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Horseback Riding - Position
To help you to sit correctly when riding, think about the following position points, and the position lines A and B.
Position Points:
- Sit up straight and tall.
- Look ahead into the direction you are moving.
- Sit centrally in the saddle.
- Heel's pushed downwards.
- Stirrup iron on the ball of your foot.
- Toes pointing forwards, and higher than the heel.
- All of the inner leg wrapped around the horse.
- Hands held level above the wither of the horse.
- Wrists straight with the thumb uppermost.
- Upper arm relaxed with the elbows held into the side.
Position Lines A and B
This is where an imaginary line is dropped down through the riders position in two key places.
The aim of this is so that when the riders position falls in line with the A and B lines, then the position is correct.
Position Line A
This runs from the riders ear, through the shoulder, through the hip, and through to the heel.
Position Line B
This runs from the bit in the horses mouth, through the rein, through the wrist, through the upper arm, and through to the elbow.
Break Down of the Riders Position
Every part of the riders position has a part to play in helping the rider to sit and stay in balance, with themselves as well as the horse.
- Eyes - need to be looking ahead into the direction that you are moving.
- Head - needs to be mobile and able to turn into the direction you are moving.
- Shoulders - care must be taken not to round the shoulders, but to keep them relaxed and mobile. This way when the shoulders are closed, for example, when riding a half halt, the instruction will be understood by the horse.
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- Elbows - should be relaxed to allow the horses movement to flow through. The elbow should also hang loosely at the side of the riders upper body.
- Wrists - need to be straight and not curved inwards or outwards, with the thumb uppermost and on top of the rein.
- Fingers - need to be closed around the rein in order for a contact to be held, but mobile enough to allow the rider to squeeze and play with the rein to aid in turning and softening of the rein.
- Back - needs to be held tall, straight and relaxed to allow all of the horses movement to flow through the rider without jarring.
- Stomach - should be held in by tightening up your stomach muscles, this prevents you from folding over in the middle.
- Hips - need to be mobile and non restrictive to allow the horses movement to freely flow through the riders body.
- Seat Bones - the riders weight is channeled equally through both of the seat bones. When riding lateral exercises slightly more weight can be placed into the inside seat bone.
- Waist - needs to be able to turn through, in order to follow the horses movement, care must be taken not to tip in and collapse through the waist when riding a turn or lateral work.
- Thighs - the inner thighs need to be held in close contact with the horse, as this gives a secure upper leg.
- Knees - need to be flexible and have the inner aspect in close contact with the horse. Care must be taken not to grip up with the knee as this takes some of the leg security away.
- Calfs - need to have the inner aspect wrapped around the horse, and it is from the calf downwards that the lower leg nudges the horse forwards.
- Ankles - should be mobile and facing forwards.
- Heels - the riders weight needs to be pushed downwards into the heels, this helps the lower leg to wrap around the horse.
- Toes - should be pointing up and positioned to face forwards.
- Ball Of The Foot - the ball of each foot should be positioned onto the stirrup iron, to help to keep the foot in the correct position.
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