Position improvement?

Captain Bridget

Captain Bridget

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I usually ride alone, mainly hacking with a bit of schooling or something, but had my boyfriend with me last time I rode so he took photos. I'd not seen how I was riding in quite a while or had any feed back so, although I knew it didn't feel quite right, I didn't realise how bad my position had become.

This photo will give you an idea, my leg is slipping forward into a delightful chair seat. Please excuse the dodgy canter, horse is a bit green and unbalanced.
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What can I do to improve my position on my own? I don't have the money for an instructor right now unfortunately. Any advice is welcome.
 
TBH a GP saddle is not going to help as the stirrup bars are places too far forward. To bring your leg back underneath you, you will be fighting both the saddle and your muscle memory. Is there any chance you can borrow a dressage saddle?
Until then I would just work without stirrups.
 
I thought that would be the case. Unfortunately as he's not my horse it's very unlikely. I much prefer dressage saddles to GP's but hey ho, as he's not very good at dressage a dressage saddle is kind of pointless!

I'll get onto my no stirrups work. I decided to do some one Wednesday and I didn't half ache the next day! Seriously out of practise!
 
Ride with the thought of 'if my horse disappeared right now (as in magically went poof rather than ran off!) would I land on my feet?' The answer needs to be yes. At the moment it would be 'no, I'd land on my a$$'.

Work without stirrups - lift your lower leg and grab your ankle (not your toe) and pull the leg back until you knee is pointing at the floor. Hold for a few seconds then drop the lower leg down but do not allow the upper leg to swing forwards. Repeat with the other leg. You should be left with a feeling of standing over the horse. Ensure you do not tense the muscles in your seat when you have done this.
 
Captain Bridget said:
I'll get onto my no stirrups work. I decided to do some one Wednesday and I didn't half ache the next day! Seriously out of practise!
Click to expand...

There you go, answered yourself really :D Ached because those core and leg muscles that you should be using have been slacking off. More no stirrups work for you :p

Once you become more aware of your position, which you have, you will soon improve. Video is a good way of seeing how you come along.
 
Just as a quick position check, my RI suggested, "if you have a tendency to put your leg too far forwards, bring your toe back until you just can't see it, if you tend to bring your leg too far back, bring your toe forwards until you can just see it".
I agree that work without stirrups is good.
 
I',m a bit out of my depth here, I look at the horse, and it seems on the forehand, my general approach is to work on the horse, you seem to be climbing up the neck when jumping, so do a combination, jump with reins, then no reins then no stirrups then no rein no stirrups, keep legs in position and your body should be pivoting, I will pm a good site, see Vitoria Panizon's videos
 
Yes, he probably is on the forehand. He is green and unbalanced. I'm working on that but I felt that if my position wasn't good enough I wasn't going to be able to do this successfully. I'm not asking for critique on my jumping position, that's a whole other ball game that I'm not focussing on right now.
 
Buy one of the Mary Wanless tapes - poss the first one for position. It chunks it down into small bits and then builds it up into a whole.

Its £20 per tape, but together with regularly videoing yourself it will give you heaps to work on and is really worth it.
 
canteron said:
Buy one of the Mary Wanless tapes - poss the first one for position. It chunks it down into small bits and then builds it up into a whole.

Its £20 per tape, but together with regularly videoing yourself it will give you heaps to work on and is really worth it.
Click to expand...

Just checked on the Mary Wanless site. It is the first 'Ride With Your Mind' DVD. Her teaching is all about the riders position, not about the horse, so completely targeted at obtaining the perfect position! (as talented riders do naturally?).
 
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