I need some help with my position!

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Tania29

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31 October 2005
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This is my first post that i have put on here and i am after some advice about my position. I seem to have a problem with getting my shoulders back, i never use to do this and seems a problem that as much as i tell myself to sit tall and shoulders back i can`t seem to be able to correct myself! At the moment i`m not having any lessons but i do plan to book some in ASAP, just after some tips from you that would help me to correct my not so good position!!!

Will try and add a picture so you can see what i`m going on about.
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wit the hole shoulder things, 1st try and push yoor shoulder blades together(not all the way but imagine trying to!). if that doesnt work, get someone to put a thick pencil or something in the middle of yoor upper bac and make yoo hold it by using yoor shoulders! jus relax into it
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Thumbs pointing upwards.
Bend you elbow, and relex your arms and hands.
Image your horse disapears from under you so your top body must be stable and back striaght or you'll fall. Concentrate on pushing your belly out *like your pergnant* and boobies too this will help your bum to push the horse forawrd and collect in your hands.
Toes in try to fix them and move only your bum say for a light seat or rising.
 
I do the same too...

one instructor suggested carrying my whip flat across both hands (horizontally) which brings hands up - and therefore shoulders back...

I also have a 'shoulders back' http://www.equimix.co.uk/section.php?xSec=55 - whihc helps a little - but I know people have varied opinions on it and I try to only use a couple of times a week.

Sorry if useless
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I'd also say hands up, pushes shoulders back, also an old instructor of mine used to put a long, (schooling) whip across my back horizontally and tuck it under both arm pits, which straightens the back, pushes your chest out, and brings the shoulders back!
 
I do find that i am very set in my hands and my arms, and i have to make a constant reminder to myself to relax them, i also do turn my hands in, instead of keeping thumbs on top.
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I think i will start to carry a whip horizontally in my hands as i do turn my hands in, so hopefully it will help me with that and also lift the hands and in turn bring my shoulders back.

I Do have one of these "shoulder back" things which i was given from a friend, as of yet i have not tried it, so maybe i`ll have ago.
 
Lovely horse
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It's difficult to comment from one picture but your problem is partly balance and you must work on core strength. Try to do lots of rising trot without stirrups. Aim to keep your lower leg as still as possible without fixing it. When rising push your hips towards your elbows, carry your elbows and hands kindly and sit tall, aim for a straight line from elbows to bit.
You can practice this stuff on hacks etc. but aim to get an instructor who realises the value of position.
 
Lose the stirrups for a while! I'm also trying to sort my position out (different problems to you but worse ones- lower leg
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I've been working without stirrups for 4 days now and there is NO WAY you can get away with rounding your shoulders, you are forced to sit balanced!

I'm noticing improvements really quickly. Also, I am finding a book my Mary Wandless called "ride with your mind" (I think it's called that, if you are interested pm me and I'll lug my lazy ass off the sofa to go get it and find out what it was called lol)

Good luck with it! (and welcome to the forum
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Re the hands, you will feel like an idiot doing it, but hold the reins as usual, the point your thumbs outwards, and wlook at your nails. This makes you lift your hands, and keep your elbows soft. Once you are carrying your hands, and not "sitting on them" you will find you can grow taller and ride more effectively.
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Rest of position is fab though!
 
I am going to go against the grain here - I think if you pull your shoulders back you are going to end up arching your back - I think you need to start lower down in the pelvis. Right now, the front of your pelvis is tipping slightly downwards like \, causing your whole upper body to come forward. Y ou want it tilting the other way / so that your bottom tucks underneath you and you are not tipping forwards on to (use euphamistic word for vagina here) To do this, shuffle around in your seat until you locate your seat bones, then pull your belly button into your spine. Now breath. Seriously! This should bring the rest of your body back in line too - although it will feel like you are leaning backwards to begin with. When you do this, you will find it easier to lift your hands, and carry the weight into the elbow, rather than the hands themselves. You may find it hard if a) you don't have the core muscles to support your lower back (pilates and swiss ball are great for these) and b) if your hips are tight you will find it hard to do this while maintaining a good leg position, excersises that open your hips will help

Of course this may not be the problem at all, but on one photo, that's the best I can do!
 
