Riding in dressage seat?

[Vindicated]

I've only ever ridden in GP and Polo saddles and have a have a flat work lesson next week on a dressage horse. Any advice on how to achieve dressage position? I know there's a lot more to it than just making the stirrups longer.

 

[coss]

do loads of no stirrups work to open your hips up and deepen your seat. you have to earn longer stirrups in my opinion - no good lengthening if you're reaching for them all the time!

 

[Vindicated]

do loads of no stirrups work to open your hips up and deepen your seat. you have to earn longer stirrups in my opinion - no good lengthening if you're reaching for them all the time!

That's exactly what I read somewhere. Is there any more information you could give me or direct me towards?

Thanks

 

[-Cadence-]

It's all about the hips, everything operates around them; if they aren't right, nothing else will be right, but equally the rest of your body needs to be right to help you get your hips correct.
-sit up straight, and as even as possible. Have someone stand in front of you if you like, to make sure your legs are extended equally. There should be a vertical line straight down from your ear, shoulder, hip and heel. Relax your ass, until it feels as if the line between you and the saddle is blurred.
-Reins should create a straight line from the horses bit to your elbow, but keep your body and arms relaxed, so that you can use back aids (google or ask your instructor). Hands should be just infront of the saddle, above the withers, not too far forward, but not clutched towards you. This gives you more freedom to move with the horses movement.
-keep your pelvis neutral; the way I read about this was that your pelvis is a big bucket of water, when its straight and level, all the water stays in the bucket. If you arch and tense your back, you tip forward, spilling the water. This makes the horse tense and you get infront of his movement - not good. If you ride with a rounded back, the pelvis slips backwards and you spill the water again. If you keep your pelvis neutral it helps the horse to balance.


A great article on why is really isn't just about lengthening stirrups
http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/english/dressage/eqdressleg873/