All Blog Posts Tagged 'proper riding form' (13)

I knew I needed a lesson...

My darling Maggie has been in some intense training of late, with me riding on weekends and her getting training during the week. She's progressed to long lining and it's going quite well. So, then it's up to me to keep everything moving forward, but I hadn't had a lesson in weeks. Now that doesn't seem like a long time, but really, we're trying to move forward and I don't want to be hindering progress.

So, last night, I rode and had a lesson. I KNEW IT, I was NOT riding quite…

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Added by MagsNMe on October 28, 2010 at 5:43pm — No Comments

Tummy Out! Find Your Strong and Supple Core and Release Tension

“Tummy out, tummy out,” I heard in lesson after lesson when I rode in Germany at Etoile International Equestrian Academy under the direction of Stephan Kiesewetter, chief trainer. Tummy out? I’d never heard such a direction from a dressage instructor, yet when I did it, I felt my lower back fill out and hip joints relax, the mobility of my lumbar spine increased while my upper torso stabilized, and I sat deeper. I found it easier to follow each big, bouncy stride—in fact, my horse gave bigger,… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on January 20, 2010 at 4:30pm — 7 Comments

Ride in Harmony: Half-Halt--Biomechanics of Your Seat, Legs, and Hand

For many riders the half-halt is elusive even though they understand that if done correctly it will rebalance the horse, increasing engagement of his hind end and readying him for the next move. Your seat during the half-halt must be ready to receive the engagement of the hindquarters and increase of energy created by your legs, otherwise you'll lose your balance and be tempted to hold onto the reins or grab with your legs because the change in balance and energy has left you behind the motion… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on January 4, 2010 at 12:43pm — 5 Comments

Ride Fit 1-2-3: Self-carriage & Centered Riding

Since my last blog entry, I decided to follow up the Centered Riding clinic that inspired that blog, with some lessons in the process of becoming a Centered Riding instructor.

It's an interesting journey. If you've never read Sally Swift's book, Centered Riding, I highly recommend that you do: there are great illustrations and visuals in there which can really help you with awareness and posture while you are riding.

The Equifitt work I do most of the time is about building… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on November 25, 2009 at 1:30pm — 5 Comments

Fit to Ride 1-2-3: Centered Riding, Balimo and Awareness

Hi, As you know, you can post questions to the Ride Fit blog, along with photos (if you have them and want to) and take advantage of the blog as a free online 'clinic' to help you with specific suggestions for getting more alignment between your riding, and your fitness activities.

Just as with other sports, there is no single workout you can pull out of a box that will make you a better rider. There are some principles: good posture, for example, is essential to good riding whatever… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on November 5, 2009 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

Enjoy the Ride: Confidence at the Faster Gaits

I get questions about going faster without bouncing--trotting, cantering, loping, galloping--and realize that novice riders are often intimidated by faster gaits, not realizing that riding the trot or canter on a calm, well-trained horse is fun and relaxing, even exhilarating.

Part of learning to ride comes from spending time in the saddle but plenty of riders spend hours in the saddle without really learning the one simple thing that will make it enjoyable to ride: moving with the… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on October 1, 2009 at 4:56pm — No Comments

Ride Fit 1-2-3: More on Soft Hands and the Connection with Shoulder Strength

Comments and questions recently posted to my last blog were really excellent. I've copied them here, with some answers. Remember- you can post questions, comments and even photos for analysis to the latest Ride Fit blog. I try and respond in the next blog posting.

QUESTIONS FROM BARNMICE MEMBER, 'SIT_THE_TROT':

OK, I totally agree with this:

"we do look for alignment from the elbow through the forearm to the bit, regardless of discipline. A rider should also have softness… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on October 1, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Can't get your heels down when you ride?

I have been asked a lot recently about why riders have such a hard time keeping their heels down. A heel that is not "down" may not have anything to do with the heel its self, but rather the knee and the calf muscle.

Many times the heel is not down because the calf needs to be stretched. A soft calf allows for the heel to drop below the toe when the foot is resting on the stirrup bar. When the heel is "down" in a rider, it drops just below the stirrup bar. The more important thing,… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on August 25, 2009 at 6:54pm — 2 Comments

Ride Fit 1-2-3 More Stretches: Get better shoulders

Hi,

Since the questions and comments to last weeks' lengthy blog on stretching were related to how to get better shoulder mobility, I've uploaded a new video showing some pre and post ride stretches for chest and shoulders.

http://www.barnmice.com/video/chest-stretches-for-riders-aug

You can post comments, questions and even photos to this Ride Fit blog anytime. The… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on August 12, 2009 at 8:58am — No Comments

Ride in the Middle of Your Horse: Developing Lateral Balance

Ride in the Middle of Your Horse: Developing Lateral Balance

By Michele Morseth, MA, GCFP

See more articles at http://SitTheTrot.com

From Pacific Northwest Endurance Riders Newsletter Spring 2009

“Ask The Experts” column:

Q: When I ride, I notice I am very asymmetrical with the way I distribute my weight, which effects my horse's balance. I've tried yoga and strengthening with some success to fix the problem, but I… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on July 31, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Ride Fit 1-2-3: Rider Analysis- Head Forward Problem

Hi, There were some great comments to last weeks' blog on soft hands and the training scale for rider fitness. One rider submitted some detailed information and photos with her question, so we will do an online clinic this week. My mandate with the Barnmice online 'clinic' is to provide three recommendations for off-horse exercises. It's actually hard for me to limit to three, and I often write in a few more bonus suggestions. A few exercises doesn't make a suddenly fitter, better rider.… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on June 16, 2009 at 5:00pm — 3 Comments

Ride Fit 1-2-3: More on soft hands and the 'training scale' for rider fitness

Hi,

I just had the privilege of auditing a clinic with Jane Savoie this weekend. Now I'm in a kind of overfed state of sleepy shock...a little like you feel after Thanksgiving dinner because last weekend I also worked at a clinic in Nova Scotia as co-clinician with Lisa Wilcox. I don't know if my poor brain can handle any more rich input for a few days at least!

From a fitness point of view, last weeks' blog entry on light hands and proper use of the back really came back to me… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on June 7, 2009 at 11:30pm — 9 Comments

Ride Fit 1-2-3: Fitness for Riders- Getting Better Arm Position and Softer Hands

Hi,

This week's topic comes from a rider (Erika) who posted the following question:

Though recently I've done very much to my core and leg positions, my arms have been neglected! Though I do not try, I know I keep my arms tense and not as relaxed as the rest of my body.

So my question(s) are, where exactly should I keep my hands (I show Training/First Level), and how should it feel? How can I relax my arms, and keep the contact that I need?

I have posted her picture in… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on June 3, 2009 at 9:30am — 3 Comments