Developing your seat

The importance of having a good seat (core) is vital if you want to be effective when you ride and achieve your personal goals.  It doesn’t matter whether you go out trail riding or are preparing to compete in a show, being safe and balanced are essential for fun and success with your equine partner. 

Every time you put your foot into the stirrup to go riding, you are teaching your horse something.  Ideally, one is teaching the horse to listen to the small subtle almost invisible aids that create the impression that the horse and rider are moving as one.  Conversely, one is training the horse to tune out their rider, becoming dull and unresponsive.  If you are working hard to keep your horse going at the speed you want or in the frame your want, something is wrong.

I remember attending a judge’s seminar and hearing the master judge say that when we saw a rider working on every stride to keep the horse going, we should not award a mark of more than four for the movement.  In dressage terms a four means the movement was ‘insufficient’.  At the time I wondered how the rider who rode accurately and kept their horse in a frame could be marked so low. I thought this unfair on the specific rider and wondered how to mark the inaccurate rider.  After discussion, I got it.  If the horse is not carrying itself then the movement is insufficient and the horse’s training is deteriorating.  Judging dressage is about finding the horse with the best self-carriage and rhythm on the day in that class.  Rewarding the rider who has made their horse stiff and unresponsive will not promote the sport or the rider’s understanding of dressage.

What affects your position?    

1. Your physical build – Each of us have a slightly different body shape and as such will look a little different when riding. The ideal position for any body is one that allows the rider to be balanced and secure enough to ride in harmony. 
2. Your riding fitness level – Riding is not a strength sport however; one does have to be able to maintain core strength and stability. 
3. Your horse’s conformation – The rider’s position will alter depending on each horse’s shape.   
4. Your horse’s schooling level – As the rider ought to stay in balance with his or her horse, their position will vary depending on the horse’s self-carriage.
5. The fit (for the rider) of the saddle - The saddle has to fit the rider’s seat, thigh and leg length. 
6. Types of riding – Different saddles are designed for different riding positions.

Exercises to increase suppleness and flexibility

1. While walking allow the hips to swing forwards as the horse moves the legs.  The horse’s way of moving at the walk is outside hind, outside fore, inside hind and then inside fore.  

2. In sitting trot allow each seat bone to lift up and move forwards in a slight circular motion as the horse jumps from one diagonal pair to the other. 

3. In rising trot allow the knee and heel to drop softly as you rise.

Common problems and their solutions:

1. Not square in the saddle – No-one is completely square when riding or even standing on the ground!  However, by being aware of any tendency to get crooked and using weight aids to prepare for any changes of direction the rider can become less crooked and subsequently help the horse maintain its balance.
2. Losing a stirrup – Usually the inside stirrup because the rider’s seat has slipped to the outside and forced them to grip with the inside knee or thigh. 
3. Losing both stirrups – Occurs when the rider grips with their knees or thighs.  Check the seat position and then if necessary shorten the stirrups one hole.
4. Losing contact with the lower leg - Many people feel that they ought to ride with a long stirrup, especially when doing ‘dressage’.     Shorten the stirrups to maintain the leg contact.  Remember that the horse should go from the leg into the hand. 
5. Muscle cramps – These happen when the rider is not relaxed or moving with their horse.   Stop doing the exercise and take some deep breathes.  Gently move the affected area to release the tension. 

The winter months are a great time to take stock of your riding position and formulate a plan to improve your riding position before next year.  Remember that having a good position will help you achieve your goals.  Your horse will also notice the difference in your position and improve.  Take a few moments and send me some photos for a free photo review. For further details e-mail me at jane@janearmour.com

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Comments from clients who have had photo reviews:

It really helped me understand why my horse was having problems balancing on the corners when Jane did my picture review. Jane Little-Bear

After Jane went over my photos I made some position changes and it was amazing how much my horse improved.  It wasn’t a schooling issue at all.  Lorna Nisbet 

Pictures taken courtesy of Shelly Moore