Now let's mess up this pretty picture!
Often, when you place your feet in the stirrups, the picture drastically changes. Your seat and your nice, long legs are compromised. However, the changes don't have to be drastic. You might find that you now need to drop your stirrups a hole or two to keep that long leg hanging beneath you. This may make you feel a little less secure in the saddle. Just practice the feeling of grounding. Allow your legs to lengthen, and drop some weight into your feet.
The images described earlier should help you. Over time, and with proper practice, this new position will begin to feel more natural. Embrace and enjoy it. It's really much easier to ride relaxed-and your horse will sure appreciate it.
Now before you ride off, work the following exercise to obtain self-carriage.
• Place your foot far enough into the stirrup so that the back of the stirrup sits just behind the ball of your foot. Again, think of pointing your knee down to help prevent pushing your foot forward.
• Allow your leg to hang and your foot to relax in the stirrup. Allow your foot to turn out at the same angle as your knee. Note that the natural angle of your foot when you walk isn't directly in front of you. (Try walking this way-it's most uncomfortable.) You must allow your foot to relax out a little to track beneath your knee.
• Check in with your seat bones. Make sure you have equal weight (contact) on each one. If not, try to siphon some weight from one to the other and adjust your seat to obtain a feeling of equal contact.
• Think "Ground, Center, and Grow" as you travel through your body with your breath. You should feel your body lengthen, soften, and balance itself. With your skeleton properly aligned, it should seem almost effortless to maintain this position at a stand still. Now go to work on trying to retain it in movement.
Last Thoughts
Please realize that the balance and fit of the saddle-for you and your horse-is critical in obtaining a truly balanced seat. It's important for the comfort of your horse, as well as yourself. I start every clinic with proper tack fit prior to the first ride. If you need help with tack fit, enlist the help of a knowledgeable instructor.
You can also greatly improve your balance by bareback riding, by recreational vaulting, and by being longed. The benefits are huge, even if you're only comfortable at a walk. You get instant feedback when you start to become out of balance.
A good prelude to these exercises is to simply ride without stirrups. Challenge yourself by riding one-handed and raising your arm, If you can do so safely, perform balancing exercises without placing your hands on the reins (tie your reins to your saddle horn). Don't worry about controlling your horse, just find your balance and feel the rhythm.
Lastly, remember that during all forms of exercise, be mindful of checking in with your body. It's common to hold tension in parts of your body that are not being worked. Try to isolate just the muscles you're stretching or working and relax the rest.
Be vigilant at practicing proper balance and alignment off your horse. Practice whenever you're walking, working at your desk, or driving. Anytime you're sitting, check in with your seat bones. Are they equally weighted? Good! Is your back arched or tight? If so, take a breath and allow your pelvis to rock back a little, keeping your torso lifted, chest opened, and shoulders relaxed.
Each time you do this, you'll strengthen the muscles that help hold you erect. You'll be able to find your natural balance much easier on your horse by being mindful about it always. Just breathe, release, and relax. It will work!
