For those of you who perch or tilt forwards when riding!!!

skychick

skychick

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After having a bit of a lesson from hell this morning....my usually saint of a mare turned into the devil in disguise and decided that she was going to p*ss off accross the school at every given oppertunity (really struggling to keep the work under her at the mo!!!) nothing was really going well and I was really struggling with my lifetime problem of perching forwards. I dont know why but i always tilt and it drives me nuts! So in amongst the normal "sit up" "shoulders back" and "sit on your bum and not your f*nny" comments my instructor said something that made me really think and chuckle to myself and really made sense....so if you perch..every time you do it think of this comment.....

"you dont see many people fall backwards off a horse"
 
Haha....very true! I only ever go over the left shoulder!

Actually I did fall off the back once, but that's because the horse took off, took a sharp left under some low trees and I got hit across the chest by a low branch!! So I'm not sure that counts!
 
It can be a bit uncortable but.......put a long stick behind your back and wedge it in front of your arms IYKWIM......not only does it keep your arms from going forard into 'shopping trolley' mode it seems to help you stop hunching forward too.

If you also grasp a stick between your thumbs as well not only will you look a total spanner but your hands/arms will be in the perfect position:)
 
Tr0uble said:
Actually I did fall off the back once, but that's because the horse took off, took a sharp left under some low trees and I got hit across the chest by a low branch!! So I'm not sure that counts!
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I dont think you stood a chance whether you leant forwards, backwards or ducked!!! :D
 
I have the distinction of falling off backwards when the horse was standing still:eek: Trying out side saddle, someone was holding my horses head, I was very carefully crossing my right leg over when something startled him. He raised his head, I kicked him in the neck, cue horse running off in a forward direction and me exiting rapidly to the rear.
 
Sarajane said:
I have the distinction of falling off backwards when the horse was standing still:eek: Trying out side saddle, someone was holding my horses head, I was very carefully crossing my right leg over when something startled him. He raised his head, I kicked him in the neck, cue horse running off in a forward direction and me exiting rapidly to the rear.
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:D oops :D
 
poppymoo said:
It can be a bit uncortable but.......put a long stick behind your back and wedge it in front of your arms IYKWIM......not only does it keep your arms from going forard into 'shopping trolley' mode it seems to help you stop hunching forward too.

If you also grasp a stick between your thumbs as well not only will you look a total spanner but your hands/arms will be in the perfect position:)
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This.

I have the god awful habbit of tipping forwards and this is what I do in my flat work. I don't have any flatwork videos so not sure if this has improved but I had my OH come up and video my schooling today. Pony was going well so introduced low jumps to get pony lifting legs and interestingly, I am straight!! I still feel like I'm tipping though...
 
mishaspey said:
This.

I have the god awful habbit of tipping forwards and this is what I do in my flat work. I don't have any flatwork videos so not sure if this has improved but I had my OH come up and video my schooling today. Pony was going well so introduced low jumps to get pony lifting legs and interestingly, I am straight!! I still feel like I'm tipping though...
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oh i c....the stick is used actually when riding....not just sat in the living room??? doesnt that make for interesting riding if you horse decided to put on a bit of a performance?!?!? :confused:
 
skychick said:
oh i c....the stick is used actually when riding....not just sat in the living room??? doesnt that make for interesting riding if you horse decided to put on a bit of a performance?!?!? :confused:
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No...because you are actually more secure than when you are perching/tilting/gripping etc.......do it for short bursts in walk/tro and see how you feel.
 
My horse is reasonably quiet so it's not too bad. Depending on how bad the performance is would depend on whether I removed the stick. I'd probably try and get horse settled and then use stick as mentioned or ride a quieter horse to get you sitting straight.

The stick goes against your back and the ends rest on the inside of your elbows - thus you have to sit up.
 
I once came of back wards, now according to the laws of physics I should of come of forwards as it was a buck but it was double buck, half off, nearly stuck on and sharp skittle forwards and to side and landed flat on my back like star layed out in the middle of the school. :D

Yes there's tiling forwards but in some cases it depends on the horses way of going, your saddle and the horses conformation, some are just very downhill and depending on your saddle, you can't always get that nice sitting tall sort of position.

A top rider said once, if your just ever so very slightly in front of your seat, but balanced, it makes no difference and your more likely to have a secure seat should your horse dart forwards, if you were sat up tall, poker straight on a bit of touch and go type of horse, you'd shoot backwards if the horse suddenly pelted forwards unexpectedly.
 
mishaspey said:
My horse is reasonably quiet so it's not too bad. Depending on how bad the performance is would depend on whether I removed the stick. I'd probably try and get horse settled and then use stick as mentioned or ride a quieter horse to get you sitting straight.

The stick goes against your back and the ends rest on the inside of your elbows - thus you have to sit up.
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She is not a bucker/rearer etc......she just gets a bit ermmm flighty :-D if she isnt getting enough work then if something spooks her she likes to canter off across the school and swerve when you get to the fence. Or if you think you are prepared for a swerve she slams the breaks on :D

To be honest i have always done it....that and i tend to draw my legs back a bit....but that is from many years of riding 14.2's when i have ridiculousy long legs! So technically i should be as unstable as anything....but i seem to be able to sit to a fair amount! Last horse was a bucker, rearer, leaper, plunger, spinner, you name it. I only came off him 3 times (in spectactular style on a fun ride after 3 hours (of bucking, rearing an leaping etc), when i was exhausted and he started doing his rein snatch, buck then leap followed by another reinsnatch on landing from the plunge followed by 2 bucks in quick succesion routine :D)
But i need to kick the habit of perching somehow! That combined with an office job doesnt lead to good posture in old age :D
 
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