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FirstLightFarms said:
WarriorMaiden said:
Building off of EmeraldHills and gripping with your legs... For the (sadly too short) time I was having lessons, my trainer told me to grip with my knees while allowing my calves to swing freely. You should be able to shift your weight all over the saddle without your thighs budging an inch. :)
I'm sorry but your instructor gave you bad advice. You never want to grip with your knees- you want even pressure from the thigh to the calf, and you don't want your calves to swing at all. Watch videos of the top equitation riders, and I do mean equitation, not hunter. Their legs *never* move. Beezie Madden is also a good example- her equitation is as textbook as it gets.
I should have clarified... This exercise was done while the horse was standing still. The object was to move and shift while still maintaining balance and not falling off. This includes forward/backward and side-to side; something you're not supposed to do while in motion. As soon as the horse began moving, I was to take proper riding position and become still. Not only does it help develop balance, but if the horse spooks or moves in an unexpected direction, you won't immediately pop out of the saddle (as she explained it.) It's all well and good to have good balance when everything is going smoothly. It's another to have good balance when your mount is doing something unpredictable. A good trainer develops exercises tailored to the person they are teaching, and couched in terms they will understand. I am simply passing on what she told/taught me. (And frankly, it worked. I've ridden a couple horses that decided to buck/shy and stayed on without any rein-snatching or saddle-clutching.) :) |
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One thing that i have been taught while i was learning to jump, is to start slow and small, especially when you are still getting stronger and balanced. A good exercise is to set up trot poles, and try to half-seat through them, or even just trot around like that. It strengthens your core muscle so much, so it's not so difficult to get into your 2-point. |
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Crisp, Clear, and Cool
