Staying straight and secure in the saddle

[Dream2own]

I have been sharing a horse for a month now. Gaining confidence weekly with him and really enjoying it.

Problem is I'm still having problems with my position and seat. When making the transition my left leg seems to take on a mind of its own, it either starts to swing slightly or I struggle to keep my foot secure in the stirrup.

I have been told that I'm not straight in the saddle so would like to work on staying straight this weekend but it's hard when I can't see myself!

Apart from sitting trot is there anything I can do to work on my seat and straightness?

 

[sarahann1]

Get yourself to an osteopath or equivalent, I've had similar problems and I was so out of alignment myself there was no physical way I could have been straight in the saddle! A few clunk/clicks later and it was a world of difference

More straight forward things to try, ride without stirrups for a bit, great for postion work. Have a think about what your knees are doing, they shouldn't feel tight or gripped, this will throw off your position too.

 

[Dream2own]

What did the osteopath do?

 

[Elbie]

I would invest in regular lessons as it's so much easier when you have someone on the ground saying "this is what you doing, this is why you're doing it, now let's correct it".

I used to do all sorts of things that I wasn't really aware of. Then last November I started having lessons with a classical dressage instructor and my riding (and in turn, horses way of going) has massively improved.

I used to ride very "toe out", nagging with my legs and wasn't sitting straight at times. Instructor is fab and she can say to me what I am doing that maks my other body parts do weird things!

I've found that I am more body aware now and can normally feel when I'm doing something 'weird' and can sometimes correct it myself through the knowledge I have gained.