Your seat is your most important asset when it comes to riding. Learning to stay on the horse is your first lesson and it can be all too easy to rush onto the next step before perfecting your posture. How you sit affects you and your horse’s performance, and he might misunderstand your commands if you are not sitting correctly. Luckily this is correctable and there are lots of little ways to make a big difference in your riding.
Ride Without Stirrups
This is a staple of every riding lesson when you are starting, but since your teacher has stopped asking, how often have you taken the stirrups away? Without relying on them to balance, it forces you to sit deeper in the saddle and improves your position. The better your seat, the stronger a rider you are and is especially helpful when it comes to jumping.
Remove your feet and cross the stirrups over your horse’s withers. Try putting the right under the left so if you need to get off in a hurry, it will be much quicker. Once they are secure, start walking and try to keep your legs long with your hands down. It may take a few minutes of getting used to, but soon you should be fine. Once you’ve mastered walking, try trotting and try not to panic! The more you tense up and try to correct yourself, the bumpier it will be. Try using a neck strap or holding into your horse’s mane to keep your hands down and your position strong. Notice how much straighter your back is and how settled you are in the saddle. Make sure to keep practicing regularly to reap the full reward.
Give Bareback a Go
It might seem scary, but riding bareback was the go-to for thousands of years. It’s a great way to bond with your horse – they will be excited by the variety – and it also is instrumental in creating the perfect seat. The lack of saddle means you can feel every muscle move and you will learn just how sensitive your horse is to commands. Use it as an opportunity to test your abilities as a rider and learn to trust yourself/your horse.
Initially start bareback riding on a lunge rope. Without the saddle to grip onto, it can be far easier to slip and if your horse bolts then you could be in trouble. Get used to the way your horse’s back feels and learn how you fit in with that. What points do your legs grip onto? Where should you keep them so they don’t swing? All this is possible while riding bareback. Once you have gained your confidence, try jumping! If you can master this then there is nothing to fear while riding normally.
Find this exercise painful? Why not invest in a bareback pad that will provide a cushion for both you and your horse. Plus, it has the added benefit of being a little slippery meaning you will have to stay balanced and hold on tight.
Ride with No Hands
So now you’ve secured your seat, what’s next? Riding without hands of course! A lot of emphasis is put on having strong legs and being sturdy in the saddle, but your upper body is just as important. If you lose a stirrup while show jumping, you will need to use your core to keep yourself balanced and correct yourself. It will also help prevent errors such as losing your balancing and pulling on your horse’s mouth, which he will appreciate. It also means you will be more of a tidy rider – something judges look for while competing.
It is not advisable to try this alone, but if you must – make sure it is in an enclosed arena in case something happens. Start with lunging, this way you won’t have to worry about steering and you can focus on weighting yourself deep in your stirrups. Try and keep your hands steady in one position. Don’t worry if you lose balance and they come up – just get them back down and keep going. Once you have got your confidence up, try jumping! Yes, really. You will be forced to keep your weight low and your upper body still. Practice this for a couple of weeks to see a real difference in your position.
Take It All Away
Now you’ve completed all the exercises – it’s time for the hardest one yet – riding with your eyes closed. This might seem like the most daunting, but without the visual clues you are forced to feel what is going on and it will significantly improve your balance. It is important to trust your instincts when you are riding and this will allow you to get a feel for your horse and what his sensitivities are.
Try closing your eyes and walking in a straight line. Does your horse sway to a certain side? Now check your seat. You may be surprised to find you are lopsided. Horses are incredibly sensitive and something like this can make a huge impact on their balance. Now try riding on a lunge rope with your eyes shut – if you don’t trust yourself then you can use a blindfold to ensure no peeking. Notice how your horse moves and try to steer just using your legs. It might take a little adjusting, but soon you should be able to transition between gaits, focussing on keeping still and not jerking about.
The ultimate test is jumping with your eyes closed. How do you prepare for an obstacle you can’t see? The answer is trust. Your horse will guide you (plus whoever is holding the lunge rope). Don’t let your body tense in anticipation and soon you will be flying. If you can move and adapt like this then you are sure to keep your seat in any circumstance.
See the Results
Once you’ve taken the time to practice all these techniques, you should see a real difference in your seat. Why not ask a friend to watch you and see if they can tell? Practice makes perfect, just remember it should be fun as well!