sitting wonky on pony - tips to correct this please?? :)

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browbrow

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Hello All

Hoping some of you guys can help me here.

Over the past few months I have noticed that although my feet feel level and even in the stirrups when riding - I feel kind of crunched up on my left hand side. It is apparent that I clearly collapse when riding to the left hand side and its not the best feeling in the world. From the ground I can see that I am leaning to the left - thus making my left leg all squished and my right leg look shorter. some days Its not bad at all and other its awful and strangely its normally worse out hacking than in the school.

I have undergone lots of physio to get any alignment issues sorted out - and I have to say the physio treatment has not helped in the slightest to correct the issue. My hips have been checked and back ribs cage and shoulders and I'm not wonky anymore but still feel I am when I ride!!! Gah!!!

I have recently bought a new saddle for pony - which has been custom made and fits like a glove and have had her back checked and she is clearly in good nick and she is straight - she is not uneven at all.

The leaning doesn't seem to affect pony in a discomfort way but I know it certainly will affect her balance and I really do want to try and correct my crookedness as we are really progressing nicely and want to keep it that way and would hate to think that I was causing her to suffer.

Does anyone here have any tips to help me stop leaning? I am up for trying anything - I do lots of squats and stretching before I ride but that doesn't seem to help and also use a big exercise ball to try and improve my posture and that's not helped either!

Alot of people I know just get on with it and keep shunting the saddle back over but my saddle is always central - it never moves - its me!!!

All tips and ideas to improve myself would be great!!

Thanks in advance
 
Ride without stirrups, walk, trot and canter - if you lean to one side you will fall off so it will make you sit tall and even.
This should help.
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I tend to sit off to one side too, I believe it is very common. I've improved no end when I changed my office chair to a pilates ball. Because it building abdominal muscles I am now stronger and it also highlights which hip is higher than the other as I get a sore buttock on the lower side.

Really helps as i sit at a desk so much and is very simple.

I've also found tho that it is partially caused by my horse being less responsive to the leg on my weaker side - I over-ride with that side to try and compensate thus ending up all twisted. I now carry a schooling whip when my position goes through a bad patch and have found we're both straighter for it.
 
Ooh, a pilates ball instead of a chair. That sounds like a fab idea! More details please
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OP - sorry to hijack your thread, but I have the same problem and this sounds like a great idea!
 
OE - yes I know lots of people that have this problem - its seems very common but most people I know just get on with it which I think is pretty poor horsemanship,

I think swapping my chair to the ball would be a good one to try - will do that!! As I am desk bound for 8 hours per day.

And yes - I ride bareback now and again but in straight lines in gallop up to the paddocks (lol) and can see riding without stirrups helping - I will take them off for a few weeks and get sat up properly!! Thanks for your help !!!
 
I did sit wonky until I bought a suede seat saver, now I don't feel I slide to my left no more as the suede keeps my butt in place
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ooops forgot to say, I have been to my chiro this week and had my spine and pelvis corrected
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If you can get hold of it you should read the article in the April/May issue of British Dressage magazine about the Psoas muscle - there is a very good stretch in there which helps you release the muscles on the side that is affecting you and sit more squarely.

Also go to a chiropractor as although you are experiencing problems in your left side it may be another part of your body that is causing it that you don't know about!!
 
QR: Might it be worth trying a simulator, I believe that the more advanced ones have sensors in them so can visualise how your weight is distributed? If you could feel how it should feel when the weight is evenly distributed it may be easier to correct yourself when you slip into crookedness. I should point out that I have never tried one but have heard good things about them.
 
I'm really crooked at times due to problems with my back and pelvis, it's nice to know I'm not the only one with this problem.
I'm going done the stretching and gym ball route at the moment whilst I find somewhere local with a riding stimulator.
 
I have a similar problem as I have had a bad back for years and have a twisted pelvis. I had a lesson with a ride with your mind instructor last week. It was really good, very difficult though but for the first time in years I actually felt like I was sitting straight in the saddle. I had to travel to derbyshire but if you have transport its worth doing. The lady i had lesson with is called Denise and her web site is thedressagesecret.co.uk
 
Another one here that often feels wonky in the saddle
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My problem is that my left hip is weaker than my right so muscles are looser if that makes sense? I damaged it after I had my youngest nearly 9 years ago and as I wasn't riding then I didn't notice that they weren't back to previous strength.

Its only only slow work that I tend to notice it though
 
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