TheFizzPony
Well-Known Member
Has anyone got any tips for me to learn to sit up straight when I am riding? I tip forwards most of the time, although this doesn't seem to affect my lower leg position
How to sit up straight
- Thread starter TheFizzPony
- Start date
hobo
Well-Known Member
Have the thought in your head of my instructor shouting at you if you do not look up and sit up straight I will tie your head to the horses tail. Works for me LOL.
Mahoganybay
Well-Known Member
Imagine you have a £50 note in your back pocket, try and sit on it so you don't loose it, this will tuck you under and draw in your core, look up and keep your shoulders back.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
It helps to think about bring your tummy towards your spine.
FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
Is your saddle tipping you forwards.
It's one of these things you need an instructor reminding you or one thing I do a lot of is videoing myself riding then I can instruct myself afterwards (or destruct myself on occasion lol)
It's one of these things you need an instructor reminding you or one thing I do a lot of is videoing myself riding then I can instruct myself afterwards (or destruct myself on occasion lol)
JustMe22
Well-Known Member
Try lifting your hands 
I have noticed that when I ride with my hands low, which is something I tend to do on young horses for some reason, I tip forwards. If I bring my hands a little higher and my elbows to my sides, I find it much easier to sit up. I just try to channel a GP dressage rider (unsuccessfully)
I have noticed that when I ride with my hands low, which is something I tend to do on young horses for some reason, I tip forwards. If I bring my hands a little higher and my elbows to my sides, I find it much easier to sit up. I just try to channel a GP dressage rider (unsuccessfully)
Shazzababs
Well-Known Member
One phrase....'thrust the bust'.
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Lunge lessons.
No stirrups. No reins.
No stirrups. No reins.
Kylara
Well-Known Member
Another thing could be you are hunching shoulders. Focus on your shoulder blades (not shoulders) and try and push them down and to the opposite hip/butt cheek May take a while to find the right muscles and not use your shoulders to do this. This opens your chest, engages some back muscles and is an excellent exercises to do on and off horse (engage and hold for 10 secs at a time) Make sure you engage your core at the same time (tummy button to your spine!)
Most important at all - look up and where you are going, not at your horse's head!
May take a while to find the right muscles and not use your shoulders to do this. This opens your chest, engages some back muscles and is an excellent exercises to do on and off horse (engage and hold for 10 secs at a time) Make sure you engage your core at the same time (tummy button to your spine!) Most important at all - look up and where you are going, not at your horse's head!
ambrose7
New User
I am very much on the forehand! My trainer has been getting me to ride with my reins crossed ie right hand holding near side rein and left hand the off side rein. It puts your hands in the right position with your elbows into your sides and has really helped my posture. I am lucky I have a sensible horse but prob not a good idea on anything sharp! I started riding my son's horse competitively two years ago when he gave up. I went for a dressage lesson before my first BE and the lovely instructor said "Now Dear, you really must sit up straight when you are doing your test, or the judge will automatically think' Foetal Position 'and mark you harshly! I didn't tell any of my horsey friends I was entering as I felt rather embarrassed being rather old and rubbish, and took a non horsey friend with me as moral support. I told her about the 'foetal position' remark and asked her to keep reminding me to sit up straight. She took this to heart and kept shouting across the dressage warm up NO FOETAL POSITION!! Well I ended up getting 27.5 second best in arena! Sadly I have never been able to get that sort of mark since, so maybe you could find a friend to do the same for you, it definitely worked although rather embarrassing at the time!
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
When I learnt to ride they got us to hold a stick under both our arms and across our back! THat worked a trick. Could be a little dangerous if you fell off though and certainly wouldn't be allowed these days!
dressage_diva
Well-Known Member
Silly comment but are you sure the cause isn't your pelvis? If you're not sitting on your seat bones properly then no matter how much you try to sit up straight you'll always be tipping forward. You need to think about tucking your bottom under you rather than just sitting on it.
sarahann1
Well-Known Member
There is an instructor round my way who has been known to say "let your beaver breath" 😂😂😂
alainax
Well-Known Member
Sorry this won't be very useful, but I found when it clicks with the horse, it does with the rider too. When you are truly asking him forward into a swinging round powerful frame, his back lifts and you naturally sit up to let the power flow through. Then once you have felt that, you don't forget and look to keep it going.
