Sitsskola Del 1
Do you find it challenging to sit correctly in the saddle? Remembering the small details or knowing how to improve your seat? Then ZacZess's seat school is for you! Join the four-part school here via email to enhance your seat.
In this introductory segment, we will discuss the seat and why it's crucial.
Why is the seat important?
The rider's seat significantly influences the horse's performance and balance. If a rider sits crookedly, the horse must compensate by balancing the rider. Over time, this can lead to issues with the horse's muscles and skeleton.
The goal of the seat is for the rider to communicate with the horse without negatively impacting or disturbing its natural movements. This requires a balanced and relaxed seat.
Groundwork can yield excellent results. It can improve mobility, suppleness, and posture. Balance training can also be beneficial, helping the rider sit deeper and more stable in the saddle, maintaining equilibrium and balance in all gaits.
Tips for improving your seat
-
Review your seat and assess your weaknesses and strengths. Have someone else film so you can review it later in peace.
-
Strengthen and train your balance and body with strength training and exercises off the horse.
-
Practice your balance by riding bareback. If you are led by someone, or if someone else is longing the horse you are riding, you can train without holding the reins and further work on your balance.
-
Practice relaxing. Breathe and relax.
And as with everything else, the key to progress is training. Change doesn't happen overnight, so you need to give it time and practice!
Once you reach a point where you are satisfied with your seat, continue to maintain your seat training.
Remember:
-
Straighten up to maintain a straight back.
-
Keep your thumb as the highest point on your hand.
-
Heel down (Foot should be parallel to the ground, or the heel slightly lower).
-
Drawn-back/rolled shoulders at the same height.
-
Neutral head position, chin level with the ground.
-
Look forward.
-
Legs close to the horse's body.
-
Straight line from the angle of the forearm to the bit.
Where you should sit also depends on the type of seat you are in. The seat will not look the same if you are sitting in a vertical dressage seat or, for example, in a light seat between two jumps. Both seats are completely correct but look different and serve different purposes.
In addition, two different seats may look slightly different for different people, as aspects such as length, for example, can have an impact.
A common problem many have with their seat is easily ending up in a chair seat. A chair seat means that your leg ends up too far forward and you end up in a position not far from when you sit on a chair, hence the name. To address this, it can be helpful to check the saddle, as an ill-fitting saddle can exacerbate the problems. Stiff hips can also play a role. If you find that you are affected by this, stretching exercises for the hips can be helpful.
Riding Exercises
- Lunging without stirrups
- Riding bareback
- Riding without stirrups
- Riding lightly with varying times sitting/standing instead of just one of each as light riding otherwise implies. If you are in the backward position you will notice that you sink down in the saddle again and cannot hold yourself in a stable standing position in light riding. Try out different variations of light riding. Sit one - stand two, stand one - sit two, sit two - stand two.
We hope you have found the first part of the Riding School interesting. Keep an eye on your inbox for upcoming episodes!
Do you have any requests for what the next ZacZess school should be about? Feel free to send us an email at info@zaczess.com 🥰