101 Ways to Improve Your Riding:
Seat Posture & Balance

INTRODUCTION

The only way to improve is to Follow the FEI Rules!

So Many Opinions - Who is right?

There are so many opinions on how the rider should sit. Should their hands be high...are they allowed to kick...do they get marked down if they ride on the wrong diagonal? Should they lean forward on a jump?

Why offer another "opinion"?

It has taken many hundreds of years of trial and error, learning & educating for the modern Official Federations to find very best ways to describe the kinds of paces that would get the military horse to have comfortable paces to travel great distances, and great impulsion and engage the enemy.

They had to be obedient to the lightest touch so they could 'tippy toe' through the forest and not get caught!

And they had to look beautiful at military parades on Sundays!

Why is it so important?

It's not "just dressage". You will get a more comfortable horse, a more submissive obedient horse. Have more harmonious rides, and great looking muscles.

The description on the right would work for most any sport, and best describes the position to keep the horse sound, and have great paces, submission & impulsion.

Winning Competitions

If you like to win your comps...

These are the rules the judges judge by, and the ribbons are awarded by! It doesn't matter what anyone says!

The description on this page over in the right column pretty much says it all, but have a look at the full
Full FEI Rules - click here

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The Rules:

Article 418
The position and aids of the rider

All the movements should be obtained with invisible aids and without apparent effort of the rider. The rider should be well balanced, elastic, sitting deep in the centre of the saddle and smoothly joining the rhythm of the horse with his loins and hips supple, thighs and legs steady and well stretched downwards. The heels should be the lowest point. The upper part of the body should be easy, free and erect on the vertical.

The hands should be carried steady, low and close togehter and close together, with the thumb as the highest point and independent from the seat. The elbows should be close to the body, enabling the rider to follow the movements of the horse smoothly and freely.

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101 Ways to Improve Your Riding: Seat Posture & Balance

INTRODUCTION

Why offer another "opinion"?

101 Ways to Improve Your Riding:
Seat Posture & Balance