Cinch Magazine- Your Online Equestrian Source

The Importance of Equitation
Cinch Magazine


Question:  

I have been taking riding lessons for some time now and at each lesson I am reminded about my posture- head up, heels down, thumbs up, shoulders back, etc. I have often asked myself as to why so much attention is paid to the rider’s seat, but have yet to find a reasonable response. 

Answer:

Where you look is where you’ll go. It does no good to look down at the ground rail you don’t want to hit, or the fence you want to clear. Of course, it’s pointless to look at mid-air between the horse’s ears.

It is helpful to find a dot in the track roughly forty feet ahead or chart the curve, therefore turning your head to the direction you plan to go. Your eyes take in your peripheral vision and prevent collision with other horses, riders, or obstacles you may encounter.

You should focus on stretching your body up (it is helpful to imagine standing rather than sitting on your horse), diminishing the curves in your spine. Leaning forward puts your weight over your horse’s forehand. A stiff back can’t follow the horse’s movements and absorb shock; therefore, it is important to stay straight and relaxed.

When riding with two hands, the rider should keep a straight line from elbow to hand and through the rein to the corner of the horse’s mouth. Riders who hold their hands either above or below this line sacrifice strength to help decrease the horse’s pace or sensitivity for asking him to collect.

It is beneficial to communicate that your horse has done well. When he responds to your cues, relax your reins slightly. Many riders neglect this enforcement and the next time around their horses aren’t as willing to oblige.

A rider who keeps his ear, shoulder, hip, and heel in a line perpendicular to the ground is balanced, and less likely to take a shove forward or backward, or, for that matter, tumble to the ground. It is not uncommon to see many riders with their legs too far forward so that if they glanced down, they would see their toes poking out from under them.

Stirrup length must be adjusted correctly to your discipline so that your knee and ankle joints can act as shock absorbers.

It may take some practice to push your weight down into your heel. Doing this will deepen and strengthen your legs, and prevent your feet from getting caught in the stirrups, should a fall take place.

Overall, riding and practicing correct riding position is a skill that requires time and effort. Learning these valuable lessons will enable you to ride effectively, and your mount more willing to oblige to your commands.

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