Light bulb moment today - how silly things affect our riding...

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camilla4

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... for some time now I have, unaccountably, had problems with my left hand dropping when I'm riding. Looking for an explanation for why horses I'm sitting on have a tendency not to remain straight at times, I took video recording of a lesson and noticed that my left hand drops back and turns slightly towards the dreaded "pram hand" position, which I abhor. I simply couldn't figure out why this had started happening as my hands have historically been pretty good. Then today, whilst out walking the dog, I realised - it's the way I hold her lead. She always used to have just a gun slip but (for irrelevant reasons) we changed back to her old lead a while ago - this is a chain lead with a leather loop-strap, the leather being about 3/4 inch wide - about the same as a rein. I instinctively hold the strap in the same way as a rein (and I bet all of you would do the same) but of course my hand isn't in a riding position - it's held down by my side with the knuckles facing forward. Over the year or so that I've been using this lead, my left hand has "re-educated" itself in how the rein position should feel and so the correct position feels strange. Now that I know, I can correct it but it made me wonder how many of our other day-to-day actions affect how we ride?

Sorry, it is actually a very boring post, I know - but it might, just might, give someone else a similar revelation?!! :)
 
That's interesting! I sit at work like a slob all hunched over and this shows in my riding - if I pause the frame when I sit to the rise I look like a sack of potatoes as this is my normal posture (not good!)

So I try and sit up which lasts for about 3 maybe 4 seconds.. lol

Funnily enough I have one of those extender leads, which act like reins I suppose with the way you hold them, so with your post in mind I wont change my lead in a hurry... lol

x
 
I think postural problems developed in everyday living are commonly translated to problems in riding. I know that if I've been sitting all day it's far harder to sit correctly AND relaxed in the saddle unless I stretch properly first. I suppose because that's a more obvious problem we're all more aware of it and more likely to correct for it. I was just so struck by the fact that a recent problem has developed because of something that I might never have considered! I'm now analysing almost everything I do....
 
That's very kind!! I thought it was a pretty dull one but you never know - one person may have a similar revelation and transform their riding!
 
Well I don't get this problem so much now, but when I was younger and learning to ride, my mum sent me for ballet lessons too. I had to give up in the end (it was a choice between ballet or horses and horses won :D) because in ballet, you turn your toes out! So I was developing the wrong muscles for horse-riding.
 
Great post! I have often noticed that I hold my dogs lead the same as I hold my reins - I actually use him to practice a gentle contact and when he pulls I always make sure I keep a soft hand and arm. Lol. It works so much better than yanking him around like you see some people doing!
I too slob at work - it really shows when I ride.
The one thing which has really made me realise my posture when riding is that I am currently waiting for saddler to visit and so am riding bareback for now. Boy is it obvious when you're sat wonky on a TB!
 
Becca-84 said:
Well I don't get this problem so much now, but when I was younger and learning to ride, my mum sent me for ballet lessons too. I had to give up in the end (it was a choice between ballet or horses and horses won :D) because in ballet, you turn your toes out! So I was developing the wrong muscles for horse-riding.
Click to expand...

Interestingly an instructor asked me a few years ago did I do ballet? I did and had done since a toddler. She said it did wonders for riders as they have so much more control of what their legs are doing and improves their posture. Have never had problems with my toes sticking out either.
Sadly I had to give up ballet due to crappy ankles and I have really noticed I have less core strength as a result.
 
I agree Doris. I did ballet from the age of 7 - 18 and also did gymnastics to quite a high leve. I swear that these did a huge amount for my riding - the posture, suppleness, core strength and muscle stretch that develops is invaluable. I really noticed a difference later in life when I wasn't doing either of these.
 
I broke my coccyx when I was 14 and have never managed to 'sit back' on my bum. As a result I stick my bum out and can't seem to do a thing about it however hard I ty.

See below ( no laughing at the back there!):

Screenshot2010-06-23at204956.png


I look like a duck!!
 
I believe these little position issues with hands, feet, elbows, shoulders etc are ALWAYS a reflection of what is happening with the riders core. If your pelvis or back are not correctly aligned then we make these compensations with our extemeties - hence the reason why they are so difficult to correct on a long term basis. I advocate all riders to see a good chiropractor (one who does x-rays as part of the diagnosis) and have their skeletal alignment checked on a regular basis.
 
Definatley Sally. I had the bonus of a chiropractor which specialised in equines and humans! She was brilliant, and so many anomalies in my straightness were just as obvious in him - who caused whos is a mystery!
Sadly she went and got herself pregnant which put a stop to the horse side of it for now! :rolleyes::D
 
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