|
|
Post by jonib on Jun 23, 2006 4:30:41 GMT -1
My riding lessons are still going well,but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas/useful tips they can post on here. My main problem at the moment is that I tip slightly forward at rising trot...(my excuse is that I am too well endowed and the weight pulls me forward,but my instructor wont have it.....  ) I remember a thread on the old board where someone described their eureka moment,and was wondering if people would like to post any "discoveries" they have made that suddenly made things fall into place.Not only re my above problem,but re finding/improving seat,technique,rein contact etc.... Anything really,as "every little helps" to borrow a phrase....We are going for the dreaded hack next week...Daft I know but only feel safe hacking Betty and then for short rides,but this really will be a defining moment...If I can get out and enjoy an hours hack then the lessons will definately be paying off... Having read the previous thread re bad lessons/instructors I feel so lucky that I have found someone who has provided just what I need ...firm but with a sense of humour. One thing I have discovered is that after riding a very strong Highland last night I really appreciate Betty now...... ;D |
|
|
|
Post by akehurstannabel on Jun 23, 2006 5:52:01 GMT -1
this might be teaching your grandmother to suck eggs but.......are you rising too high as well? maybe you are putting a bit too much effort in to your rising and need to let the pony just shift you out of the saddle with each trot stride. in my experence doingthis means that you only just clear the saddle which saves energy, means you needn't change position and therefore stay more secure and has the added bonus of making sure you are always on the right diagonal. please don't be offended if you know all of this as i don't know what your circumstances are or how experienced you are!
|
|
|
|
Post by JoM on Jun 23, 2006 6:30:58 GMT -1
I am the same - its because I do rise too high!! Because the lazy cretin underneath doesnt particulary 'throw' himself into his work, you end up doing the work of 2! You should be able to feel yourself been 'pinged' out of the saddle as they push along - D drags his a*s instead!!
It is also to do with balance as well I think! My instructor a few weeks ago made me hike up my stirrups a few holes and ride around in xc position!! We have now decided that me staying on the horse is pure fluke and not skill!! ROFL That was an eye opener lesson for me.
I also try and ride with no saddle occasionally in the arena - just to put my bottom and legs back where they should be. That is also entertaining! LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by dalesponyrider on Jun 23, 2006 6:33:04 GMT -1
Jo, what happened when you shortened your stirrups and how did it help you?
|
|
|
|
Post by JoM on Jun 23, 2006 6:53:59 GMT -1
Well - it helped give everyone a stitch from laughing at me!!! ROFL No - in all seriousness, she was giving me a right grilling because I was working too hard as usual and Dancer was dragging his butt!! She told me that everytime he went slovenly I had to stand up in my stirrups and stop rising. Because they were quite long though I was overstretched I suppose for want of a better word and kept tipping forwards onto his neck and wibblling around like those wibble wobble toys!! After the fits of laughter had subsided and we decided I had the worst xc position she had ever seen in her life (but the most comical!) she told me to put up my stirrups! I think I went up 3 notches. Standing up then, I had the leg length spare to bend to 'squat' and stick my 'fat a*s' out as Lisa so elequently puts it. (after she asked if I had stretch jods on!!) Which put my balance back instead of forwards and as I was stood, lazyness underneath had to up the game and assert himself! Its a great way to bring them up off the forehand, and a bloomin good workout for the rider. Not to mension a good way to re-train your balance. If he is been sluggish, I do quite often now pull up my stirrups and just stand as we are going around. Have I actually answered your question Linda or have I rambled around the point?!!!  |
|
|
|
Post by alisonduke on Jun 23, 2006 6:55:58 GMT -1
I don't know if this will help but when rising, try rotating your hips forward instead of moving your whole body. Try and imagine you are trying to touch your pony's neck with your stomach/pelvis, then you stay upright but absord the movement.
|
|
|
|
Post by lancslass on Jun 23, 2006 7:24:47 GMT -1
riding without your stirrups is excellent for establishing a good seat and balance. also, check you are not rising from your knees and using those as a hinge. you need to be rising from the inside of your thigh, which will "make" you rise as alisonduke describes with your pelvis going forward rather than the whole of your upper body. when you rise from the knee you drive your knees into the sadle restricting the horses shoulder movement, which consequently will result in the horse not wanting to go forward freely at trot, making your job in the saddle even harder.
|
|
|
|
Post by flintfootfilly on Jun 23, 2006 7:40:05 GMT -1
Things that work for me, as a check on my position are:
- to stand up in my stirrups every couple of minutes or so to check whether I'm in balance. If I am, I should be able to stand up without having to lean forward or back. If I'm not, I need to alter the position of my legs so I can stand up (some saddles make it easier to assume a good balanced position).
- Think "full beam", which will also ensure that you look up and out at where you are going....... which will give you intent and focus, and help your pony know where you intend to go. If you look down at the pony's ears or at the reins (which is so easily done), then it'll tip you forward, and tip your pony forward (and onto their forehand) too.
- Do loads of transitions. The more you do, the more opportunities you'll have to work on using your core strength to maintain your balance, so even just a few strides walk, a few strides trot, a few strides walk. The more, the better.
