Does anyone have ideas to help me with my seat?

Hi to all Eurodressage members,
I have been riding for many years and have been unable to solve this puzzle. When I sit the trot, I move too much in my seat. If I hold my seat in place, I bounce a bit.
I have a 16.3 han gelding with a very large and bouncy stride and the problem is more obvious with him. I assume that I am absorbing too much of the movement in that area (I notice that some people absorb it in their necks and their heads nod, etc.) but I'm not sure how or where to redirect the absorption Perhaps I am absorbing it in my lower back and should move it more to my hip flexors? Or if I should continue to absorb it in my seat, but perhaps in a different way? I'm a bit unsure and look forward to hearing other ideas. Thanks!!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by lesley bruce on May 31, 2008 at 4:59am

Hi Barbara,

just joined this group, saw you post and had to reply.

The problem is caused in trying not to bounce.

Just two words ........... Bounce Down ................ don't TRY to do anything .... ALLOW your body to bounce heavily ... yes heavily ..... down into the saddle you will find your tension disappears you will absorb and become in perfect time with the movement no matter how big, and your head won't nod either.

Then there's the holes ......... imagine your body is a sieve with lots of holes and is full of water, whilst riding allow the holes to open letting the water flow out.

Say now you want to halt just close the holes you will be amazed. In this way just thinking what you want has the effect of closing just the right holes in your body to send an exact message to your horse.

closed holes = Tension .......... open holes = relaxation

In your head sigh "Open Your Holes"

This helps honest.

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on May 31, 2008 at 2:23pm

Hi Lesley, I think that idea of the holes is excellent! I must say it would really make me think about when I have too much tension in my thighs. I will also try to relax and think about bouncing down. I'll let you know how it goes.

Permalink Reply by Simon on May 31, 2008 at 1:28pm

I would need to know a bit more about what mean "I move my seat too much".

Do you mean that you seat bones lose contact with the saddle? If so you are tight in the hips and not absorbing the horses movement.

If you mean that your tummy looks like its moving too much then I would the pelvic angle is wrong and we need to address body alignment and core stability.

If your thighs move up and down then the hips are too stiff and you are gripping.

There are more possibilities but can you elaborate more on what you mean?

Simon

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on May 31, 2008 at 2:21pm

I would say that my tummy looks like it is moving too much. I am able to stop it, but then I would say that encounter the problem of my seat bones losing contact with the saddle. I don't think my thighs move up and down, although that could be a secondary problem. I suppose if I were to sum it up, it is that in order to follow the motion of the horse, my seat moves forward and back (through my waist area?). I think your idea of looking at the pelvic angle is probably key. I am experienced enough to make adjustments, but I don't know what to adjust to! If you look on my profile page, there is a profile shot of me, although I am doing a rising trot. Perhaps that would offer a good clue. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Simon on June 1, 2008 at 3:45am

Hi Barbara

The photo does not really help with regards to the sitting trot issue.

Without seeing you I believe that the pevlic angle is key. You have sub-consciously learned to absorb the movement through the mid section movement and not correctly through the hips. This is why when you stop the tummy movement you bounce more because your hips and small of back do not instantly realise they have to let go and flow.

My initial thought is that the pelvis is angled back too far at the top. I would think you need to push your tummy button more forwards and think about having more a longer front line. Possibly in the sitting trot you would look a little collasped down?

This is only a guesstimate without seeing you but have a play with pelvic angles and let me know how you get on.

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on June 1, 2008 at 4:48am

Yes! I definitely do look a bit collapsed down. That is exactly it! So today, I shall focus on having a longer front line and really focus on my hips and small of my back. Many thanks and I shall let you know how this goes!

Permalink Reply by lesley bruce on June 1, 2008 at 5:31am

Simon your analysis is brilliant it's great to have the insights.

Your understanding and explanations of the physicals involved has brought to my mind images of bareback Gypsys astride their flashy coloured cobs when pounding along at those spanking trots.

How they lean their pelvis right back, their tummies go up and down and they raise their upper body breaking in the the small of the back.

You probably have guessed I like to visualize things and thought it might help to share my image of what might be going on.

Looking forward to hearing how you get along Barbara.

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on June 1, 2008 at 4:21pm

Hi Lesley and Simon, so I'm here to say that I had quite an educational and successful Sunday ride!
I tried to incorporate a few of the ideas and I think was getting somewhere!
I trotted around trying a number of different pelvic angles and finally settled on one that did not look like I had a slight pelvic tilt (my normal home base), nor one that looked like I was sticking my butt out behind me! I then thought about doing nothing except bouncing DOWN, which was quite successful, although I couldn't sustain it. It seemed to help me not go forward and back with my seat in the trot, but absorb up and down more, although I still have a long way to go. That concept, along with the change in pelvic angle I think are the keys, although it will take time to find my new "spot". Also Lesley, I applied the concept of the holes to my forearms and lo and behold, I had a much softer contact. I thought I already had a soft contact, but that just showed me how much softer I could be!
Simon, because I was really focusing on angle, I did notice that when I do a downward transition, I am still doing that slight pelvic tilt and I couldn't seem to find a way to fix it for that moment. I'll have to keep trying different angles to figure out how to stay straight. Many thanks for your help!!!

Permalink Reply by Simon on June 2, 2008 at 4:26am

Using the pelvis in transitions in the next stage. Firstly, as you seem to have done well at, you need to find the upright or "neutral" pelvic angle and find how to follow with the hips and small of back, the tummy being stationary.

Then you can use the variations of the pelvic angle to aid. Briefly they are:
- load both seat bones by bringing top of pelvis back (tummy button in) for collection
- lighten both s/bones (tummy button forwards) for forwards
- load one seat bone to enage that hindleg.
- Come forwards onto the front part of the inside seat bone rocker for bend and lateral work
- bracing of the lower back combined with the loading of the seat bones for downward transitions.

Hope this helps,
Simon

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on June 2, 2008 at 10:04am

Thanks Simon, I will be up again tomorrow to try to incorporate the variations and will let you know how I do. Have a great day!

Permalink Reply by Mary-Joe Figueira on June 4, 2008 at 8:06pm

Hi Lesley

Get a bucking strap and clip to the front of your saddle. When you get on the horse grab the bucking strap with one hand and adjust your seat until you feel that you are sitting on your seat bones. Pretend that your seat bones have "seat feet" and try and sit on them. Try this at the walk and let your legs "hang loose and heavy". When you feel you are bouncing again. Grab a hold of the bucking strap and adjust your sit until you are sitting on your "seat feet'. Keep doing this until you get the feel of your "seat feet" heavy in the saddle. At the same time "grow tall" with your upper body.
Mary-Joe

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on June 4, 2008 at 8:28pm

Thanks Mary-Joe,
This is another great suggestion. I do think that good imagery is extremely helpful and I will definitely add "feet" seat bones!

As an update for Simon and Lesley, I have been having GREAT success with your suggestions and - no surprise- my horse is going great! I'll have to keep working on all this until it becomes second nature, but at least now I have had this bit of success to build upon.