring your knees right up in front of you and then push them back down. To progress, bring your knees up, turn them out and then push back down. This is a good one to do on a lunge lesson in trot as well! It helps you to deepen your seat...
 
Working without stirrups is definately the best way of deepening your seat. If you don't feel safe enough without them, try lengthening them a couple of holes and sticking to walk and trot.

Most of my lessons are dedicated to this area as well - my instructor is fab and I really feel I'm riding so much better - more as one with the horse, rather than riding as a passenger.

My instructor is very hands on and spends a lot of time manipulating/man-handling me (whatever!!) whilst I'm in the saddle - he's taught me to slide my pelvis forward so that I'm sitting on my backside.

In walk, make sure you have your pelvis forward and stirrups long (or without) and just feel the horses movement beneath you, letting your hips and pelvis move as one with the horse.

In trot, rise forward rather than up, again keeping your pelvis in front. Do sitting trot without stirrups as often as you feel able.

In canter, concentrate on sliding in the saddle, don't rock your body - the aim is for your bottom never to leave the saddle - no bouncing!

Although I don't have a horse of my own at the moment (yet!!) I'm lucky enough that my instructor has great horses who let him do the driving, letting me concentrate on getting everything right.

With plenty of lessons it should all come together - just take it slowly, one step at a time.
 
on the lunge my instructor told me to turn my leg inward from the hip (if that makes any sense!)

she also said to pull the fat bit under my thigh to the outside. like i want everyone to see it! bit it makes you more in contact with the saddle. when i started having lessons with my new instructor i had to work on my balance too xxx
 
In addition to the advice you've already been given, Ithink the single most important factor is a GOOD instructor who can tell you HOW to sit. It's not as simple as just 'feeling' in balance - you could be sitting on your fork, tipping forward from your hips, gripping with your legs etc - someone on the gorund needs to help you with this. When you understand the principles of HOW to sit (not being patronising, I'm a pretty competant rider & am still be corrected all the time) - then an occassional video session is invaluable so you can see for YOURSELF what you are doing wrong. If you can see it, you can picture it when you're on the horse & it makes it far easier to fix.

As a quick fix for your current security (& ultimately confidence problem), I'd suggest 2 things. Firstly invest in a balancing strap/neck strap to help you out in a time of need plus buy a tin of 'Sporty Haft' which is the spray you apply to the seat of your saddle - it certainly isn't strong enough to keep you on the horse but it WILL help with minor slipping which may be all you need to help you develop your seat & feel more secure - it can also be just enough to keep you on the horse long enough for you to rebalance yourself...
 
Thanks, i was off riding for nearly a year as my boy was lame but i accidentally bought another horse at the beginning of March. I know lunge lessons will be beneficial, but we don't have any of what i would call really good schools round here, the only decent one doesn't do the later opening hours.

Not sure how the new boy lunges with a rider on, without he tends to see it as a trot as fast as you can game, will have to find a guinea pig to test on!
 
One guinea pig ready and waiting!!
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I agree, my instructor is a great help and i although i hate people watching me ride, a ground person is so much help as somethings feel great and look pants, and vice versa. I know most of my issues, its just correcting them, and when you aren't full of confidence, you just can't help but tense, and thats my big issue.

Yeah, was probably going to get a neck strap (can you actually buy them, or are they all old stirrup leathers?) or would one that goes between the D's on the saddle be better? Ooh, never heard of that will have to have a look for some, is it a horsey product or a general one? My new saddle has what i call crinkle cut leather (no idea what the real name is
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) on the seat, so this may help a little.
 
'Crinkle cut leather', LOL! I guess you mean full grain? Yes, Sporty Haft is a horsey product - I've never searched around for it, only ever bought it from Morgan Equine - I guess you can get it from other places as well though...

If you look hard enough, you can find 'proper' neck straps (I've had mine for years), alternatively, as you say, you can get a balancing strap (secured to d-rings either side of pommel).
 
Will think that i will have to search for it as the saddlerys round here don't tend to stock that much.

It could be called full grain, i think i'd just found out the price and wasn't listening anymore
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Thanks again
Jen
 
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