This description of the Forward Seat for Slow Equitation is from Vladimir S. Littauer's "The Forward Seat" (1935) p.34-36, with additional comments from "Common Sense Horsemanship" (1951, 1974) by the same author p. 61.

I have gotten questions about the Forward Seat position. This is probably the best description of the American System of Forward Riding. In the next two weeks I will write about the position for fast equitation and the jumping position.

This is the "seated" position for the walk, trot and canter. The stirrup leathers are 2 to 3 holes longer than for fast equitation or jumping.


"THE POSITION FOR SLOW EQUITATION

1) The heels pulled down so it feels like all the weight going into the stirrups goes down into the heels, to harden the muscles of the legs, for better gripping.

2) The toes turned out, about thirty degrees, to make the calves face the horse's body, for better gripping.

3) The soles of the feet slightly turned outward, to increase the contact between the knees and the saddle.
(my addition--you do this by keeping your foot's weight on the inside of the stirrup, with the side of your foot pressing against the inside branch of the stirrup iron.)

4) The rider must have considerable weight in the stirrups, for better spring and grip. Stirrups must be held in the middle of the feet for better spring.

5) The lower legs held back, so that the toes and the knees are approximately on the same vertical line and so that the stirrup leathers hang vertically or slightly behind vertical. The legs are held back for four reasons: to grip, to spring, to help kep the weight of the rider forward, and to control the horse.

6) The knees kept forward and down, for a better initial position. They must adhere to the saddle.

7) The muscles of the thighs flat against the saddle for better adherence.

8) The buttocks just gently touching the saddle, the fleshy part of the buttocks should be forced rearward toward the cantle, but owing to the torso's forward inclination there is no weight in them, for a better forward position. (my addition--the rider does not sit on the rear part of the seat bones.)

9) The body of the rider slightly ahead of the vertical line, for a better forward position. Leaning forward must increase with the increase of speed.

10) The back slightly caved in, chest and shoulders open for better balance and also for a better forward position.

11) The hands must hold the reins ahead of the body, so that the elbows are slightly in advance of the hips--in order to have softer arms and more room to operate with them. The hands must be low, so that the line of action from the elbows to the horse's mouth is straight. The reins must be held in two hands. (Unless doing a form of riding which requires the feedom of the right arm, as, for instance, Polo.)

12) The head must be held erect and straight, the rider looking ahead between the horse's ears."

As you may have noticed, this seat has little resemblance to the dressage seat. The Forward Seat was developed by Captain Federico Caprilli in the first decade of the 20th century for cavalrymen riding cross-country on scouting patrols, which was the only logical use for cavalry after the development of the machine gun.

The challenge of course is to keep a proper effective position on a moving horse. This seat takes a certain amount of physical fitness. Due to my age and disabilities I can only keep it for a few minutes each ride, but as my muscles get stronger and fitter I will be able to keep it longer. In return I will end up with a VERY secure seat, and I will be able to ride most of what horses dish out, at least it was that way when I was young!

You can see a video clip of people riding the forward seat on anrc.org.

Have a great ride.