HELP.....me get my balance

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 07:16 AM

Ok, my balance is not what it should be when I am riding. I ride western and I also rely a little too much on the horn. Does any one know of any exercises that would help me with my balance? I was thinking maybe riding in an english saddle for a while and see if that helped? I ride bareback some in the arena (walk and trot) but I dont feel comfortable enough to go outside the arena bareback.

horsegent · 01-03-2006, 07:20 AM

to ride in an english saddle you have to have an independent seat but really to start properly you need to concentrate on getting your seat well under you, keeping your weight into your heels which should be dropped lower than your toes.

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 07:25 AM

Yeah, my heels are lower than my toes. I ride with the correct posture but for instance we were out on the trails this weekend and Della spooked and kind of took of to the right and i lost my blance. I didint come off of her or anything but i felt myself go sideways and I am thinking i should have been able to stay straight in the side when she did that.

Make sense?

Shotgun93 · 01-03-2006, 07:51 AM

Balance exercises:

- Ride bareback
- Ride in an english saddle
While having someone lunge you:
- touch your hands to your feet - left hand to left foot, left hand to right foot, ect
- practice catching your stirrups
- touch your horses tail and forelock
- ride with your arms straight out
- stand up in the stirrups
- put you hands under your thighs and learn to balance without holding on the reins or the horn

I use these exercises for all of my students and it greatly helps their balance, especially the ones where someone is lunging the horse. Do all the exercises at the walk and trot.

horsegent · 01-03-2006, 07:53 AM

coming out the side door when the horse spooks is generally due to being tipped slightly forward and having legs a little too far back.

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 08:10 AM

thanks shotgun- thats what i was looking for. What is "catching your stirrups"? And is it better do to these exercises in an english or western saddle? Or should I do them in both?

horsegent · 01-03-2006, 08:18 AM

sitting upright and using your toe with a "flick and a kick" on the stirrup put your toe in position in the stirrup.

Also do round the worlds on the horse - but get a helper and do a rising trot with your arms above your head.

Best with an english saddle.

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 08:24 AM

Thanks Horsegent. Me and an English saddle. This could get interesting

. LOL

Lindsayanne · 01-03-2006, 08:29 AM

Do you take riding lessons? Lunge lessons are incredible for developing balance.

Try riding in an english, then when that gets a easy pull the stirrups off the english saddle and when that gets easy go bareback.

lvmypnt · 01-03-2006, 08:34 AM

No, i dont take any lessons. Just learning on my own and I dont generally have too many problems. However Della has spooked twice and the first time I came off of her, but I knew then that i didint have my toes up and heels down so I have really been working on that. The second time she spooked, I didint come off of her but I went sideways a little bit and I feel like i shouldnt have. Plus I am thinking maybe I should raise my stirrups a little?

01-03-2006, 07:16 AM	#1
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,653 Images: 67	HELP.....me get my balance Ok, my balance is not what it should be when I am riding. I ride western and I also rely a little too much on the horn. Does any one know of any exercises that would help me with my balance? I was thinking maybe riding in an english saddle for a while and see if that helped? I ride bareback some in the arena (walk and trot) but I dont feel comfortable enough to go outside the arena bareback.

01-03-2006, 07:51 AM	#4
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,366 Images: 124	Balance exercises: - Ride bareback - Ride in an english saddle While having someone lunge you: - touch your hands to your feet - left hand to left foot, left hand to right foot, ect - practice catching your stirrups - touch your horses tail and forelock - ride with your arms straight out - stand up in the stirrups - put you hands under your thighs and learn to balance without holding on the reins or the horn I use these exercises for all of my students and it greatly helps their balance, especially the ones where someone is lunging the horse. Do all the exercises at the walk and trot. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

01-03-2006, 08:24 AM	#8
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,653 Images: 67	Thanks Horsegent. Me and an English saddle. This could get interesting. LOL

01-03-2006, 08:29 AM	#9
Lindsayanne Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 9,537 Images: 372	Do you take riding lessons? Lunge lessons are incredible for developing balance. Try riding in an english, then when that gets a easy pull the stirrups off the english saddle and when that gets easy go bareback. __________________ Bashkir Curly Poster Child NE Prime Time Regal - 2006 ABCR National Champion & 2008 Breyerfest Demo Horse HAVE YOU SEEN MY STOLEN PONY EXPRESS HORSE TRAILER?*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
bad balance, help!!!	BirdieGirl	Horse Chat	6	10-22-2005 03:59 PM
Balance	AutumnAttic	Horse Training	8	08-26-2005 01:02 PM
Balance in trailer?	HORSE03	Horse Training	16	05-16-2005 04:35 PM
Balance and stopping	sparkels55	Horse Training	4	02-13-2005 06:27 AM
Balance and stopping	sparkels55	Horse Chat	0	02-12-2005 04:35 AM

01-03-2006, 07:20 AM	#2
horsegent Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 696	to ride in an english saddle you have to have an independent seat but really to start properly you need to concentrate on getting your seat well under you, keeping your weight into your heels which should be dropped lower than your toes.

01-03-2006, 07:25 AM	#3
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,653 Images: 67	Yeah, my heels are lower than my toes. I ride with the correct posture but for instance we were out on the trails this weekend and Della spooked and kind of took of to the right and i lost my blance. I didint come off of her or anything but i felt myself go sideways and I am thinking i should have been able to stay straight in the side when she did that. Make sense?

01-03-2006, 07:53 AM	#5
horsegent Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 696	coming out the side door when the horse spooks is generally due to being tipped slightly forward and having legs a little too far back.

01-03-2006, 08:10 AM	#6
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,653 Images: 67	thanks shotgun- thats what i was looking for. What is "catching your stirrups"? And is it better do to these exercises in an english or western saddle? Or should I do them in both?

01-03-2006, 08:18 AM	#7
horsegent Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 696	sitting upright and using your toe with a "flick and a kick" on the stirrup put your toe in position in the stirrup. Also do round the worlds on the horse - but get a helper and do a rising trot with your arms above your head. Best with an english saddle.

01-03-2006, 08:34 AM	#10
lvmypnt Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,653 Images: 67	No, i dont take any lessons. Just learning on my own and I dont generally have too many problems. However Della has spooked twice and the first time I came off of her, but I knew then that i didint have my toes up and heels down so I have really been working on that. The second time she spooked, I didint come off of her but I went sideways a little bit and I feel like i shouldnt have. Plus I am thinking maybe I should raise my stirrups a little?