Where are you looking when you ride?

Think about it just for a moment.  Are you looking up?  Ahead? Through your corners or down the trail?  Your horse's neck?

I often ask a student, "What are you looking at?" It surprises me when they are not able to answer. Or perhaps they realize they were looking at mane and just don't want to say.

A couple things are going on here, and none of them are in your favor.

To start with, the horse can actually FEEL where you are looking, or more accurately where your head is pointed.  So if you really tilt your head to check on that diagonal or lead, well, your horse knows it, he feels the weight shift of your head.  Ever try to stay balanced carrying something heavy that was not balanced?  It's hard.

Next we have the fact that since our body parts are all connected, when your head moves, your shoulders move, and then your hip slightly moves and then, TA DA....your seat bones!  This is why English riders like close contact saddles and pants that allow freedom of movement.

Try this:  Sit on the edge of a wooden chair. (it doesn't work if the surface is not hard).  Put your legs in a position as close to riding as you can, so make sure what you are sitting on isn't too low or too high.  If your legs are too far in front of you, you will not get the same effect.  Make sure you can feel your seat bones under you.  Wiggle around until you find them. On a wooden chair it might feel really hard to thin or small kids.  But then at least we know they found them!  Now sit up making sure your back is straight, still feeling your seat bones. Slowly turn your head to the left, and gently allow your left shoulder to move back with it.  You should be able to feel your seat bone shift slightly.  It is not a big movement but a very subtle one.  Turn your head the other direction and do the same thing.  Try this again, with your eyes closed.  Many times our sense of feel will increase when we take away visual distractions.

Staying in the chair in this position, try really arching your back and see what happens. Did your seat bones disappear?  Because now your crotch is where your seat bones should be and those seat bone have shot out behind you.  Go back to the original position and this time try sitting back more on your bum.  Did they disappear again?  Yep.  Now they are in front of where they should be.  

Now you know not only why the location of your head (and eyes) is important but how to fix your position so you are sitting correctly.

Happy Trails,

Team 20/20
www.2020horsemanship.com

new boarding website!
www.2020horsemanship.org