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Author
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Topic: upper body position SUCKS! :-( help!
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i_luv_Ozzy_my_horse
Member
Member # 2332
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posted May 09, 2004 03:33 PM
lately i guess i have been developing a rly yucky upper body position! when i sit my horse's canter, apparently according to my trainer, my body sort of goes like jello, because i try to sit the canter too much. I need to stiffen my back and not follow the motion so much? But thing is its really not comfortable when i straighten my back a lot and just bump stiffly on my poor horses back.. i was wondering if anyone had any tips on how i could correct this icky habbit! thanks!
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Claudia ;-)
****I'm one girl who'd rather whisper to horses than talk to boys****
****ride fast...take chances****
Posts: 75 | From: Montreal, Canada | Registered: Apr 2004
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Toby&Arie
Member
Member # 969
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posted May 09, 2004 03:57 PM
Try not to think of sitting up as "stiffening" your body. If you look at it like that you will tense up and be unable to flow with the horse's motion.
What you should do is raise and reach back with the top of your head and lower your chin. You want to elongate the back of your neck essentially. Doing this will keep your weight from coming forward and weakening your seat, keeping you straight, centered and powerful. Next you should drop and widen your shoulders, NOT bring them back however. This will make your chest stronger. To give yourself a deep seat, instead of opening your hip angle to an extreme degree, crunch your lower abdominal muscles and allow your hip angle to close just a little bit more than it has been doing.
It sounds like you are focusing in on where your butt is during the canter an awful lot which is probably what is causing you to stiffen up rather then sit up. Think about doing all of the steps listed above and forget about your behind for awhile. Just let your butt be moved by the horse while you get your other parts into the correct spot and I guarantee that you won't feel like you are hitting the horse's back hard.
Remember if you think stiff, your body will get tense. Sit up, be strong and let your butt relax and just be moved solely by the horse. Using your lower belly muscles will keep your seat in the saddle if you feel like you are bouncing.
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"You know you are going really fast when you are galloping the same way as the wind is blowing, yet there is wind in your ears."
Posts: 381 | From: NYC | Registered: Nov 2003
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Toby&Arie
Member
Member # 969
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posted May 09, 2004 04:04 PM
In addition, when sitting a canter your butt is what should be moved by the horse's motion- not your whole body. Your upper body should be straight, steady, strong and as tall as you can make it. If you slouch and let your whole body sway with the horse's motion you will be hurting the horse's back. Arching your back and jamming your seat bones into the horse will also hurt their back. Sitting up straight is a happy medium. You want a straight, steady, tall upper body until you get down to your hip and bottom which should be moved by the horse.
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"You know you are going really fast when you are galloping the same way as the wind is blowing, yet there is wind in your ears."
Posts: 381 | From: NYC | Registered: Nov 2003
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i_luv_Ozzy_my_horse
Member
Member # 2332
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posted May 09, 2004 04:19 PM
wow! thats perfect! thank u so much i know exactly wat ur saying and i'll try it on tuesday when i go riding! thanks again!
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Claudia ;-)
****I'm one girl who'd rather whisper to horses than talk to boys****
****ride fast...take chances****
Posts: 75 | From: Montreal, Canada | Registered: Apr 2004
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QHlover
Member
Member # 226
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posted May 12, 2004 12:19 PM
Just remember: when your back is hollow so is the horse's.
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"Do what you have to do to get the job done. Be as gentle as possible but as firm as necessary." -Clinton Anderson
Posts: 260 | Registered: May 2003
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madvoice
Member
Member # 2435
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posted May 12, 2004 08:33 PM
My instructor used to tell me to imagine somone is holding my head and pulling it to the sky and someone else is pulling my heels to drag along the ground. Another one that helps is to "thrust the bust" and lift the shoulders without stiffening. It helps too, if you do a bit of lunge work without stirrups. It can do amazing things for your position.
Posts: 101 | From: Australia | Registered: May 2004
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babs
Member
Member # 1501
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posted May 13, 2004 03:00 AM
GReat advice Toby&Arie.
Sounds like your instructer is saying you are rocking in the sadddle in motion with the canter!
Do some work without stippups, relax and follow the advice T&A gave you.
Good luck!
Posts: 1242 | From: Belfast Northern Ireland | Registered: Jan 2004
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