I have been thinking about riding without stirrups but it`s not something that i have done in a while, but i want to improve my way of riding as i know that as soon as i can support myself better my horse will improve too. Will be looking for an instructor who will concentrate on me, then in turn hopefully my horse will go alot better.
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[ QUOTE ]
also an old instructor of mine used to put a long, (schooling) whip across my back horizontally and tuck it under both arm pits,

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My instructor used to do that too!!!!

Or alternatively, like someone else said, hold it under both thumbs.

Lift your hands slightly and bend your elbows and LOOK UP where you are going, NOT down at your horse!
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Thanks for the welcome, have been lurking for a while and decided to ask for some advice, seems to be lots of people on here with some really good advice.

I have the same book that you mention, and have just gone and fetched it off my book shelf so will have a read of that later.
 
Emma has some really really good advice here about your bum being tucked under, works a treat, on the rest of your position........... cracking looking horse you got there, (im jealous)!!!
 
" Rest of position is fab though! "

You are kind!! but it doesn`t feel that way at the moment, that`s why it`s time to do something about it!!
 
Some great advice there, didn`t think to correct the lower part of my body, but what you say makes sense. Will try this tomorrow when i leap on board. Thanks.
 
Am TOTALLY with emma here! If you "push out your stomach and boobies" you will end up with a weak concove back! You need to engage your stomach muscles and push out towards them - cough, yes right now - that feeling you get THAT is what you want to be doing - Mary Wanless calls it *bearing down* (the same thing you do when you give birth lol) and that is what you do to strengthen your core

You need lots more flexion in your elbows, as soon as this appears your shoulders will automatically roll backwards - please do not think about pushing them toghether as this will only cause you to have a tense and unelastic arm

Once you have sorted your core and your elbows, hopefully the rest of your body will follow - oh and look up, not down between your horses ears!!

Best of luck with it! It is SO easy to tell you what to do, implementing it, and all at the same time will take patience!
 
I think she`s lovely too, but then i would say that! She`s 8 years old, although a very green 8 year old, didn`t do very much last year as she had a molar removed in June and had a few complications afterwards, but thats all ok now so hoping to do more with her this year.
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She`s Han / Tb.
 
Now i'm no expert, but i think i see the problem here.....
It's the horse, it's just not right for you, give it to me, lol!!
No seriously, some very sound advice given, and at least you know whaty your problem is, and you can work on it.
Nothing beats someone on the ground, pointing out, and helping you correct the places where you are going wrong
 
I have got my Mary Wanless book out and i am planing to have a read tonight, but you are right, what you and emma are saying makes alot of sense. I`m very tense through my elbows and tend to lock them, i have to keep reminding myself to relax them!
 
Could never part with my beast, although my other half may disagree,in his dreams of course!!
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Your right nothing beats having someone on the ground to look at what your doing. Had some really good advice from all you lovely people so thankyou.
 
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Concentrate on pushing your belly out *like your pergnant* and boobies too

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I would just add, totally agree to change the focus from your shoulder and think more about your tummy!

As your trotting around think "SQUIDGY BUM, FAT BELLY, SQUIDGY BUM, FAT BELLY!!"

Works for me!!
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Would also add, I bought my hubby a shoulders back thing for Christmas as a stocking filler (he calls it his girdle as it's that fetching beige colour that old ladies knickers are made from!!
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He's not practised in it yet, but I'll give you his verdict when he does, as he has a very similar problem to you
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Hi Tania29

Firstly I think you need to carry your hands more, by having them low they are automatically pulling you forwards and almost rounding your shoulders, more of an elastix bend to the elbow too.

You need to be careful to stay relaxed and not force a rigid position. So keep you lower back soft, carry the hands, thumbs on top, heels down and relax through you shoulders - this should help you get your shoulder back.

Hb
 
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