AMA: I Want To Develop A Better Seat. Where Do I Begin?
“When I teach a clinic or work with new riders, one of the first things I do is ask them to show me their normal warm-up. In particular, I want to see how they use their body and aids during transitions between gaits, particularly the downward transitions. Are the they holding their body tall? Are they using their seat correctly, or are they pressing down too hard and stiffening instead?
Unfortunately, what I see most often are riders who just pull on the reins when they want the horse to slow down, and the horse either ignores the aid or becomes inverted in his back and neck. Only when a rider uses the correct aids, in the correct sequence, can she expect th horse to respond correctly as well. Ultimately, this requires demystifying the movement of the rider’s seat – and that requires understanding how the horse’s body affects the seat in each phase of the stride in each gait.
Back when you first learned how to ride, your instructor probably kept the aids really straightforward: the legs make the horse go and the hands make him stop. In the beginning, this is probably the easiest way to help riders develop control of the horse, but more advanced riders come to udnerstand that riding smooth and balanced transitions is much more complex. Downward transitions, in particular, require coordination of the aids and full use of the rider’s body.
Learning how to put all the pieces together requires dedicated practice and a clear understanding of how the movement of the horse influences the movement of the rider. Unfortunately, some riders never have the opportunity to learn these fundamentals, which can lead to frustration and frequent miscommunication between horse and rider.”
– Sally Batton
This is an excerpt from Sally Batton’s book, “The Athletic Equestrian: Over 40 Exercises For Good Hands, Power Legs and Superior Seat Awareness”, available at Trafalgar Square Books.
AMA:
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