What's a good seat really?

plainjanemw · 06-15-2008, 07:55 PM

I want to say thank you to everyone for recognizing that different disciplines may use different variations of the seat!!! Several of my friends ride English- they think because I've ridden western most of my life and taught myself, that I NOW need instruction on a 'proper' seat- one of my friends is very helpful; the rest, have the attitude of "My way is the right way". I learn best by asking questions to understand another person's perspective- and some of them expect me to do it their way "Just because". UGH! I've ridden cutting horses, trail horses, foxtrotters. They also seem to think that just because I'm riding a certain 'breed' of horse automatically makes the horse an 'English' horse- one of my friends actually said that "Yeah, but you're not use to riding this breed of horse (Arabians)"- how does this have anything to do with having just a good, all around balanced seat? It's not the BREED of horse re: the seat, its the discipline of riding! There are plenty of western Arabian horses out there...

Anyway, just wanted to say this is a good question and great observation, and it's nice to hear that real horse people recognize position will vary depending on the task at hand.

AtomicTop · 06-17-2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallpine

It's all in the hat, mate. If you have the right hat, then you can be a good rider

Seriously, if you look at old Charlie Russell paintings, you will see that the old cowboys practically stood astride their horses (legs back and down). And I don't think CMR painted his riders to look like fancy equestrians. He painted what he saw.

lol that's what I've been thinking for a long time now (secretly)!

denraydar · 06-17-2008, 09:08 AM

People please:
A "good seat" is when you stay in the saddle. A "bad seat" is when you fall to the ground. Some folks enjoy critisizing their fellow trailride mates about posture, foot placement, hand placement ect. Heck I never had riding lessons, kinda combine english and western, gear and methods. But I can stay on the horse and get them to do what I want fairly easy. I don't get a backache after a long ride and I really have a blast. My horse has a great time not worrying about my posture or hers for that matter. That is what is most important. If you spend all your mental efforts concentrating on positioning your body parts while in the saddle you probably will miss all the beautiful nature sights along the trail and fall on your butt if your horse suddenly spooks.You won't have good posture on the way down. Leave the perfect posture for impressing your riding instructor and the judge in the showring. Stop making people uncomfortable by downgrading their riding posture. Fun and safety are what is important. Snotty critics are never appreciated and should not be invited on trail rides.

IIIBarsV · 06-17-2008, 09:46 AM

Some of the best english equitation riders with the most perfect posture are the ones who go for somersaults the most often.

dotgotcalm · 06-18-2008, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IIIBarsV

Some of the best english equitation riders with the most perfect posture are the ones who go for somersaults the most often.

Funny about that isn't it? After years of careful observation I've decided that the cause of this phenomena is that the stick up their %^&&@ is of the "pogo" variety.

Chester · 06-18-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutter123

One thing about those aussie stockmen...
they come over to the USA and become cutting horse trainers and put all the Texans out of business because they start winning everything in sight.

Sorry, just had to see that in big bold print.

gluey33 · 06-18-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dotgotcalm

Funny about that isn't it? After years of careful observation I've decided that the cause of this phenomena is that the stick up their %^&&@ is of the "pogo" variety.

hehe

endurgirl · 06-19-2008, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chester

Sorry, just had to see that in big bold print.

Not funny!!! It's because of the great AMERICAN BRED horses we have over here, LOL!!!

Have you ever heard of Roger Wagner or Clint Allen? They are the 2 main Aussies I can think of right now.

Chester · 06-19-2008, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by endurgirl

Not funny!!! It's because of the great AMERICAN BRED horses we have over here, LOL!!!

Have you ever heard of Roger Wagner or Clint Allen? They are the 2 main Aussies I can think of right now.

Do you mean Clinton Anderson?

endurgirl · 06-19-2008, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chester

Do you mean Clinton Anderson?

Nope, Clint Allen.

06-17-2008, 09:46 AM	#24
IIIBarsV Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,391 Images: 27	Some of the best english equitation riders with the most perfect posture are the ones who go for somersaults the most often. __________________ Three Bars The Fifth Wish I'd Get Lucky Chipped In Stone Zip Code Bay B Suns Eternal Flame How can you ride in order to make your horse's job easier for them?

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06-15-2008, 07:55 PM	#21
plainjanemw Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 425 Images: 8	I want to say thank you to everyone for recognizing that different disciplines may use different variations of the seat!!! Several of my friends ride English- they think because I've ridden western most of my life and taught myself, that I NOW need instruction on a 'proper' seat- one of my friends is very helpful; the rest, have the attitude of "My way is the right way". I learn best by asking questions to understand another person's perspective- and some of them expect me to do it their way "Just because". UGH! I've ridden cutting horses, trail horses, foxtrotters. They also seem to think that just because I'm riding a certain 'breed' of horse automatically makes the horse an 'English' horse- one of my friends actually said that "Yeah, but you're not use to riding this breed of horse (Arabians)"- how does this have anything to do with having just a good, all around balanced seat? It's not the BREED of horse re: the seat, its the discipline of riding! There are plenty of western Arabian horses out there... Anyway, just wanted to say this is a good question and great observation, and it's nice to hear that real horse people recognize position will vary depending on the task at hand.

06-17-2008, 09:08 AM	#23
denraydar Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: im a nut in a hut Posts: 995 Images: 6	People please: A "good seat" is when you stay in the saddle. A "bad seat" is when you fall to the ground. Some folks enjoy critisizing their fellow trailride mates about posture, foot placement, hand placement ect. Heck I never had riding lessons, kinda combine english and western, gear and methods. But I can stay on the horse and get them to do what I want fairly easy. I don't get a backache after a long ride and I really have a blast. My horse has a great time not worrying about my posture or hers for that matter. That is what is most important. If you spend all your mental efforts concentrating on positioning your body parts while in the saddle you probably will miss all the beautiful nature sights along the trail and fall on your butt if your horse suddenly spooks.You won't have good posture on the way down. Leave the perfect posture for impressing your riding instructor and the judge in the showring. Stop making people uncomfortable by downgrading their riding posture. Fun and safety are what is important. Snotty critics are never appreciated and should not be invited on trail rides.