Tipping forward... advice?

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Raych

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I am 5ft8 and im quite skinny and i often find myself tipping/leaning forward and rounding my shoulders when riding.
I'm always being told to "SIT UP" and "GET [my] SHOULDERS BACK" which i manage but soon tip forward again.

I do use a body protector, which i have had for a while, so i could have grown out of this with me being only 15 and growth spurts.

I have ridden without it and it has helped my position, but whilst doing cross country(obviously) or jumping its compulsory for me to wear it (parents and stables rules).

ive been riding for years and its become a habbit i believe.

Any tips on how to keep my shoulders from tipping forward and unseating me?

Thanks
 
Firstly does the body protector fit properly? If its too long at the back it could catch the saddle making you tip forward. If it fits ok then maybe try and get someone to video you riding so you can see when you start to tip forward. Another thing to try is a lunge lesson, then you can get your instructor to concentrate on you and your position rather than the horse. If you don't have an instructor just try to be conscious of it and think 'lean back' a bit and you should end up straighter!
Good luck!
 
Not sure it is recommended now but years ago my instructor used to put a broom handle behind our backs with our upper arms hooked around it so that our elbows were back .....

If you can find a school with mirrors that it is a great help as that will show you how you are tipping or have someone video you riding. It is a matter of disciplining yourself to sit correctly. The old 'straight line' of shoulders - hips - ankles works well.
 
Thanks, im not sure whether it fits me properly as i have grown alot since buying it. It is not too long, but i think it may be tight around my shoulders. I often video myself riding, and i do notice it but when in a lesson i completley forget or when reminded i feel like i am leaning TOO far back (i have no had this videod to see, yet).
I will try next lesson to just lean back the whole time, and focus more on that.
I am in a pony club rally and i do have an instructor with him being the one telling me to sit up :p
Thanks x
 
I have the same problem. I'm 49 years old and have been rounding my shoulders since I first began to ride over 40 years ago. Yes, it does become a habit!

The only thing I can say is that I ride with a constant voice in my head saying, "Shoulders BACK!" It's my old RI's voice and I've just trained myself to think about it pretty much constantly. I've gotten much better over the years but I do have to think about it. It's just my posture.

Edited to add - look at my sig pic on the far right for an example. :o
 
I can sympathise! I too am tall and slim and tend to have round shoulders if I'm not careful. If you can get yourself videoed while you are riding this will really help as you will 'see it with your own eyes'. I'm afraid it's about discipline and being really strict with yourself all the time when you ride. An instructor in the past also used to say to me to improve my posture on the ground and every time you go by a shop window and see your reflection, get those shoulders back and stand up tall!
 
Thanks, i do normally have a good posture, i think it could be something to do with my body protector. but theyre expensive and i dont really want to have to ask my parents to buy me a new one.
I will be focusing hard on just sitting back, and ill try and book a lunge lesson x
 
I find I tip forward when I don't sit properly, I sometimes need to consciencly (sp) make sure I seat on my seat bones rather then on the front of my seat (if that makes anysense at all lol). I guess what i am trying to say is making sure my butt is rounded underneath me. It means when I am sat up my back doesn't arch backwards and I am therefore straight through all the right parts.
Hope that is of some help :D
 
most positional faults come down to your pelvis not being right, rather than pushing your shoulders back which is just going to probably make you hollow the lower part of your back make sure you are sat on your three seat bones which should autmiatically sit you up in a more correct position and also roll your shoulders back to sit up dont just push your shoulders back
 
Smile_and_Wave said:
most positional faults come down to your pelvis not being right, rather than pushing your shoulders back which is just going to probably make you hollow the lower part of your back make sure you are sat on your three seat bones which should autmiatically sit you up in a more correct position and also roll your shoulders back to sit up dont just push your shoulders back
Click to expand...

Oh that shounds so much better than the way I tried to explain it lol :D
 
I round forward too. I have found that the only way not to is to conciously think about it. However, I've also been thinking about how I sit when NOT on a horse, and found that I slouch terribly, making it very difficult for me to sit up straight when on a horse because the muscles in the lower half of my back aren't strong enough to support me for any period of time. So lately I've been thinking about sitting up straight WHEREVER I am.

Mind you, looking at the other riders at my livery yard, it seems this is not an uncommon problem... I guess like keeping your heels down and whatnot it's just a matter of reminding yourself until it becomes second nature.
 
I'd also suggest getting the balance of your saddle checked to make sure it's not tipping you forward, and also try Pilates so that you improve your core stability so your tummy supports you in a more upright position.
 
Try LOOKING up. It will automatically bring your head and shoulders up. Other than that, you could try rolling your shoulder blades back (as though you are doing backwards windmills with your arms..) which might help to bring your shoulders back and make you look up.
 
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