how to improve balance?

[only_me]

How to improve balance?

Rode horse today, who is going fantastically btw, and now he is going forwards and striding out.

However, I am restricting him as trainer says I am unbalanced. So million dollar question, how do I improve my balance?

Help please!

 

[toomanyhorses26]

As I have discovered being unblanced myself(4 holes difference in stirrup length

) and much to the pain of my legs,thighs and bum the answer is lunge lessons!!!! It will hurt but I have seen a huge improvement in how I ride and as a result the ginger boy can no understand leg yield rather than just thinking I am sitting on the wonky !!!

 

[Cliqmo]

Ride a bicycle without using the handlebars

 

[RachelB]

Lunge lessons, and/or lessons on a mechanical horse with a GOOD instructor. I really cannot stress enough how much my instructor and her mechanical horse have helped my riding!

 

[only_me]

I haven't got access to lunge lessons unfortunatley, as there are V. Few riding schools here that are of a highish standard. There is dressage/eventer beside me, but she sold most of her horses so not sure if she still has her schoolmaster.

The riding a bike idea sounds very good; may try that tomorrow

 

[Fiona]

RIde without stirrups (at least 10 min every session and lots of transitions).

If you are unbalanced you will soon find out - you will fall off simple as that.

Honestly - it really works.

Fiona

 

[MistletoeMegan]

There's little use in lunge lessons etc unless you are balanced off a horse - so get thee to a chiropractor, who tend to have a knack of pointing out signs of imbalance that seem shockingly obvious once they've pointed them out

We all have some sort of wonkiness, so get them to straighten you out and then use this new 'true' balance to readjust yourself on a horse.

Oh, and book a flight to the UK and have a lesson with Boss' sister on her mechanical horse, or failing that stick a cross made of white tape on your back (one length between your shoulder blades and the other running from nape of neck downwards) and get someone to yell at you everytime they see the cross looking wonky.

 

[connie1288]

I went to a chiropractor who told me 1 shoulder blade was an inch lower than the other!!!
Lunge lessons help but i too now have nothing to have them on, tink previously having tried to remove all my teeth!!
There are loads of exercises with a swiss ball and i find my wii fit helps as it makes me aware of were my weight it which is the 1st part in straightening your self up.

 

[only_me]

Having now thought about how I ride, it's not really inbalance, it's more the dustribition of weight, I feel I am unbalanced this way

Any suggestions?

 

[MistletoeMegan]

[ QUOTE ]

There are loads of exercises with a swiss ball and i find my wii fit helps as it makes me aware of were my weight it which is the 1st part in straightening your self up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oooh, yes that's a good idea - the hula hooping is the best

 

[jumptoit]

We have done some things at PC - a peanut shaped (cyclindricalish!) exercise ball rested on two chairs and you have to try and sit straight without your feet on the floor.

A sit fit (squishy circle thingy) trying to spread the weight evenly when sitting or standing on it.

A Magnetic Twist Board trying to keep it level whilst sitting on it or standing on it you can then move on to trying to turn using your body etc.

I found it quite helpful even in just the one off session as it identified your problems and I'm sure it would be very good for your balance in the long term - I just don't have the inclination

There are probably lots of books on it and some flatwork instructors specialise in it.

All the things come up on google if you search!

 

[eveshooter]

One of the best ways to improve balance is to improve your core stability. Try pilates or yoga, both focus on core stability (pilates more so) and you total body alignment. Highly recommend (I am a personal trainer & equine and human sports massage therapist) and this has untold benefits.

Good luck XX

 

[EquineCompare]

All great suggestions above. I am reading the Mary Wanless book at the moment and have bought myself one of those big gym balls so that I can improve my balance. It shows you exercises to do in the book. A good one is to sit on the ball in the rider position and take your feet off the floor, this improves your balance and also shows you which way you are liable to fall of the horse

BTW Daisy dog just popped gym ball thinking it was XXL toy for her