Need an exercise to improve straightness (rider's)!

Fiona

Fiona

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Would be v grateful if anyone could suggest an exercise for me. When I am on the left rein I feel as if I am collapsing my left hip with more weight then going into the outside stirrup.
I have tried to simply put more weight in left stirrup, but that's a bit rough and ready as a solution surely. It is worse in walk and canter.
Can anyone think of an exercise that will make sure I have an equal weight in each seatbone.
NB-I will try riding without stirrups, but anything else??
My mare is prone to falling out through her shoulder on the left rein anyway, so my problem certainly isn't helping her.
Fiona
 
In walk, take both feet out of the stirrups, bring both knees up to the pommel, as if you are in jockey position but still sit up straight, u wil have to sit straight else you wil unbalance yourself.
Now you will be able to feel you are sat directly on all 3 seat bones!
Then put your legs down. You should now feel straight on the saddle/horse.
DO this a few times and you wil now be straight.
DOing work without stirrups wil not automatically straighten you up, as you arent altering your position!
If ths doesnt help let me know, few more tricks u can try!
x
 
That sounds like a super way of making sure that I am starting off sitting completely level. Any tips to make sure I stay that way when I start to work her, at the moment I feel like I am always stopping to re-arrange myself in the saddle, which interrupts our schooling.
Thanks

Fiona
 
Her back was done about a fortnight ago, and it happens in both my GP and dressage saddles so don't think it is the saddle either.
My husband has pointed it out to me when we are out hacking (more weight in right seatbone) and now that I am thinking about it, I can feel it in the school as well.
Obviously there is no way that I can expect her to do lateral work etc when I am sitting crooked, so I want to get it knocked on the head as soon as possible.

Fiona
 
When did you have your back last done?
No matter how straight she is, and what saddle you are in, if you are squiffy you wont be able to fix it.
My pelvis was always off, i used to drop my right hip, so we had my saddle pumped up on one side, until the work hd been done on my back. I now sit straight, without having to have my saddle altered.
Bit of a simple on have you tried putting your right stirrup, up one hole?
On the plus side, your right rein lateral work wil be fab.
Do you feel your mare tips in on corners, circles, shoulder in?
 
I may well look into that. Why is it that we horsy people pay so much for our horses to have the best of tack/rugs/treatments etc, but never spend any money on ourselves.
On a left circle I feel as if my seat is slipping to the outside of the saddle.
Think you are right - will take stirrups away for short periods only, just to make it easier to feel if I am straight and easier to correct.
Fiona
 
I am so squint as well. I think I should get my own back checked as I often get a sore hip as well. I just don't have the money to spend on me!
 
I used to sit crooked too, and new trainers would also pick up on it! I'd definitely look into seeing a chiropractor, which is what I did - turned out my pelvis was slightly twisted and dropped to one side, effectively making one leg longer than the other! They show you on a model skeleton how it all affects each other - very interesting!
I'm much better now, but do still have to concenrate on sitting central, but I think knowing the problem is half the battle - I never used to even realise I was crooked, it simply felt straight to me!
 
i would suggest seeing an osteopath rather than a chiropractor.
A chiropractor wil only alter the muscles, and if your pelvis is out, will not be able to fix it!
When you are on a left circle, and you feel you are slipping to the outside, lean forards and to the left, then sit up, without altering your position! If you feel you slip again, then push forward gain!
In the mean time, definitly try putting your right stirrup up a hole, and see if that makes a differnece, is one leg is forced to be slightly shorter u should find u sit differently.
x
 
Oooo this is interesting, cos I always get told off for being wonky, but no matter what I do I can't help it
crazy.gif
 
Echo all the above but another exercise to try is to take away just the right stirrup.
Feels weird until you get the hang of it, but it's excellent for making you stretch your left side. Obviously, done the other way round works for people that collapse the right side.
smile.gif
 
That does sound strange - so taking away the outside ie right stirrup will cure a collapsing left hip?? Have to admit I do try this sometimes already for lateral work, but only at walk.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained - I will try tomorrow evening and report back.
Thanks

Fiona
 
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