What seat for hunting?

Vindicated

Vindicated

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It seem many hunting people seem to ride in a sort of chair postion with their heels quite far forward.
I ride in the classical seat where you heals and hips in in line with each other. Do I need to change my seat when doing hunting?

Thanks:)
 
you should ride as correctly out hunting as you would anywhere else - you may want your stirrups on jumping length rather than dressage length so that you can get out of the saddle for galloping and jumping
 
I've decided to limit myself to only Autumn hunting this year. Is there much jumping and galloping involved in this sort of hunting? My horse isn't able to jump very high.
 
not usually much jumping during autumn hunting (though the hunt sec would be able to advise you better about the particular hunt). Don't worry about your horse not being able to jump very big - there's almost always a way round and/or some people who aren't jumping!
 
I quite favour the typical 'chair' position when hunting, mainly because in case of a tripe, stumble, fall, dodgy jump or whatever, there's a lot more security in your seat, because falling off hunting is embarrasing!
My instructor always tells me off for it though as it leeches into how I ride normally (Because I do prefer it).
I don't find it any harder to jump, but I may just be more used to it.
 
I do dressage aswell and I find I don't change my position at all out hunting but I do pull my stirrups up a few holes as it's easier for jumping and getting off the horses back.
 
Hehe this post made me smile, at my particular hunt (rural Devon) you have a few older men riding in that position, old farmer types, I think years gone by they bought a horse and went hunting, they are perfectly good riders, but their own style.... it involves trotting with ridiculously long stirrups stood up, and they stay in this position no matter what gait hehe with feet forward.
 
If you look at old hunting prints that is how they rode in the olden days, even race jockeys did it , till an american jock (Ted Sloan I think) shortened his stirrups and won all his races by balancing his weight on the horse.
I found a days hunting made me a better rider, a deeper seat and more "stickability" ,,,,,,, you need your stirrups a hole higher than hacking just to give you a bit of a more forward position, by this I do not mean you to lean your weight over the withers, you need to learn to balance on the horse.
 
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