tip and excercises to improve my seat

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sallypops

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i posted the other day about my stirrups bein loose, when i canter, like my slip about in them. someone said it might be my seat and i think they are right, i don't think my seat is very secure in canter. i looked at a vid i had on my phone, very poor quality but still i didn't look secure at all does anyone have any tips or excerises that might help???
 
LUNGE LESSONS!

mm thats about all i can suggest - really help my seat, now when Frankie spooks I can sit still and not fall off like i used to
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is there anythin i can do when out hacking or anythin, we don't have anywhere to lunge at the minute field are way to wet

will definatly do some lunge lessons with out stirrups when the weather gets better
 
shorter stirrups. even at walk, this helps. at trot and canter, try the half-seat, where your bum floats above the saddle, it strengthens your legs and improves your balance. grab mane or neckstrap to help if necessary until you get the hang of it!
make sure you're sitting exactly in the centre of the saddle (at halt, bring both legs up till your knees touch in front, and you'll be able to feel your seat bones and tell if your weight is even on them, and if you're in the exact centre), make sure your upper half is upright and balanced (think of a piece of string attached to the top of your head, pulling you gently upwards into alignment), don't look down, because it pulls your head and neck out of alignment, and have your legs loose and soft on the horse's sides. this will all help your seat, honestly!
i am not a fan of lungeing tbh, i think most of these things can be worked on alone. best of luck!
 
lol i might invest in some shorter leathers, i'm such a midget it gets so annoyin!!!!! i get worried that people will think i look like a jockey, i think i quite short anyway, but i think it look like i am cause i'm on a big horse. will defo try that will be goin out this afternoon so i'll see what happens
 
Do you mean that your feet aren't resting on the stirrup treads in canter? You might be gripping with your knees in canter, this means your lower leg is loose and your seat will be rigid in the saddle so you will bounce more. I have had to work on this as I learnt to ride when gripping with your knees was drummed in (ages ago!!) Kerilli is right, coming up out of the saddle and letting your weight drop into your feet will stabilize you and then you can begin to develop this when sitting - but keep your knees relaxed and imagine that you have leaded boots on!!
 
While your hacking or schooling try rising trot gradually lowering the rise under control without the trot changing 6", then 4", then 2" out of the saddle then sitting trot for a few strides (only as long as is comfortable) then rise again trying to gradually lengthen the time you can stay comfortably in sitting, N.B. really important that the horses trot stays the same. While your in sitting trot each time you would normally rise try pulling your belly button up and in and press the balls of your feet on the stirrup treds just for the rise stride and relax in between, it will feel bouncy but will strengthen core muscles and keep your seat in better contact with the saddle. you can vary this with a transition up or down at the end of the time in sitting and it will improve transitions and stops the horse anticipating if you vary it, some times just rising at the end, sometimes cantering and sometimes walking or even halting. Try it, it does work, honest.
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sit on your thumb! Whilst trotting (sitting) or cantering, hook your thumb over the back of your saddle and concentrate on staying sitting on it. This is great for helping you sit back, down and deep in the saddle and to find and keep your balance point. Worked for me. After a while you just have to think 'sit on my thumb' to remind yourself.
 
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