Shoulder movement

[Sossigpoker]

That is my shoulder movement!
I am in a vicious cycle of my shoulders and hips moving with my horse , like a pendulum, which speeds the horse up , I then start to panic and grab the reins and then it can go very wrong.
Does anyone have any tips on how to think of keeping my shoulders in particular from moving left /right? I find it helpful to visualise things like the thigh being the radius of the circle in rising trot (like Ride with Your Mind /Mary Wanless stuff).

(I don't know how to attach a video here or else I could show you - sorry ).

Does anyone have any hints or tips to help me?

 

[Lois Lame]

I doubt I can help, but I used to swing my legs, alternately.

One day I had a lesson with an extremely well-respected man. My legs were doing their usual thing.

He said to me: "You are the only one who can stop your legs swinging."

I thought, what? But but...

And it was after that that I told my legs it was up to me that they don't swing. Believe it not, they stopped swinging.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Now that I've seen myself do it on video it makes sense when my coach says that I do it - I wasn't aware of it until now although she had told me several times.
Maybe next time will feel different now that I've seen it- I hope!
I will certainly try your approach too. Thanks!

 

[shortstuff99]

Imagine you are on a carousel horse going up and down with the pole rather then forward and back. Then after that imagine there is a conveyor belt that runs up from your pelvis and down your back if you put that together you will go.with the movement rather then driving it forwards.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Imagine you are on a carousel horse going up and down with the pole rather then forward and back. Then after that imagine there is a conveyor belt that runs up from your pelvis and down your back if you put that together you will go.with the movement rather then driving it forwards.

That's brilliant, thank you very much. I will practice that and try it next time I ride.

 

[sbloom]

Imagine you are on a carousel horse going up and down with the pole rather then forward and back. Then after that imagine there is a conveyor belt that runs up from your pelvis and down your back if you put that together you will go.with the movement rather then driving it forwards.

Yep, good analogy. And to fine tune it, allowing each hind leg of the horse to pick up, and put down, each seat bone, in exactly the same place on the saddle. So the seat doesn't move actively, neither forward/back nor side to side, and the waist isolates the upper body from the pelvis. Closing the eyes can help, in walk, where safe to do so of course!

 

[Sossigpoker]

Yep, good analogy. And to fine tune it, allowing each hind leg of the horse to pick up, and put down, each seat bone, in exactly the same place on the saddle. So the seat doesn't move actively, neither forward/back nor side to side, and the waist isolates the upper body from the pelvis. Closing the eyes can help, in walk, where safe to do so of course!

Thank you. I find closing my eyes lets me feel more.
I've just realised that I've been trying hard to control my hips but I should be thinking about my seat bones instead- hoping to ride tomorrow so can give these ideas a go.
Thank you everyone.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Yep, good analogy. And to fine tune it, allowing each hind leg of the horse to pick up, and put down, each seat bone, in exactly the same place on the saddle. So the seat doesn't move actively, neither forward/back nor side to side, and the waist isolates the upper body from the pelvis. Closing the eyes can help, in walk, where safe to do so of course!

I really focused on my seat bones landing in the same spot today and it worked- my coach says that i still moved but not as badly as before and I was able to slow my horse's walk like this so that's a result!
But now I seem to be gripping with my thighs so that's the next issue to tackle- never easy , is it!

 

[Rowreach]

What is your saddle doing when your horse moves? It's worth getting someone to lead him up straight and on turns with you watching from behind to see how much it is moving.

 

[Sossigpoker]

What is your saddle doing when your horse moves? It's worth getting someone to lead him up straight and on turns with you watching from behind to see how much it is moving.

I'm waiting for a saddler to come as we are currently having to balance it with a Prolite. But it is me , not the saddle, my coach rides him too and she doesn't move. ?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You would probably benefit from having lesson on a simulator I had a few after after I broke my ankle I just felt really unstable, I couldn't work out why and just continued to ride like it and I was doing all sorts of strange things, but within 2 minutes of the instructor watching me she adjusted my position and it just all fell into place.

Where are you?

 

[Sossigpoker]

You would probably benefit from having lesson on a simulator I had a few after after I broke my ankle I just felt really unstable, I couldn't work out why and just continued to ride like it and I was doing all sorts of strange things, but within 2 minutes of the instructor watching me she adjusted my position and it just all fell into place.

Where are you?

I'm in the south West and yes that sounds interesting.
I'm also trying to gather up the courage to have a lunge lesson on one of the competition horses at the yard (mine isn't experienced enough on the lunge ) so that i can just focus on my position and sitting.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I'm in the south West and yes that sounds interesting.
I'm also trying to gather up the courage to have a lunge lesson on one of the competition horses at the yard (mine isn't experienced enough on the lunge ) so that i can just focus on my position and sitting.

Yes that would be really good for your position and you definitely need a certain horse for that.

I am far away from you so no use recommending the simulator person I used, have a look on line someone near you may do it.