Sitting up!

[tatty_v]

Hi all

I took my pony on our first hunt ride on Saturday. He behaved brilliantly and despite me being very nervous, we survived 2 very fast hours with 50 other horses without coming unstuck! One thing I did notice was that I tipped forwards a lot more than I do when I ride normally. I don't know if this was just as a result of the speed, getting tired or wearing my body protector (which I don't normally do just for ordinary hacking). However, it clearly isn't ideal! Does the 'hunting style' sitting up just come with practice or do you have any tips to help me?

Thank you!

 

[be positive]

I am not sure what you mean by tipping forward or "hunting style sitting up", most people doing fast work will go forward into 2 point position, have their stirrups up slightly shorter than normal hacking length so they can remain off the horses back as much as possible, just sitting deep if required approaching a fence and possibly taking emergency measures if taken by surprise in some way.
You do need to be fairly fit to remain in balance, your legs will get tired but you will gradually get stronger if you hunt or do plenty of fast work regularly.
It sounds as if you had a successful first outing and that you have a super pony to enjoy.

 

[Bernster]

Agree with poster above. Do you mean you felt out of balance by leaning forward, or that you weren't able to sit upright? If you do feel you need to be sitting back into the saddle more, raise one hand up (putting your reins in the other), that should set you back into the saddle. Good tip for jumping in particular! After my first season doing a few hunts, I ended up with a terrible 'water ski' position, feet way out front, leaning back - which sounds like the opposite of you!

 

[tatty_v]

I think Bernster's hit the nail on the head - I felt out of balance because my upper body was tilting forward too far. Normally I'm fine in 2 point as I canter out on hacks like this, but I wonder whether it was just the speed and my nerves on the day which tipped me further forward than usual. Luckily the pony was a saint and didn't take the mickey! I'll definitely try the one hand trick

 

[Bernster]

As I have an endless array of things I do wrong with my position, I suspect your legs are swinging back too which will send you over the shoulder and possibly over the head if horsey isn't forgiving! Feet forward and all that, push your weight into your heels and point them toward the nose. Will give you a terrible water ski position which will destroy your dressage marks, but give you a more secure hunting seat I suspect ;-)