Posture, Seat, Balance

29/03/2022

This is a great graphic

Become familiar with what exercises can help your horse.

We need to help them become the best athletes they can be

14/10/2021

Great advice from Norris Equestrian Services

How to be the best rider you can be: Back to basics

Most riders recognize that there is room for improvement and want to do better. Taking instruction on horseback and understanding horse psychology along with the theory behind applying different aids can help enormously.

But correct practice is of paramount importance, especially as we all have at least some bad habits that it will take time to eradicate.

Going back to the basics may seem silly, but in doing so, a rider can often discover very helpful new insights that may seem simple but that can make a huge difference to the horse’s performance.

In the next few articles/posts (Be sure to follow my page to not miss anything), we will take a look at various aspects of riding where improvements are often needed and can be achieved with determination – crucially, developing an independent seat.

Among other topics, we will discuss what is needed to achieve the correct upper and lower body positions, better balance in the saddle, more accurate leg aids, light hands along with the right rein aids, the appropriate distribution of weight and the use of the whip (only, of course, as a reinforcement).

It should be noted, however, that as you change the way you sit or use your leg and rein aids, your performance may actually initially seem to deteriorate as you re-educate your body and your horse reacts to the difference in your riding. While this may be frustrating, so long as you persevere, your horse will soon become accustomed to your new and much improved style of riding, while an independent seat will enable you to make much greater progress than would have been possible if you had carried on as before.

Not everyone will naturally sit in the perfect position and even if you think you are well balanced and sitting straight, this may not be the case. When you have established whether you are sitting straight or crookedly or whether you favour one side over the other, your instructor can advise you on how best to correct your position and regular practice will help you to address individual issues.

Once you have perfected your seat in halt (upper and lower body, legs and hands), you can practise maintaining it in walk, sitting trot and canter. Any improvements in your ability to move in perfect rhythm with your horse will be much appreciated – no more bouncing around on its back and/or jabbing it in the mouth.

The next article will cover; How to improve your upper body position!

Image source: NancyNicholson

19/12/2020

This looks like a fabulous exercise! will have to try this with some of the pony club kids at the next rally :)

Our exercise suggestion for today - Does your horse tend to rush and become strong rather than being attentive and staying soft & flexible? Then this is a good exercise for you :-)

The black line is done in trot, the green one in canter. Try to ride as much as you can with your seat whilst hands giving aids as soft as possible.

13/06/2019

This link here has Kevin McNab first up! Luhmuhlen 2019

13/06/2019

I found a link to the FREE livestream of Luhmuhlen so you dont have to sign up to Horse and Country TV. I refuse to sign up with them as I had such terrible service from them, was unable to use my account for over 12 months, while they continued to take money out of my bank account without my permission and did not respond to my repeated requests to stop taking it as I was unable to watch anything due to their useless service. I ended up commenting publicly on every post they put on their page complaining, and threatened with legal action, till they finally refunded me. Even that took over 6 months of public complaining. So I am very happy to show you the FREE livestream, please SHARE and ENJOY!

05/06/2019

How cute is this!

When you think about the offspring of the legendary black dressage stallion Totilas, what sort of foal comes to mind? Something sleek and shiny, probably black — and almost certainly not spotty...

11/12/2018

22/11/2018

😂😂

02/11/2018

For those of you taking on No Stirrup November, here are five exercises to get started with!

It's November and we all know what that means. Drop those stirrups and get to work! Heels Down Magazine compiled five of our favorite no-stirrup riding exercises to get you started on your path to super...

31/10/2018

No stirrups November. Who is in?