Debbie Kay Sams has written for Practical Horseman, Equine Journal, and Instructor magazines. For many years she has organized and led drill-team riding for all ages at her stable and at her local 4H camp. Sams is a member of the Eastern New York Dressage and Combined Training Association.
Opposing Spirals on the Diagonal 1 Here’s how: Form two lines. Ride across the diagonal from F and H toward X. At X do a spiral/reverse. Continue back to the corner your line started at. Note: X is … Read More
Plugged in at Canter, Plugged in at Lope Seat Connection Problem: Leaning forward or backward Leaning forward or backward works against the horse and unplugs the seat bones. Leaning forward causes you to bounce. Leaning backward will cause you to be left behind … Read More
Plugged In at the Walk At the walk you will feel and move with the swinging motion of the horse. Some horses have a side-to-side sort of swing. Others swing the rider’s hips forward and back. And still others have a combination of forward, back, … Read More
Being Plugged In on a Turn The turning plug: When turning, the plugged-in seat bones will turn along with the hips and torso. This tells the horse that a turn is in order (Illus. 44). Imagine you have flashlights or eyes on your hips and … Read More
Getting Plugged In Problem Imagine that your seat bones are the prongs on an electrical plug. When the plug is falling out of the wall outlet, your appliance cannot do its job properly because it is lacking a consistent connection. The plug must … Read More
Not Using Shock Absorbers Problem The hip, knee, ankle, and lower back joints are stiff, not allowing absorption of the shock (Illus. 42A). Solution Know where the shock absorbers are and how to use them … Read More
Twisting Problem The pelvis is turning so that one seat bone is sitting farther ahead than the other. This also causes one shoulder to be placed farther forward than the other shoulder. It is possible for only the shoulders to be twisted, but … Read More
Collapsing Hip Usually, a rider is not aware that she is collapsing on one side, but this is a very common problem. Take time to evaluate whether you have even contact with both seat bones. If not, you are in danger of being unseated and … Read More
Looking Down Looking ahead will help you stick to your horse. Here’s how: Problem When you look down, your whole torso is thrown off balance. The head is very heavy, so its weight pulls your torso forward. To compensate, the spine curves, trying … Read More
Heels Up When your heels are up, you are in diving position. Unless you are in the lake, I do not recommend diving off your horse. It has been known to be hazardous to your health. Problem
Problem There is trouble brewing if you are leaning behind the motion. When you are behind the center of balance, you are more likely to get left behind and fall off backward if your horse makes a sudden move. Have someone watch you ride or … Read More
Gripping with knees When your horse spooks, your first reaction is to grip tight with your knees. After all, you want to stay on, right? Well, yes, staying on is the priority, but gripping with the knees is not the key to sticking … Read More
Problem Many people naturally toe out when they walk. Therefore, it is only natural for them to turn their toes out when riding (Illus. 24); it feels more comfortable that way. A little bit of toeing out is acceptable and even desired. There are several … Read More
Problem Tension in the leg muscles causes the knees and heels to creep up. You will notice this most often when you are learning something new (Illus. 21). Illus. 21 Problem: Knees and heels creeping … Read More
Problem The root of this problem is often that the rider has her hips tilted backward and chest collapsed. The shoulders just add to the fetal position (Illus. 19). When an adult female rider’s shoulders are rounded, you will notice that her bra strap often … Read More
Problem The rider collapses the chest by allowing the rib cage to sink toward the abdomen in a somewhat fetal position (Illus.17). This position is a natural defense position that is detrimental to riding because it will cause the rider to bounce and not be … Read More
Problem The root of the problem is that the rider is tipping her hips forward. This causes the back to arch and the seat bones to not be connected to the horse. It also causes the rider’s shoulders to lean forward, which can put the … Read More
Each week during this series I will present a rider problem that interferes with a deep seat and rider stick-to-it-itiveness. Stiff rider: Not breathing Illus. 7, 8 Problem When you notice that a rider is sitting very stiffly and … Read More
The deep seat can be defined as sitting in the center of the saddle with both seat bones firmly connected to the saddle. The pelvis moves with the motion of the horse. The seat is tucked deep into the saddle, and the back is flat, … Read More
A deep seat is essential for every rider to learn, whether she is headed for bronc riding, jumping, or dressage. The ability to stick to a horse is paramount when riding. Once a rider learns to ride in a deep seat, she will have the … Read More