For me it was almost like it can't be forced, it will come when you both are working correctly
For me it was almost like it can't be forced, it will come when you both are working correctly
Orson Cart
Well-Known Member
Hah ... This sounds like my instructor. I'm often hearing 'keep your little sailor happy' as a reminder to tilt my pelvis and sit on my seat bones ... Along with 'the boys are out' to remind to stick my bust up and shoulders back. Must make for interesting listening for others as her voice travels, siren like, across the countryside
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
That still happens and I still regularly pop my whip behind my back in the crook of my elbows to remind me if I feel I've gotten slovenly...
rachk89
Well-Known Member
I still remember the poshest woman ever shouting "point your headlights ladies!". Makes me sit up after I stop laughing (yes I am childish).
Bernster
Well-Known Member
The shoulder blades back/together tip (posted above) has worked for me. Part of the difficulty though is to know exactly what you're doing and which bits of you are impacting that, as the fix is different for different types of inbalance. For me, headlights on full title etc makes it worse, as that causes me to hollow my lower back more (which is part of my problem). Boobs down is better for me (with age, that seems to be getting easier, sadly).
I found lessons with an instructor who really focuses on rider position/biomechanics was invaluable. Shame I never kept them up as I've gone all wonky again riding my new horse!
I found lessons with an instructor who really focuses on rider position/biomechanics was invaluable. Shame I never kept them up as I've gone all wonky again riding my new horse!
EQUIDAE
Well-Known Member
Try lifting your hands
Very much this! I find if I allow my hands to lower it tips me forwards too.
Look up and ahead too - looking at the horse will make you tip too.
I really really agree with this - it is so much easier to ride correctly when the horse is using his back correctly.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
That is the sort of friend you need in a crisis!
Many people tip forwards because they are tight in the groin. I actually start people off with shorter stirrups than I would prefer, so they don't feel the need to protect the groin area from strain. Once their backsides are planted in the saddle then we start working the stirrups down.
I would second lunge lessons, with a good trainer who looks at cause and effect, not just one that shouts sit up and heels down.
TheFizzPony
Well-Known Member
Thank you for all your help. At the moment I am riding once a week (max) with uni where we have lessons, so it can be difficult. Today I got put on a horse that I could really practice sitting up straight, we did lots without stirrups which helped me lengthen my legs and push my shoulders back. Although I was a lot worse when it came to taking my stirrups back! Also I have now realised that I tend to push my legs forward in and stick my toes out in canter, anyone got any tips?
I am thinking about finding a stables where I can have a lunge lesson or two over the summer, I think it would be really helpful
I am thinking about finding a stables where I can have a lunge lesson or two over the summer, I think it would be really helpful
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
What you have said here is like me to a T. I am currently getting physio to help loosen my hips etc off.
Horse~Lover~Forever
Member
Imagine there is a piece of string pulling you up straight!
Horse~Lover~Forever
Member
Imagine there is an invisanle string pulling you up straight!
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Thank you for all your help. At the moment I am riding once a week (max) with uni where we have lessons, so it can be difficult. Today I got put on a horse that I could really practice sitting up straight, we did lots without stirrups which helped me lengthen my legs and push my shoulders back. Although I was a lot worse when it came to taking my stirrups back! Also I have now realised that I tend to push my legs forward in and stick my toes out in canter, anyone got any tips?
I am thinking about finding a stables where I can have a lunge lesson or two over the summer, I think it would be really helpful
Sounds as if your stirrups are a little too short...
If you're sticking toes out then you're gripping with your knees. I know you're at uni but perhaps a book like Enlightened Equitation or The Classical Seat will help you here. They are really good books that focus on the why's position as well as the how-to's.
Lunge lessons are great