Comment

Comment by Christopher Koth on June 27, 2012 at 8:46pm

Great question Geoffrey.  I telephoned the stable and they say that it is one that is for the young rider. They offered that they most likely should look at the tack for my lessons and the saddle in particular, which leads me to this question.  Is the saddled fitted most for the rider, the horse or both?

Comment by Geoffrey Pannell on June 27, 2012 at 6:08pm

Can I ask what size saddle you are riding in Christopher. Cheers Geoffrey

Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 26, 2012 at 11:56am

You sound like you are moving right along Christopher, good work!  This all will pay off in the long run.

Kournakoff's book is great.  I finally found out about its existence some 40 years after I started riding, got it, and found 2 things that corrected some long standing problems in my riding.  My riding teacher rarely yells at me about my head and back any more, things that used to be a constant refrain every lesson.  Pretty good for a beginner's book written over 70 years ago!  Since I have read a few hundred books on riding I was IMPRESSED, and I hope this book will help you too.

Comment by Christopher Koth on June 26, 2012 at 10:15am

You all have raised an interesting point.  I suppose that my focus is more on the hunter/jumping side of riding, though I can spend hours and hours marvelling at the art of dressage.  Either way I managed to find one very good copy of "School for Riding" by Sergei Kournakoff, and am busy searching WorldCat for an interlibrary loan of Harris' "Workbooks from the Spanish Riding School".  I phoned my coach and listed off a few concerns, principally the saddle to which she replied that they have been fitted for young girls and may indeed need to look at something different for me. So, progress, progress . . . And my thighs tend to be on the shorter side which suggests looking again at stirrup length and placement. Loving the learning everyone - and the new breeches on order! Best, Chris

Comment by Christopher Hyams on June 25, 2012 at 10:40am

Ugh...I just saw a glaring error in my comment.  The thir sentence should read "Women typically have longer thighs- in proportion to their calves- than men."

Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 25, 2012 at 10:36am

What method of riding are you learning?  If it is dressage the article you mentioned is fine, but if you are going into jumping riding is DIFFERENT.

One old book (1938) that really helped my hunt seat was "School for Riding" by Sergei Kournakoff.  It was written so a riding father could give his son lessons on how to ride the then new Forward Seat.  This book is the most multi-media book possible for its time, with pictures on the corners of the pages that the reader can flip to get a movie "clip", a musical score for the gaits, lots of stick figure line drawings, lots and lots of photos of how to do it wrong, how to correct what is wrong, and how to do it right.  The writting is of Kournakoff giving his son lessons.  Kournakoff was a Russian cavalry officer, and they did not have any women in the cavalry so you should be able to use everything in this book if you ride hunt seat.

This book is usually available used, I got two copies through Amazon and both were sold for under $20.00 US. 

Comment by Christopher Koth on June 25, 2012 at 10:16am

Christopher, wise, wise advice, and I do so appreciate this. I am feeling more and more thankful that I chose to take advantage of this forum. I will look at the books you referred to.  Glad I mad the investment for breeches and chaps. Now, time to think about reducing weight down.  This is all very much evolving into a 'process' more than anything and I very much take the frequency of riding as another, serious step to finding position and balance.  Best to you all, Chris

Comment by Christopher Hyams on June 25, 2012 at 10:11am

Yes, the saddle is of great significance. It has to fit the horse and the rider. Women typically have men thighs than women. And although there are saddles made differently for men than women (wider and padded between the twist and peak of the pommel, and wider in the seat- for women) men ARE comfortable in a saddle made for a woman, and women are NOT comfortable in a saddle made for a man. A long flap is not a disadvantage unless it interferes with (gets caught in) the top of your boot. I prefer the flap below the top of the boot-at all three stirrup lengths. So the fact that saddles made for men are rarely available these days is NOT to men's disadvantage. 

Your attire is significant: Unless you are used to wearing a jock strap for other active exercise frequently, wear tight underwear. Briefs work for me.

And BREECHES, not jeans or other pants. Breeches that fit lay flat in the inseam and can stretch up-down and sideways. Are waisted below your nave, but well above your hips, and are generous in the gluteal area to accommodate the flexions of glutes and thighs. Women's breeches actually fit some men better than men's breeches, (who cares what hand you snap and zip with!) are more readily available and less expensive. But your physique may require men's breeches. So be it.

Breeches and paddock boots and gators (half-chaps) are a good investment. Field and dress boots proably need to be custom made, at much higher expense. This will prevent chaffing, although you may have to pay attention to your own leg hair follicles during the early stages, because your leg hairs are are going to rub off at the skin.

Ride THREE times a week. Human beings learn new motor skills best at that frequency.

Condition your own body on the days in-between. Do LOTS of stretching exercises of all your muscles, and use LIGHT weights for conditioning exercises. You don;t want bulky muscles to ride, long stringy muscles ae more effective. You especially do not want to be 'top-heavy.'

A particularly good exercise is to go up and down stairs with your hands stretched skyward, eyes somewhat upward. No impact aerobics are valuable. I do not, and never have jogged. I prefer to conserve my joints for riding. (now only play tennis on clay, and rarely.)

A riding instructor who can express position to you in anatomical terms is far more effective teaching adults. Many men are able to teach themselves to learn from horses. It is worth the time to find a mature man to mentor you through this learning process.

We can also learn by reading (good) books, and by watching videos. There is so much STUFF out there, that you NEED a mentor to help you filter out the marketing ploys in order to get to the gold.

I had only been riding for 50 years when I discovered Charles Harris' "Workbooks from the Spanish Riding School"...did not afford it, but borrowed it from Inter-Library Loan. I cannot tell you how much wisdom is contained there in. E.G: "A rider sits on a horse as a hen sits on an egg"...accomplanied by a pen and ink illustration.

Learning to "be one in motion with a horse" is one of life's most magnificent adventures...the preparations are multitudinous, riding itself is easy-riding well is the best revenge.

Comment by Christopher Koth on June 25, 2012 at 10:10am

Ah, I found this post interesting in terms of finding the seat. I wonder if sitting with pelivis a little too forward might be responsible, as well as just the time needed to find balance with proper positioning. . . . here's what one online coach has to say . . .http://www.successful-horse-training-and-care.com/secure-seat.html 

Comment by Christopher Koth on June 25, 2012 at 9:53am

Jackie and John, Thank you ever so much. I think that given that most of the riders are pre-teens I am definitely going to ask about the saddle. Also, I thin that finding my proper balance no doubt should help things.  That aside I'll see about extra riding gear that may help.  I do so very appreciate your candour with this, and I will report back.  It may be that I should have a saddle fitted for me too, but I'll inquire about that this week.  Again, I thank you both very much for your help. 

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