What exercises to make you sit straight?

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Joyous70

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I recently had a lesson with a new instructor, who uses the jacket with the lines on (cant think of the correct term) to asses how straight (or not) you sit on your horse.

It was apparent from the pictures she took, that although my position isn't too bad, I do have a tendancy to sit with my left cheek over the saddle and a twist in my spine due to collapsing through my rib cage on the right, consequently my girl tends to drift out to the left and takes more contact on the left rein.

Once she had straightened me up, (I then felt really crooked) my girl went so much better obviously as im not asking her over constantly.

We don't have arena mirrors so I cannot see when im riding if im reverting back to my old position, I am trying very hard to maintain even feel through my seatbones, but does anyone have any useful tips on how I can keep myself straight and central in the saddle? or indeed in every day life, I have noticed that I sit like this at my desk at work as well, im currently sitting here trying to keep my seatbones even etc.,

I will be continuing with these lessons, and will ask her on her next visit, but she is away on holiday at the moment.
 
I think what you do out of the saddle here is key. What way do you sleep at night? Are you on your back, or all rolled up on your side in a ball?

I've been working with my physio to strengthen my core because I've had that one leg longer than the other feeling. So I now sleep on my back as much as I can, roll a towel up and put it in my pillow case to support my neck. If I need to sleep on my side, I have to keep my arms levem spine straight with no twistsl and I've resorted to putting a cushion between my knees. If I'm on my back, I put the cushion under my knees.

I've also taken up walking which I am finding helps a lot. I think I need to do pilates classes very soon too, work on the core.

Someone on here recommended the 30 day rider challenge a facebook group, so I'm taking some of the exercises from that.

Best thing you could do is visit an osteopath or physio and explain the problems you are having, even better if you can find one that rides horses!
 
ElectricChampagne said:
I think what you do out of the saddle here is key. What way do you sleep at night? Are you on your back, or all rolled up on your side in a ball?

I've been working with my physio to strengthen my core because I've had that one leg longer than the other feeling. So I now sleep on my back as much as I can, roll a towel up and put it in my pillow case to support my neck. If I need to sleep on my side, I have to keep my arms levem spine straight with no twistsl and I've resorted to putting a cushion between my knees. If I'm on my back, I put the cushion under my knees.

I've also taken up walking which I am finding helps a lot. I think I need to do pilates classes very soon too, work on the core.

Someone on here recommended the 30 day rider challenge a facebook group, so I'm taking some of the exercises from that.

Best thing you could do is visit an osteopath or physio and explain the problems you are having, even better if you can find one that rides horses!
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I do indeed sleep on my side all curled up in a ball, so I will start by trying to sleep on my back as you have suggested :)

I am very conscious now of how I sit and the fact my core is weak and my lower back even weaker.

The lady who I had the lesson with, does pilates sessions for riders and is also a sports massage therapist for horses, not sure if she does humans, but its all very costly and I sadly cannot afford to do the ridden lessons and the unmounted sessions as well, as she requires a block booking of 6 weeks and they're too far away for me to get too.

Maybe once she's back off her holidays I will ask her if she can recommend me some unmounted exercises to help me with this.
 
I always check that I and the saddle are sitting straight by running my finger down the seam of my jods, and carrying straight down to the saddle gullet, and then to the horse's backbone. As I tend to ride young horses, I am very keen to keep as straight as I can.
 
Its a two way street,you cannot sit straight on a crooked horse. . Both parties have to agree to meet in the middle. Once you are straight , probably at no more than a slow walk , you can progress.
 
Easiest way to practise. Mirrors not needed. Take away your stirrups, walk your mare up on the centre line. don't try to straighten her - if you are sitting straight she will be straight, if she moves away you can see you are sitting incorrectly
 
Luci07 said:
Easiest way to practise. Mirrors not needed. Take away your stirrups, walk your mare up on the centre line. don't try to straighten her - if you are sitting straight she will be straight, if she moves away you can see you are sitting incorrectly
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This doesn't quite work for horses who are not straight themselves (so most of them!).
 
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