I can't sit up!

giggles mum

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13 February 2004
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Hi. I had a flat lesson today and I'm having problems with sitting up straight!
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This is a bad habit I've got into by not having had lessons for a loooong time - I used to be quite good at sitting up.

I know exactly what it is I'm doing wrong - I sit too far back in the saddle so that my shoulders are ahead of my hips - but I can't seem to correct it except when standing still!

Does anyone have any miracle tips?
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erm you could try putting a whip through your elbows against your back, that makes you sit up straight! sure you won't be as bad as you think! hope this helps!
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Might be worth getting your back checked by a physio. I had this problem for years & nothing I did seemed to work - it turned out I had a problem with my sacro-illiac joint & once that was dealt with I could sit up without it making me stiff & sore
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I do definitely have some kind of problem with my left shoulder - quite possibly caused by bad posture in front of HHO!
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It doesn't hurt when i make myself sit up straight, but you might be right - Thanks
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If it's a habit that you have had for a long time then it isn't going to be sorted out over night. Next time you're schooling & someone is there watching get them to tell you each time you start leaning...it will keep nagging you into the correct position..... eventually you'll get out of this bad habit & you'll be positioned correctly.
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Get your saddle checked? I was tipping forward all the time, then it turned out that my saddle was sloping downhill from front to back. Stuck a fluffy riser pad under it as a temp measure til I could get it reflocked, prob solved.
 
R. it may not be a back/shoulder problem at all. Look at your pelvis first before making yourself to sit straight. Check how loose are your hip joints (can you open your legs easily and take your knees away from the saddle in all gaits?). Exercise off the horse paying attention to loosening your hips (some Pilates may help). If you are tipping forward your pelvis is tipped back - think about bringing it forward first before trying to straighten up your upper body. If your pelvis tips back (or forwards) it is anatomically impossible to seat up.
When you are in the saddle think about feeling your seat bones - if you lean forward you are most likely to loose the feeling of them touching the saddle.
Also - how tight are your abdominal muscles? Sometimes they are short and tense and therfore draw your upper body forwards.
All the best sorting it out - it will take a while but I am sure you will get there
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W.
 
I've been having this problem too ~ and the wither riser pad seems good idea, as the saddle I've got at the moment seems to tip me.
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But I spoke to one of the Physio's at work the other day, and she said to practise standing flat against a wall, whilst not straining, but trying to relax into the position.
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I've got a shelf for an arse,
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and have been practising tucking it under, which helps sit me straighter!
 
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