Sarah
|
|
|
|
Post by dalesponyrider on Jun 23, 2006 7:57:28 GMT -1
Yes, you have answered Jo! Thanks! Due to lack of lessons I'm always looking for new things to try!
|
|
|
|
Post by jonib on Jun 23, 2006 8:07:34 GMT -1
Jo...We did that yesterday..the sticking bum out bit whilst leaning over horses neck.....it did feel strange..probably looked it too....lol
Apparently I was sitting better at trot ,both rising and sitting,when doing 10m circles,which is interesting as the pony I was riding had a very hard mouth and is very strong,so I was having to really work to get him round and keep him in trot,without him shooting off to join his mate at the other end of the school.Ican sit to trot easily on the horseI had for my first lessons,and on my pony Betty,but this lad was quite bouncy......I think I needed to lengthen his stride to get him going forward better,but when behind the other horse he was held up,and when on his own it was hard to keep him that way....lol
Thanks everyone..keep it coming
|
|
|
|
Post by jay on Jun 23, 2006 10:33:21 GMT -1
I too can be prone to tipping my upper body forward. I had my 1st ever 'proper' lesson about a month ago and her advice pretty much echo'd lancslass's....i was gripping too much with my knees. After what felt like FOREVER trotting with no stirrups (really it was probably only a few mins!) my whole position was much better. We also found I could drop my stirrups down a couple of holes. Now I can feel whenever I'm gripping too much with my knees because I find myself reaching for my stirrups, so it acts as a bit of a reminder for me!
|
|
|
|
Post by rachelg on Jun 23, 2006 21:57:45 GMT -1
without a doubt as much work without your stirrups as possible,to begin with if you like whilst just standing,no stirrups,think about your shoulders as being fixed and not able to move at all,then relax them a little and just rotate them a little back,and a little drop, (practice sat on the arm of the settee at home first!) then rock your pelvis back and forth,without moving your legs at all,then try all this at walk,just rocking back and forth in time with your ponies walk,and then try to aim to do it in trot!!!!you know always trying to picture the models that walk with their pelvis forwards and shoulders back!it all sounds a bit exagerated but it will help you balance and if you aim to be slightly tilted back you may just find yourself bang slap in the right position once you are rising...do as much as you can though without your stirrups its invaluable...i hope this has come across in a way you can understand!im sat here now rocking etc as im typing,i know what im on about!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by harleydales on Jun 27, 2006 9:58:38 GMT -1
Much worse, I am sitting at work rocking!!!!!!!!!Lol.
I got sent home from a lesson last week to do sitting trot with no stirrups and SLOW IT DOWN! Harley has a lovely long trot, but she said work on him slowing right down, and do stirrupless sitting for as long as I can. I did half a mile of sitting trot the other night, boy did I know about it! Worked though, and my legs were back in the right position.
Interesting about standing up to get them off their forehand - i stand up to check I'm level but never thought it would help Harley - I'll do it more now.
|
|
|
|
Post by alberta on Jun 29, 2006 20:09:08 GMT -1
(My main problem at the moment is that I tip slightly forward at rising trot...(my excuse is that I am too well endowed and the weight pulls me forward,but my instructor wont have it..... ) Hi There Joni Ha ha. Your instructor may have a point there. My problem is my endowment is at the other end. Something I have found extremely useful for the problem you are describing and any other balance difficulties, is to focus on centering myself. This is great to learn and practice firstly out of the saddle so as to give yourself a sense of what centering feels like and does for you. I'll try my best to explain it to you. Physically, Centering actively involves our core muscles, the pelvic and abdominals. However at the same time the body is in a state of looseness but with torq, if that makes any sense. Mentally, Centering brings us into a sense of stillness and calm focus, a sort of listening, an aspect of balance in itself. By utilizing both the physical and mental aspects of centering we become remarkably stable, our posture more at ease and in alignment. We also become much more aware of what we can feel from our horses and this works to create a much greater sense of connection between rider and horse. This can be really fun to experience with another person to help you. For example:- 1. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. Get your partnerstanding facing you to gently push one of your shoulders away from them. It likely will give way easily under the pressure. 2. Then Touch the center of your forehead (third eye area above bridge of nose) with a forefinger and focus on that spot. Focus also on the in and out breaths. Ask your partner to push again with the same pressure. Feel any difference. 3. Next place your finger on your heart area and focus on that area and the in and out breaths, again your partner pushing your shoulder gently away from them. Feel any difference. 4. Lastly place your finger on your solar plexis (SP), about an inch or so under your tummy button. Focus on this spot and the in and out breaths, breathing in slowly and filling your lungs into your abdominal area and out slowly and fully, once again your partner placing pressure on the same shoulder or even the other shoulder. How do you feel?What occurs? Check your abdominal and pelvic region, down through your legs , knees and your feet. It is a pretty lovely sensation. Enjoy it. When you feel that you can just bring centering yourself into being with just your focus and maybe a small reminder with your SP finger position, work with it in the saddle. Your pony will enjoy the connection you are creating and appreciate your improved placement of your weight. Your aids will become not only more clearly defined but also eventually more subtle. Pilates and the Core Exercise program with those big silver balls can work wonders to bring inner and outer strength to your body, mind and soul. Also the practice of any martial art will bring this info to you. I know my explanation is long winded but I wanted to explain it clearly. I look forward to any feed back and can contribute some more if people feel it beneficial. All the best Alberta |
|
|
|
Post by dalesponyrider on Jun 30, 2006 6:44:42 GMT -1
Something Claire did with me last weekend which seemed to help was to get me to trot without stirrups. Then to rise to the trot without stirrup. Then to imagine I had stirrups to put my legs in the normal riding position. Then to check my stirrups were actually adjusted to that length and gently take them back without moving my legs. My position at trot definitely improved according to Joe.
|
|
)
