Flexibility of the seat

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Supanova

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Right this will probably sound a bit strange, but I think that when I am riding I am a bit static in my seat i.e. my hips etc don't move enough with the horse and therefore I think I am restricting the movement. I find it incredibly difficult to actually make my hips move with the horse. I don't think its like trying to keep your hands still or putting your leg in the right place - that is easier to achieve if you keep thinking about it, but i find it very difficult to get my seat to move in the right way. I think it could mainly be because I am stiff in my hips and lower back, therefore i was looking for some exercises on and off the horse which i could try to help me with this issue? Any other tips also gratefully received!
 
various ramblings:
I don't know if I can explain this very well, someone else might be able to. It's something my trainer gets riders to do as a test, but he always says I don't do it quite right, so I'm a bit mystified!
Standing on your feet, feet about 6" apart, bring one foot up about 2" inches, sole parallel with the ground. I think he wants to see that a rider can do this without tilting the pelvis and or hip, it's just a small movement and not to be exaggerated. Not sure though.
If anyone can enlighten me, thankyou!
I've been told of riders being taught to 'walk along on their bums' on the floor, with legs stretched out in front, to get movement through the pelvis, hips etc. Worth a try?
Maybe thinking of completely letting go in that area in walk without stirrups, probably with eyes shut so you can really concentrate on the feeling, so you can follow the horse's back passively (which moves up-down left right as well as a bit forwards-backwards too imho) might help. I'm no fan of trotwork without stirrups, think it can do a lot of harm actually.
Other images I've heard are "imagine a grand piano playing in your pelvis" (hmmm, doesn't work for me, sorry) and, ahem, X rated comment ahead...
"******* the saddle" which a friend was told, repeatedly, by her trainer.
Are you keeping your pelvis upright enough? If you are trying to tuck it under, I think that can make it a bit stiff and immovable... just a thought.
Maybe you should take up belly dancing? ;) ;)
 
Thanks emmyc and Kerilli

I like the sound of walking along the floor on my bum! Not too sure about the belly dancing. I have no rhythm which I don't think helps! Re my pelvis being upright I think i tend to stick by bum out behind me rather than tilting it under!
 
When you are riding in walk, try saying 'now' each time the horse's inside hind leg steps under. Not by watching the shoulders but by feel. In order to 'feel' for this you will need to allow the horse to move your hips, pelvis etc. Hope that helps!
 
I actually think being told to shag the saddle, or whatever, is seriously counter productive. Unless you are moving in harmony with the horse (when the respective hind leg comes to the ground), simply swinging your hips will only block, and can even cause the horse to be uneven in its steps. I've been told many many times to STOP shagging the saddle. Sit still and loose and feel where the horses movement influences your seatbones to rise and fall. If you force it, its probably wrong.
 
Halfstep said:
I actually think being told to shag the saddle, or whatever, is seriously counter productive. Unless you are moving in harmony with the horse (when the respective hind leg comes to the ground), simply swinging your hips will only block, and can even cause the horse to be uneven in its steps. I've been told many many times to STOP shagging the saddle. Sit still and loose and feel where the horses movement influences your seatbones to rise and fall. If you force it, its probably wrong.
Click to expand...

Exactly - I can't force it because then its totally unnatural, which is why i think i need to make my hips more flexible so that they move on their own.
 
I agree with Halfstep there, the "shagging the saddle" thing makes for a forceful downwards pressure whereas you want the seat to be soft, following & allowing the movement of the horse.
Although, I've been told that the way to get an exaggerated trot is to sort-of sit in behind the horse and use alternate downwards pushes of the seatbones, just ahead of the hind legs' step, to get them to come through more. Wasn't convinced tbh... sounds as if it would make the horse hollow the back?
 
Tallante - Thanks for the reply. I go to a chiro every 5-6 weeks and it definitely does help. My horses go better after i have been, but could do with some more exercises to unlock myself in the inbetween times.

kerilli - yes shagging the saddle sounds much too forceful to me too!
 
I am doing a lot of work without stirrups at the moment to try to improve my seat. My instructor tells me to swing my legs alternately as far forwards and backwards as possible whilst in walk (without stirrups). It is amazing how this does seem to relax my seat and let me move more sympathetically to the horses movement.
 
I visit the chiropractor just as frequently as you and so it is possible your situation is as irritating as mine. He helps me a lot but he can't cure or repair my ageing joints.

I haven't found any special exercises to increase flexibility but I now resort to desperate measures to avoid sitting down. This is the chief cause of inflammation and the 'locking' of my SIJ. I've been sitting at a desk since I started school - that's more than 40 years - so now I stand at my work desk and type on my feet. This keeps me more mobile during the day and keeps the pain at bay.

But perhaps you don't work in an office.
 
Tallante said:
I visit the chiropractor just as frequently as you and so it is possible your situation is as irritating as mine. He helps me a lot but he can't cure or repair my ageing joints.

I haven't found any special exercises to increase flexibility but I now resort to desperate measures to avoid sitting down. This is the chief cause of inflammation and the 'locking' of my SIJ. I've been sitting at a desk since I started school - that's more than 40 years - so now I stand at my work desk and type on my feet. This keeps me more mobile during the day and keeps the pain at bay.

But perhaps you don't work in an office.
Click to expand...

I certainly do work in an office! Sat at a computer all day. I hate it and know that it causes all my back problems. I'm not sure work would be able to accomodate me standing up. Do you have a high stand or something for your computer?
 
I don't know whereabouts you are, so it might not be possible, but I've met several people who I really respect recommend Feldenkrais for riders. I've had a go and really enjoyed it, although I wasn't riding at the time so I don't know how much impact it has on riding. Essentially it's about awareness of movement.

One of the people that recommended it to me said that she felt it was better for riders than Pilates etc. because people tend to misinterpret core stability and become too rigid as riders, whereas you should be stable but flexible to match the movement of the horse.

Anyway, this is the link if you're interested:

http://www.feldenkrais.co.uk/
 
I have the same problem so know where you are coming from. I have started having lunge lessons and then trying to ride without stirrups when we are doing some quiet school work at home. I am going to try the floor exercises mentioned above. Supernova, I think we probably ride in exactly the same position.
 
i had this problem a few years ago, after countless months of sitting trot it never made a difference! My instructor tried everything to get me to move my hips. He got me off the horse once and told me to stand with my legs apart and basically practise thrusting my hips! highly embarressing (bearing in mind i was like 15/16 at the time!) A few years later riding in sitting trot and suddenly just like that my hips started moving with the movement of the horse! Maybe just give it some time to develop naturally :D
 
I used to have this problem, but with my trainer we used to do a quick warm up and then once in canter think of really rolling the hips backwards to help loosen up :)
 
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