|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:26 pm
Yeah... so I have a lot of trouble keeping a good position in the saddle. whee
My Problems -
I keep my lower leg too far forward
I lean too far forward with my upper body
I don't sit far enough back on my seat
I have scoliosis (sp?) a curvature of the spine which makes my shoulders more forward and uneven
Can someone help me to solve these problems and help me get a better position in the saddle? I think part of the issue is me just plain forgetting to check my position...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:31 pm
The seat and leaning too far forward are just things you'll probably have to constantly correct yourself about -- BUT... I can think of one thing that might help, and should DEFINITELY help with you keeping your lower leg too far forward: lengthen your stirrups. It makes it much easier to move your leg back and get your feet beneath yourself; if your stirrups are too short, it's easy for your legs to get shoved forward accidentally. Longer stirrups also make for a deeper seat. Try practicing with longer stirrups and then switching back to your old stirrup length. 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:11 pm
horseluvrelisha The seat and leaning too far forward are just things you'll probably have to constantly correct yourself about -- BUT... I can think of one thing that might help, and should DEFINITELY help with you keeping your lower leg too far forward: lengthen your stirrups. It makes it much easier to move your leg back and get your feet beneath yourself; if your stirrups are too short, it's easy for your legs to get shoved forward accidentally. Longer stirrups also make for a deeper seat. Try practicing with longer stirrups and then switching back to your old stirrup length. 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:47 pm
Ok thanks for the help. I also have a problem with losing stirrups. I almost always lose 1 or both of my stirrups at the canter (unless it's a 2-point canter) and it gets quite annoying trying to post with one stirrup afterwards. XD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:47 pm
Cljuscblue Ok thanks for the help. I also have a problem with losing stirrups. I almost always lose 1 or both of my stirrups at the canter (unless it's a 2-point canter) and it gets quite annoying trying to post with one stirrup afterwards. XD This is probably partly because you aren't keeping your heels down. You need to put more weight in your stirrups, which will help keep your heels down, as well as keep you from losing a stirrup. And lengthening your stirrups will help with that, too. biggrin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:27 pm
Thanks for all your help! I need to constantly check my position, and lengthening my stirrups helped a lot!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:40 am
A little tip on lengthening your stirrups:
get someone to take your horse on the longe (uhm... not good with english horse-words, long rope) and practice sit-exercises without stirrups for about 15-30 minutes. Touch your toes, the front mane of your horse, its tail, touch your toes again, really sit in the deepest point of your saddle, etc. etc.
After a while, stop. Don't move your position in the saddle. Make sure your legs are in the right position (as long as possible, heels down, toes pointed to the front, a bit towards your horses nose, legs touching the horses side where-ever is possible). Now let the person who holds the horse find the right length of stirrups, so the stirrup has to be exactly next to the broadest part of your foot.
Now try to ride with that length. You might find that you lose your stirrup once every while. You can shorten it 1 hole up, if you really can't keep that position, but the position you achieved this way, should be what you have to aim for.
Little tip on making sure your legs touch the horse whenever possible:
Its really important to sit in the saddle as deep and solid as possible. Imagine you are glued to your saddle.
To improve that and keep your attention focussed on how you are sitting, place two beercards (or two other flat pieces of cardboard) between your saddle and your knees or ,to make it even more difficult, the part below your knees where your legs still touch the saddle.
Now keep up your training without losing the beercards!
Little tip on sitting as tall, straight as possible:
Ofcourse, when you have scoliosis, there is nothing you can do about the natural position of your body. You can try to maximise your sit though!
What helped me a great deal, (I was having a problem with sitting too much bent forward too) was my imagination.
My trainer told me to imagine I was the best amazone of the world (lol yes I know... it IS a bit arrogant =P).
Keep your head straight! (When you look down you automatically bend forward a bit.) Ever seen Anky van Grunsven ride dressage? You can top that! Imagine you are riding the dressage olympics and there are over 10000 people watching you!
This tip really helped me a lot. I am not an arrogant person, but thinking you are the best, can do a great deal about your selfesteem on a horse. And that is important!
Remember, sitting correctly on a horse is the first step in climbing up the dressage ladder. When your leg or sit position is wrong, you maybe now don't have problems yet (although you probably do), but you will definitely have problems when you practice changements in gallop, when you have to do contragallop, when you have to practice sideway riding, etc etc.
