4H Equi-Spirit Horsemanship

------ Seat & Body Position ------

The single most important part of riding is a rider’s body position.  A proper riding position will enable your horse to perform to its maximum ability.  A poor riding position will hinder your horse’s performance and cause pain/injury to both the horse and the rider.  Horses are incredibly strong and agile, but a rider out of balance will force a horse to change its own balance to compensate for the rider.  This will cause a horse to move out of rhythm and balance with a crooked body.  A horse continually ridden this way will soon develop body soreness, inability to perform correctly and resentment.  In addition, a rider that rides with poor body position and unbalanced, will never feel secure in the saddle and will never be able to have complete control of their horse.

A proper riding position is the same no matter if you ride western or english.  You should be able to draw a straight line from your ear to your shoulder to your hip to your heel and it is very easy to develop a proper riding position.  It does however take time and commitment.  And like all things learned properly, you go back to the beginning to develop it.

Step 1: SAFETY 

Have someone hold your horse so that you can concentrate on your seat.

Step 2: MOUNT UP

Mount up and sit squarely, with your seatbones (not pockets) comfortably in the middle of the saddle seat and your legs hanging down on each side.  Make sure you are not leaning to one side or the other and are relaxed.

Step 3: PICK UP STIRRUPS

Lift up you feet and slide them into the stirrups.  Your feet should be resting lightly in the stirrups on the widest part of your foot.  Still sitting relaxed, your heels should angle down but not be pressed down.

Step 4: CHECK POSITION AND STIRRUP LENGTH

Once you have your feet securely in the stirrups, stand in the stirrups.  There should be about three fingers width of space between the saddle seat and your seat bones.  More than that and the stirrups are too long.  Less clearance and the stirrups are too short.  Once your stirrups are adjusted, balance in the stirrups while standing and then lightly sit straight down.  You should naturally be in the correct body position.  Have your helper, check for correct body alignment.  Now just sit there and allow your body to memorize this position.

Step 5: POSTURE

Sit tall and relaxed with your shoulders back.  Maintain a softness in your lower back and look straight ahead past your horse’s ears.

Step 6: PICK UP THE REINS

Pick up the reins and hold them so that there is a straight line from your elbow to the bit in a relaxed fist.  Adjust the rein length so that contact is made with the bit with only slight movement from your hands.  Return hands to the relaxed, neutral position.

Step 7: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Practice this each time you ride and you will create “muscle memory”.  Proper position will begin to feel natural and easy.  Once this becomes easy at a halt, move on to the walk.  Master it at the walk before moving on to the faster gaits.

Proper posture creates a balanced, effortless rider that is able to maintain effective contact and cues with their horse.  No longer will the rider feel the need to brace on the reins, pinch with their knees, or hold onto the saddle horn.  Proper position is crucial to becoming a success in the show pen or rodeo arena.

This is a copy of a handout for the club members,

Any comments, suggestions or critiques?