Riding downhill

[djlynwood]

Im a bit scared riding downhill and the thought of having to do it gives me butterflys. Im thinking its because I dont do it that much and Ive never been taught what to do.

I try to sit deep and move with the horses body as it wobbles and keep my weight into my legs and lean back. Is this right.

Im not sure what to do about my reins, do I slip them a bit.

Also, trotting or cantering downhill, what do you do with your position then. Do you go into light seat or sit deep? we had a big spook which meant we took off and were heading downhill, luckilly he stoppped before going downhill, but I just wondered how I would jave sat it.

 

[chancing]

depending on the angle you are heading down..i either just sit back and up and have my feet slightly forwarf...or if its a big drop sit well back feet forward and make sure he has his head...-not too much though in case he takes off! - talking from experience there! and cantering and trotting down hill i just sit up and back a little...try not to think of your position when your doing it it will just come naturally!

 

[djlynwood]

Thanks for that, I think I may have been pushing my knees into the saddle which may have been making me feel a bit insecure.

 

[Chavhorse]

I used to live in Cyprus and the riding there was sometimes very steep mountain tracks with rocky going and sheer drops on either side....I was scared at first too!

I used to sit as still as possible, upright but leaning very slightly back and as my horse had a very advanced sense of self preservation I let him have his head so he had the freedom to use it to balance (obviously ready to gather him up if needed)

 

[Chico Mio]

I usually avoid where possible with FB because I'm a coward, but... when I rode other more sure footed horses. To walk down hill, leant back to keep weight off forelegs, to trot or canter I always stood up a little to take seat out of saddle, leant back and held loose reins in one hand (so he could move his head) and supported my weight on my other hand holding onto the cantle - so your body is sort of half twisted. You can hammer down slopes at speed like this. I have, in my time, walked down slopes so steep that I was virtually laid back on horses rump and my feet were somewhere near is withers. My friend is a nutter and his horses fabulous!

 

[Dobby]

Theres a hilly bit where I ride on the downs, and it's full of cows. The horse I ride is generally more interested in looking at them or trying to take a chunk out of nearby trees so he tends not to concentrate on where he's going which means he trips sometimes, so when we ride downhill I sit back slightly, give him a bit more rein but keep the contact so he concentrates, and just go with his movement. Imagine you're carrying a child on your back if you were walking downhill - if they were leaning forward you might trip or be pushed downwards, or if they pulled your head back youd become unbalanced.

Just relax though, it's nothing to be nervous about!