'Hot' seat?

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Solo1

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Do you believe that riders have certain... I don't know, like 'auras' to their riding seats that horses react to? I've always been known for having a 'hot seat' and have been sat on countless 'dobbins' to have them going more forward going. However when I sit on a forward going horse it's quite an explosion, which has led to me having a strong 'stick' when things do go mad...

My instructor can't explain it as she says I have a relaxed position, remain calm and have upper arm strength. I've tried every trick in the book to remain under control, half halting, have now mastered that art, but they are very much more mentally switched on with me on board, and something small like something spooky can send 'level headed' horses into a excited fit. I was usually called up for trying to sell the riding school horses and told to 'raz them up!' before buyers got there (only 7 at the time, no ethics ;) ). I didn't do anything differently though, just walk, trot, canter, no bombing around, but they went so much sharper.

Just pondering really, do you think horses can react to riders differently, or is there something secretive I'm doing that sends them all around the loop? Should I try and bottle it and sell it? ;)
 
I have the same problem as you :p In my case it's a "driving seat" which means that I push forward with my seat when I ride. It's great for laid back horses, but it's awful for fizzy horses as it just winds them up. During showjumping I now rise to the canter which keeps them calm and collected unlike before when they would be running at fences, jumping flat and destroying jumps :)
 
yes, it's a 'hot a**e'... i used to have it too. fwiw you can grow out of it or get rid of it with time... i managed to. ;) ;)
i blame a book i read as a child which said that when an 'active rider' mounted a horse he would stride out, ears pricked, eager, yadda yadda, and made it sound as if you had to get on and DRIVE forward. so, i used to really push with my seat, wriggle, whatever, trying to make horses forward and positive. okay, lazy horses might need that kind of galvanizing, but most don't... now i strive for a quiet seat and a more passive, absorbing approach. it happened eventually...
 
Ahh so there is hope! Maybe if I tell mother that she will allow me into the start box a little more willingly, and stop taking the binoculars to events...
 
My friend has a hot arse :p But hers has become more "cold" as her lower leg improved! :)

I, on the other hand, have a lazy ass :p I can get on a hot horse and calm them down normally :)

I think it's a lot to do with personalities as well - my friend is a stresshead naturally whereas I am more laid back & calm!
 
yes, definitely..... my sister had one (she rarely rides any more) and no matter what she sat on she wound it up..... she used to sit on my pointers occasionally for me.... and despite me saying don't touch their sides/pick up the reins/think about anything other than standing still, they'd be rearing & cavorting like demented idiots within moments.... my brother & I could ride them & they'd be quiet as lambs.... I think my current horse is a lamb.... pretty much everyone else who has ridden since i've had him has eaten dirt!
 
Yep!! I can chivvy most lazy horses into gear!! I don't mind fizzy and sharp ones, so it's not a problem for me at all!! I've also got a major sticky seat for when it has an adverse affect too! xoxo
 
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Me and my mum were just talking about this a few hours ago actually. A master of the hunt used to keep her horses with mum as liveries. She bought a young mare that she wanted bringing on a bit before she rode her, I didn't have a horse at the time so seemed like an easy step for me to do it. This other woman, who's quite a decent event rider (but a complete witch) who was also a master at the time, warned said master off having me bringing on her horse because I had a "hot bum". Tonight, mum was saying she'd never forgive witch event rider woman for doing that, but we both agreed there is probably some truth in it!!

Suppose it may be different in the hunting world, but my horses are all quite forward, bold and will jump everything but may not have perfect manners/brakes. I think it's more how I want them to be than my actual seat. I did end up bringing on the horse, and although she never really got on with the master lady, she's now a much loved and brilliant hunter for someone else. :)
 
I'm good at getting horses working quietly!!! I show/ride/produce arabs so I think I've learnt to be cool, calm and collected and getting horses relaxed, listening and working asap!!!

For instance tonight I took Tiger out to be clipped and straight after had a quick ride, and he was CRAZY, tail over back passaging along, leapt on did some nice passaging round the school with some snorts some nice head shakes and bucks, very very tense, and I can just lock my legs into place round him and in the matter of 5/10 mins he was working in walk/trot/canter long and loose...

Where as my friend has a 'hot seat' as you describe it, where she can really motivate lazy/unmotivated horses... although when I couldn't ride I took Tiger over hers for her to school him and she couldn't get him to settle at all he just seemed to get more wound up...

I think people when they are learning they develop 'their' way and seat... I came out of a riding school to riding for someone who had a CRAZYYYYYY show pony and arabs and I think I have learnt from her the tricks of the trade to get a horse relaxed how ever wound up...

And like someone above said I think it depends on your personality, I'm very laid back, organized, and logical, I veryyy rarely get wound up or angry... where as my friend is very emotional, she gets angry, stressy, and is a hectic person in general...

I think this is why I work well with arabs I do stay very calm around them, and never force or fight... I'm lucky and have very long legs which literally means I can wrap them round and the horse cannot go anywhere and it just seems to make them release the tension, it's a very strange thing to explain and try and work out...

I've never really ridden lazy or unmotivated horses although I'm sure I would not ride them as near as well as my friend, as I'm sure as soon as I get one they will just want to sleep haha!!! I'm not good when I have to resort to flapping :P ;) hahahaha

xxx
 
Oh definetly!

I have also seen the opposite a guy (surprisigly) who was a good rider and got on a mare known for being very hot and sharp. She was pretty much a sleep after 2 laps of the arena he actually had to kick her on!!

You can learn though to ride 'cool' though if you need to. Airs bove the ground and legging it over the nearest horizon gets boring after a month... ;)
 
I used to have one but managed to just about get it under control, if I get tense it will come back but not so bad.

The way I've managed to control is to control my breathing, apparently its breathing like a singer so not sharp breathes from your chest. When you inhale you should feel your diapragm pulling down and when you exhale you should feel it pushing up. By doing this you can then control your heart rate which the calms the horse down. I have no idea why it works but it always has done. :)
 
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