More positional tips

When viewed from the side it should be possible to draw an imaginary straight line through your ear, shoulder, hip and heel. If your position is not in alignment then it will not be as secure or effective. A check for correct leg position is the position of the stirrup leather, which should be perpendicular to the ground. From a front or back view the rider should be sitting straight and upright and not have either “collapsed” hips or shoulders.
1. Maintaining a good position when the horse is stationary is easy enough but once the horse moves it is all too simple for something to go wrong.
2. A common fault is to tip forwards, which results in a rounding of the back so the seat cannot be used as effectively; and a drawing back of the leg, again reducing the rider’s ability to apply any aids in the correct place.
3. An insecure seat is by using the reins for balance whilst the position also collapses. Leaning back results in the lower legs being thrust forwards.

The position (Contd.)

Look where you are going; let your arms hang easily by your sides with a bend at each elbow and flexibility in both the shoulders and elbows so that you can follow easily the movement of the horse’s head and neck.
There should be a straight line from your elbow, through your wrist and hand to the reins and the horse’s mouth. Carry your hands about three inches above the horse’s withers with the thumbs uppermost as if you were reading a book. Make sure that the hands are level and the wrists slightly bent. It helps to create a more sympathetic hand if you think of your hands and arms as belonging to the horse.

The position

Let your legs hang naturally around the horse’s sides, lying as close as possible to the horse but without any tension. There will be a slight bend in your knees, toes pointing forwards and ankles at a slightly lower level than toes. The thighs need to be as flat as possible against the saddle so pull any spare muscle out and back.
Have your stirrup iron under the widest part of the foot, i.e., the ball, to give you more on which to balance. Think of your weight going down through your legs and then out, via supple ankles.Sit tall in the saddle but without forcing your upper body into an upright, stiff position. You must keep a soft upper body so that you can absorb your horse’s movement through your back and hips

The flatwork riding position

So what makes for a decent riding position on the flat? When a horse jumps, his centre of gravity alters and the rider’s position changes accordingly.
The basis of a good, effective position lies with a secure, independent seat. Think of the triangle made up by your two seat bones at the back and the fork of your thigh bones at the front. When sitting correctly your weight will be in the middle of this triangle. In turn, this will ensure that your pelvis is in the correct position with your hip joints open, allowing the legs the best chance of being in a good position.

The rider’s position

To help her horse, a rider must work on her own position. This is intended to help the horse as much as possible. For instance, riders are told to sit in the deepest part of the saddle as this places them over the horse’s natural center of gravity. Unfortunately for the horse, not all riders adopt a good position, so they make life much more awkward for their mounts.
Riders who perch on their “forks” instead of sitting in the saddle are putting more weight on the horse’s forehand. If a rider sits too far back in the saddle he will feel much heavier to the horse. In this case the rider will be behind the centre of gravity but his “extra” weight causes the horse to hollow its back; therefore, the hindquarters cannot come under the animal and thus the horse remains on the forehand.
If you do not take the trouble to develop a good riding position then your horse will be restricted both in his balance and also in his agility.

How the rider affects the horse's position

In order to carry a rider easily and move with maximum efficiency, a horse has to transfer some of the load, taking the strain of weight-bearing off the forehand and letting the hindquarters carry more weight. This can be achieved by the horse bringing his hocks further under the body, each of the horse’s steps coming under the body as the hindquarters are engaged and providing propulsive power. The horse’s back rounds, coming up to carry the weight of the rider.
The horse’s natural center of gravity is just behind the withers, roughly under the areas of the rider’s knew and thigh. With the addition of a rider this centre of gravity moves forward slightly, placing more weight on the forehand, but by carrying more weight on the quarters the centre of gravity resumes its natural position and enables the horse to carry a rider while remaining agile and athletic.
As visits to local shows will demonstrate, not every horse moves as efficiently or carries a rider with as much ease as he might. Although not every animal has the potential to be a top dressage contender, each one can be improved and part of the challenge in riding lies in this search for improvement.

Effective riding

If you watch a horse loose in a field you will see how easily he can twist and turn at all speeds, how quickly he can stop and how simple it is for him to accelerate from a standing start. However, this natural balance, agility and mobility are affected by the addition of a rider.
The effect of a rider is to place more weight on the horse’s forehand. Take a look at any gathering of horses and riders and you will see horses moving around as if they are pulling themselves along from the front, rather than the driving force for their movement coming from their hindquarters. The outline or shape of such horses is long and low with their hocks trailing behind them.
Compare this image with that of the top dressage horses. Their shape or outline looks rounder, as if the horse can burst forwards effortlessly with energy into extravagant paces.

Horses can get jealous too!!

Perhaps it is the numerous challenges offered by riding that make it such a satisfying and enjoyable sport. Horse riding tests your physical and mental abilities, your courage, your persistence and your common sense. In return it offers tremendous rewards, not the least of which is the sheer pleasure of being at one with a living creature. It is important to be aware of the horse’s nature at all times. Catching one horse with the aid of feed will only result in jealous and aggressive behavior from his companions, putting you and your horse at risk.