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Post by Ziggy on May 27, 2012 9:03:35 GMT
My 8 year old daughter has now mastered rising trot. Sits beautifully in walk but struggles sometimes to keep a straight back in trot, any suggestions?? Has only really started picking up this habit recently, looking at recent show pictures can really see it, even non horsey OH can see it  |
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Post by catkin on May 27, 2012 11:43:52 GMT
Is she riding on the lead rein or off? Makes a difference in the remedial action!
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Post by Trot-on on May 27, 2012 12:07:04 GMT
As a child i was told to imagine i was a puppet, and that someone was holding a string attached to my head that held me up- and helped me sit up (if you did ballet as a child you will know the sort of thing i mean). And when we were schooling the word 'puppet' seemed to be said over and over again... now however its natural and it has been since it became ingrained in me from the age of 6 ish. I would try and get her to do exercises that encourage her to drop her shoulders and sit up at the same time, as otherwise she may end up sitting straight but being firm through the shoulders (something when she gets older that could cause problems when asking for fluidity). Keep practising and it will come  |
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Post by nia2311 on May 27, 2012 13:30:01 GMT
Confiscate her stirrups! Can't slouch then or else you fall off - try and get her to maintain the same position when you give them back....
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Post by Ziggy on May 27, 2012 15:15:57 GMT
Thanks trot on and yes Nia when we get a pony in September that is the plan re stirrups, ooh she is gonna hate me!
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Post by nia2311 on May 27, 2012 15:28:19 GMT
Or there's the even worse method of shoving a whip down her back so she can't tip forward - yes, my childhood instructor did channel Miss Trunchbull somewhat!
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Post by horseylady on May 27, 2012 18:42:04 GMT
OOhhhh when i was younger my instructor also used a whip across my back and under my armpits.. boy did it work x
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sophiea
Full Member
Its not an obsession, Its a dedication ;)
Posts: 290
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Post by sophiea on Jun 7, 2012 9:09:33 GMT
i was always taught about a puppet. My instructor also used' to put me on the lunge and make me ride with my arms in the air, by my side and outwards, that helped enormously. The great thing with that is you can also do it on LR so would be no problem for you to do with Isabel now.
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Post by sageandonion on Jun 7, 2012 9:58:22 GMT
I regularly have lunge lessons, no stirrups, no hands etc to perfect my position and it is mega tough work for an experienced adult who knows what and why they are doing it and can understand what they are trying to achieve.
IMO the majority of children, left alone, simply slot into the saddle and go with the pony. Children have natural superb balance and usually confidence until adults start interferring. They do not understand mentally the logistics of it all and physically they cannot control muscles and parts individually. The position will change as the child grows and develops and centre of gravity alters, it always returns to where it sound be if the child is left alone. The classically correct position is not always right for a growing child.
The very best way of perfecting balance and partnership with the pony is to leave the child be, let them have fun, go up down and all over the place and their butt will end up back in the saddle where we want it to be. Stick them on the lunge without stirrups telling their little selves to do this and that which mummy does (or often which mummy never does) is physically harsh and mentally detrimental. You may end up with a little child that doesn't want to do that painfull and frightening thing any more. Go pony club and do same games and races.
Look to those professional horsewomen and those that take their children hunting on the lead. Those children have fabulous seats and it hasn't come from being bounced about on the lunge.
Usually an imperfection is caused by imbalance somewhere completely separate from the area of concern. For example, a less than straight back may be because child is sitting on her fork which may be because weight is not going past the kness because the pony is a little rotund for the child's legs to fall down correctly to let the weight drop. So tell child to keep back straight, child concentrates on this, everything goes out the window, child looses balances, gets frightened, starts crying, wants to get off, mummy gets cross .............etc etc etc
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Post by nici on Jun 7, 2012 11:22:25 GMT
I agree with you completely S&O! Cerys's position at times has been horrible, but this year she's come on in leaps and bounds. She still leans forward a bit in canter and her bum bounces out of the saddle, but her position in walk and trot is lovely. How have we achieved this? By letting her play on her pony and have lots of fun!
She gets lunged on baby ponies (when they're 4 or 5, in case anyone thinks I'm lunging a 2 or 3 year old with Cerys on board!) as part of their education, but not as part of her education. When she's being lunged she rides normally, as it's all part of reinforcing aids to the pony. Our little ones haven't yet developed the core body strength and coordination to ride like grown ups, and you can do far more damage than good by rushing them. Bit like baby ponies really!
Cerys now chooses to do some work without stirrups on Bella. However her legs are now long enough to hang down with her weight falling naturally into her heels - in fact her legs are growing at a frightening rate, I had to drop her stirrups down 4 holes a few weeks ago because I hadn't been keeping up with her growth lol!
Forget about looking pretty for now, your daughter needs to develop her riding muscles, core strength and seat by having fun on a pony, playing games, hacking out, etc. I can't think of many things more likely to put off a nervous 8yo than being lunged endlessly without stirrups.
Incidentally does your daughter dance? I have a theory that children who learn to dance (particularly ballet which is excellent for core strength and posture) generally have better seats than those who don't...
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Post by GinaGeo on Jun 7, 2012 11:38:48 GMT
I agree completely with both S&O and nici. I think they've about covered my thoughts so won't go on!
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Post by nia2311 on Jun 7, 2012 11:54:36 GMT
I didnt realise the girl was nervous, the original post didnt say that. My son is 9 and canters round without stirrups quite happily. He has never lunged without stirrups, but seeing as he joined an adults lesson at our riding centre with me, he kind of got chucked into it. He is a confident rider, and working without stirrups has aided his position a lot, and he has never come off, wobbled or anything else while without stirrups. He is also confident going without reins. I suggested the no stirrup option based on the original post which did not mention a nervous rider.
Incidentally, my son isn't a dancer, but used to do gymnastics and I think this training has aided him. He has a very good seat naturally, something I am quite jealous of!
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Post by sageandonion on Jun 7, 2012 12:01:41 GMT
Exactly! his seat is natural. So we leave the children alone and don't worry about their position, whatever keeps them safe, and they will keep or acquire their confidence.
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Post by merrymooxx on Jun 7, 2012 12:15:04 GMT
body protectors also help keep a strsight back  ) |
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Post by stumpedmum on Jun 7, 2012 17:52:46 GMT
my son leans forwards for a few weeks every time he grows!
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