I really hope these tips can help you, even if only a bit. But the most important thing is practice. Practice, practice, and more practice!
Wish you the best of luck with it!
Greets,
Ciantah
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:11 am
what Cianthah said was good about the leg postiion, but there's a simpler and easier way to do it, one you can do on your own, without a lounge.
At any gait (except perhaps the canter) ride in vertical phar (or it may be vertical far, I'm not all too sure). But it's where you come out of your seat and stand in your stirrups, above the pommel of the saddle. It's like a post, but you stay there for a couple strides (or at the halt, a couple seconds). It's harder than it sounds. If your leg is in the right place, you can stay up forever. But if it's too far forward, then you'll fall back down.
If you can stay there for a little while without falling down, you sit back in the seat quietly, keeping your legs exactly where it was.
Another thing that might have to help is someone who you can ask to nag you. Yes, you ask them to nag at you. It's a constant reminder, and It helped alot with me. These people can be friends, instructors, and parents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:41 am
Also, your shoulders should be back, your back should be somewhat strait (Trust me, it's hard when you haven't rid in a while xD ), heels down, toes up and in, ears, elbows, hips and heels should be lined up nicely. Your elbows should be to your side, comfortably, and between your hip and side boob. (Silly I know, but it helps) I have a diagram, let me upload it for you.  Just so you know, I edited this picture just to move the leg back about a few centimeters. I couldn't edit the toe. D: But yes, this is more or less a relaxed, good posture you can try and practice on a rain barrel, or any thing round like a horse. Once you master this on the ground, give it a try on the horse. It should feel natural and nice. Remember, when you think your slouching in the saddle, bring your shoulders back as far as they get comfortable. Riding should not be about pain. Though, our coach makes us do 30 mins of pain trotting stirrupless. You should try trotting without stirrups, making sure your legs stay in form.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:36 pm
Cianthah Ofcourse, when you have scoliosis, there is nothing you can do about the natural position of your body. You can try to maximise your sit though! What helped me a great deal, (I was having a problem with sitting too much bent forward too) was my imagination. My trainer told me to imagine I was the best amazone of the world (lol yes I know... it IS a bit arrogant =P). Keep your head straight! (When you look down you automatically bend forward a bit.) Ever seen Anky van Grunsven ride dressage? You can top that! Imagine you are riding the dressage olympics and there are over 10000 people watching you! This tip really helped me a lot. I am not an arrogant person, but thinking you are the best, can do a great deal about your selfesteem on a horse. And that is important! Remember, sitting correctly on a horse is the first step in climbing up the dressage ladder. When your leg or sit position is wrong, you maybe now don't have problems yet (although you probably do), but you will definitely have problems when you practice changements in gallop, when you have to do contragallop, when you have to practice sideway riding, etc etc. I really hope these tips can help you, even if only a bit. But the most important thing is practice. Practice, practice, and more practice! Wish you the best of luck with it! Greets, Ciantah Lol thats what I do. Anky is my favourite dressage chick also. Bonfire rules lol. Acting like you're the best really helps. When I ride my friends horse I do that and she gives me this look. People say I'm a stuck up snob because the way I talk (like I know everything), but sitting like a champ, lol, really adds to the snobbishness. xD Sitting up like you are an empress helps posture. I have lower back problems and it helps.
Heres a way to help you from losing the stirrups. It helps your heels stay down so you'll be more comfortable doing it. When you wake up, sit on the floor. (Not a bed, you need a nice flat surface) Try and point your toes as far towards your head and hold that position as long as you can. Make sure your back is straight. What could also help is if you pretend you have your horses reins in your hands. Do that 20-30 minutes every morning and before you go to bed. wink Good luck, babe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:57 pm
Thanks again for all the help! I REALLY look down when I ride. Like, I constantly look down at the horses neck. I seriously need to work on that. XD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:38 pm
Claire Bear oO Thanks again for all the help! I REALLY look down when I ride. Like, I constantly look down at the horses neck. I seriously need to work on that. XD Here's something that will help. Imagine you are going for 1,000,000,000 dollars, it's right in front of you. You can't look down or else you'll lose it. When you walk, try as hard as you can to look forward, tilting your head up just a little. It will get you used to seeing things at a higher view. 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:05 pm
Thanks for the help again! I'll try to envision that when I ride tomorrow. biggrin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
