Last updated: 21st May 2026
Top Five Rider Position Faults and How to Fix Them
Your rider position has a direct impact on how your horse moves, balances, and responds to your aids. In many cases, the training challenges you experience, from tension and crookedness to difficulty with transitions, can be traced back to your alignment, balance, and stability in the saddle.
In this video, I’m breaking down five of the most common rider position faults and, most importantly, how to fix them so you can ride with more confidence and help your horse perform at their best.
Why Rider Position Matters
Your horse is your mirror. If your position is crooked, tense, or unbalanced, your horse will often reflect that back through resistance, loss of rhythm, tension, or difficulty bending correctly.
A correct rider position helps you sit deeper, follow the motion, give clearer aids, and maintain a softer, steadier connection. When your body is aligned and balanced, your horse has a much better chance of staying straight, supple, and relaxed.
1. Gripping with Your Legs in the Canter
One of the biggest rider position faults I see, especially in the canter, is gripping with the legs and bringing the heels up. When you grip, it tightens your seat and makes it harder to sit deeply and follow the motion of the canter.
Many riders think gripping will help them stay on, but it actually creates more tension and often causes more bouncing. Instead, focus on keeping your legs long, your heels down, and your seat connected to the saddle. This will help you stay with your horse’s movement rather than bracing against it.
2. Bracing in Your Arms
Another common rider position issue is bracing through the arms. If your elbows are stiff or locked, it disrupts the connection with your horse and makes it harder to maintain a steady, soft contact.
A braced arm prevents you from following the natural motion of the gait. This can cause your horse to resist, lose rhythm, or become tense in the neck and back. To fix this, keep your elbows supple and allow your arms to move with your horse while still maintaining a consistent connection.
3. Looking Down
It is very easy to fall into the habit of looking down at your horse’s head, neck, or shoulders. However, looking down changes your balance, strains your neck, and can throw off your entire rider position.
When your eyes drop, your upper body often tips forward and your seat becomes less effective. Keep your eyes up and looking ahead so your spine can stay neutral and your body can follow the motion correctly. Where your eyes go, your body tends to follow.
4. Sitting Crooked
Many riders sit crooked without realizing it. One of the most common things I see is riders sitting off to the left while collapsing through the right side of their body. Even a small imbalance in your position can affect your horse’s straightness and ability to bend evenly.
Awareness is the first step. Film yourself riding, use mirrors if you have them, and pay attention to whether both seat bones feel even in the saddle. Strengthening both sides of your body equally can also help you improve your alignment and become more balanced in the saddle.
5. Not Training Out of the Saddle
Rider position does not only improve while you are riding. Many position issues need to be addressed off the horse as well. Your strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness all influence how well you can sit, balance, and follow the motion in the saddle.
Adding targeted fitness exercises for your core, hips, balance, and posture can make a big difference in your riding. Off-horse exercises that mimic your riding position are especially helpful because they build the strength and awareness you need once you are back in the saddle.
How to Improve Your Rider Position
If any of these rider position faults sound familiar, the first step is awareness. Once you know what needs to change, you can start making small corrections both in and out of the saddle.
Focus on keeping your legs long, your elbows soft, your eyes up, and your body centered. Over time, these small changes will help you create a more stable, effective, and balanced position that supports your horse instead of interfering with them.
For a deeper dive into rider position, be sure to RSVP for my Free Rider Position Training. In this free training, I’ll walk you through how to create better alignment, balance, and connection with your horse.
Happy Riding, Amelia
P.S. Don’t forget to RSVP for my free training on Rider Position! I’ve been working for WEEKS on this epic presentation and I don’t want you to miss out!
