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Rider position is so important because your horse is your mirror, and the better your position, the better your horse will go! In July, I was lucky enough to go to a major horse show in Aachen, Germany, and this week with the Olympics, I am noticing that one thing all the top riders have in common is perfect rider position! In Aachen, every rider’s seat was perfectly in sync with their horse’s movement, their hands were together, in front of the withers, and their heels were down. And it makes sense- only a rider in the correct position can apply the aids correctly. If a rider isn’t balanced, their horse will be unbalanced! That is why this week’s video is all about sitting back in order to correctly use your seat.
But before I jump into the video, in honor of this inspiration from our amazing equestrian Olympic athletes, I have decided to open enrollment on my Rider Position Transformation Program. With over 30+ pre-recorded videos, 40+ page PDF, this course sets you up for success in the saddle.
I really wasn’t planning on opening up this program this year, but since this subject is so prevalent with this top riders, I wanted to give you the chance to join.
And now on to this week’s video:
One of the most common rider position faults I see is riders leaning forward and pulling on their horses. It’s human instinct to go into fetal position when we feel nervous, but when you lean forward, you are more likely to fall off, plus it just makes your horse more tense and nervous too! If you find yourself leaning forward, don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a super common thing I see a lot, and in this week’s video, I have a few tips to help you!
Pony Tail to Horse’s Tail – A great way to help you sit back is to think about your ponytail touching your horse’s tail. This will help you sit back, open your chest, and put more weight on your horse’s hind end.
Hips Forward – If you tend to lean forward in the canter, a great way to help you sit back and bring your shoulders back, is to think about your hips really coming forward to your hands.
Belly Button in Front of Nose – Another awesome analogy to help you find the correct alignment is to think about keeping your belly button in front of your nose. This is a great one to help you always think about keeping your head and shoulders back.
Transitions – Another time I see riders leaning forward is when they make downward transitions. A great way to solve this is to think about sitting back and engaging your core before you make the transition.
I hope these visuals help you sit back and find the proper alignment! Remember, just like seat belts keep us from leaning forward, sitting back and engaging your core is your seat belt when you ride!
