THE RIDERS POSITION
The riders position is the most important thing to get right as, if you are twisted, unbalanced or one-sided, how can your horse work correctly?
Whatever discipline you ride in, your aim must be to achieve a relaxed (this does not mean slouched), balanced, and equal position, moving fluidly with the horse without restriction.
I have now been riding for 50 years and usually about 4 times a week. I continually work on my position and still my right hand loves to have more contact, my hips twist a little so I sit slightly crooked, I frustratingly tip forward and my heels love to lift (it gets worse with age I’m afraid).
This may seem depressing as, if I have been working on it for 50 years and still not right, what is the point of trying, but if I did not attempt to correct these issues, the effect on my horses would be immense.
If my horse strikes off on the incorrect lead on the right, I know it is probably due to my twist, and when I correct this and ask for canter again, not surprisingly, we get the correct lead straight away.
How awful would it be if I blamed the horse for the incorrect strike off.
The top riders in all disciplines have coaches and teachers. Many now record these sessions so you can learn from them as well, and you will hear their trainers correcting these expert’s positions constantly.
One of my most respected trainers told me that the moment you felt you could not improve on your riding, you should give up. I completely believe this, and have found that as soon as you conquer one bit, a whole new world opens up.
How lucky are we to have found a passion that will continue to challenge and interest us for our lives?
THE BASIC POSITION
I will start on the seat, as if this is not in the correct place nothing else will be.
You should sit on the area between the seat bones and your pelvic bone with your tailbone tucked SLIGHTLY under.
Not on your pelvic bones causing hollowing of the back, as shown in the second picture.
Your thigh and knee should be relaxed and equal on both sides.
Your calf should lie on your horse’s side.
This is one of your main ways to communicate with your horse, so it must be relaxed but in contact.
Your heels should be down so the ligament running down the backs of your legs is stretched.
Your stirrups should be on the balls of your feet with equal pressure from the left to the right.
Your toes should be relaxed and not gripping in any way.
Working up from your seat.
Circle your shoulders until they drop down and back in a relaxed position.
Your diaphragm should be lifted and chest open.
There should be an equal gap on both sides from lowest rib bone to your hip bone.
There should be a straight line from your hand to your elbow to your horse’s mouth.
Your rein should come from your horse’s mouth and run in between your little finger and ring finger into your fist. It should leave on the top of your index finger. The feeling should be like holding a delicate bird in your hand.
The thumbs should be the highest point on your hands.
Your contact with your horse’s mouth should be soft and with a forward feel. You can see how Stevie’s hand is forward and allowing for Jeff, keeping the softest contact so that her hand can quietly whisper to Jeff.
You should be looking up in the direction you are going.
There are 3 main lines that you should always keep when working on the flat.
Shoulder, hip, heel. Easily tested by taking your reins in one hand and relaxing your arm down which should point at your heel.
The bit, the rider’s hand, elbow.
Straight down from head, tail bone, centre of the saddle, horse’s spine. Not shown well here as Jeff has a huge swing in his walk.
Final Thoughts
I cannot stress how important it is to work on your position so that you and your horse can have the best riding experience possible.
Could you imagine giving a piggyback to someone who sat leaning to the left all the time, or having a bit in your mouth that continually jabbed you?
Whatever you are doing, from gentle hack to 3 day eventing, a balanced, relaxed and equal position is paramount.