Improving your riding whilst not riding

[AntiPuck]

I had a mechanical horse lesson recently, as prep for getting back into riding real horses, and it made me realise that (until then) i'd never really had any proper teaching about correct rider position (apart from being shouted at to 'stop doing X!' as a kid), and i'm perhaps embarrassingly clueless despite having spent a reasonable chunk of my life riding.

I'd like to understand a bit more of the theory, in hopes of it maybe later translating into the practice - so - can anyone recommend any resources for learning about this, apart from a good instructor (maybe resources that would complement working with one) - any good books, videos, courses etc. that you liked and found useful?

 

[Hepsibah]

My favourite book is Centred Riding by Sally Swift. It made a massive difference in my riding. Between one lesson and the next I read the book and suddenly was sitting straight and deep with heels naturally down and able to ride transitions correctly without losing impulsion or bouncing in the saddle. It was easy and all without sitting on a horse at all.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I like the book Ride with your Mind by Mary Wanless. She has some videos on Youtube too. There are generally a lot of good resources for position on YT, especially on dressage type accounts

 

[Fruitcake]

I just came here to recommend two books but see they’ve both been recommended above! Centred Riding by Sally Swift (and Centred Riding 2) are absolutely fantastic. I have an old DVD by her too. I also really liked Mary Wanless’ Ride with your Mind.

 

[Catbird]

Mary Wanless is brilliant, but I found the books quite hard going! She did podcasts during lockdown which takes you through a lot of stuff in her books and I found it loads easier to understand.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Much depends on how you learn-tbh Wanless could be talking a different language than me, I don’t get her at all. Heather Moffet’s way of teaching made way more sense to me as far as rider biomechanics is concerned -there’s certainly a book and their used to be videos but not sure if she went subscription only.
Activate your seat is a series of exercises you can do off-horse and there are various free exercises and mobility drills on the FB page.

 

[AntiPuck]

Wow, thank you so much for these suggestions, everyone!

I have ordered the two books mentioned, and am currently listening to Wanless' podcast - only on the first episode so far, but I'm loving listening to her telling her story.

 

[pistolpete]

Connected riding is another good one. Peggy Cummings is along the lines of Sally Swift. I was lucky enough to go to one of her clinics. She’s an inspiration.

 

[Squeak]

As well as looking at the theory side you could do a rider specific fitness course. It helps to train your muscles to work in the right way as well as obviously strengthening the muscles you need and increasing fitness.

I find it helps my lower leg stability, balance and hands hugely.

 

[LEC]

I don’t get Mary Wanless at all and I have tried over several years.
Personally, being fit and supple is what most people need to improve and funnily enough riding is easier. Sessions of Pilates, yoga and I have found kettlebells improved my riding above everything giving me strong quads and core.
I watch hours and hours of footage. Groundwork with Warwick Schiller as relates into riding. Top professionals competing at elite level, vlogs, blogs etc then watch stuff in slow mo to understand it better and compare against videos of myself.
video yourself watch it back and look at adjustments you can make. Visualise them at home and work on them when sat on the horse.

 

[AntiPuck]

As well as looking at the theory side you could do a rider specific fitness course. It helps to train your muscles to work in the right way as well as obviously strengthening the muscles you need and increasing fitness.

I find it helps my lower leg stability, balance and hands hugely.

Thank you for this. I have deliberated over doing one before. I already do strength work 4 times per week focusing on core, glutes etc, as well as pilates once per week, and mobility work everyday, due to recovering from a back injury, so I'm never sure whether they would add anything new, or whether they're mostly for people who don't already exercise, as the reviews seem to imply. What's your take on that?