Any Tips on how to ride with seat and back more?

[charlie26]

Just looking for any advice/tips as to how I can ride with my seat and back more?

My instructor keeps telling me I need to but just not sure I get it.. Ive a 4yo who I backed so have been used to riding off his back but now he is stronger I need to.. and before that I had a very sensitive forward pony who you couldnt really sit into so I feel a bit out of practice for this:-/

Any advice / exercises greatly recieved thanks

[casper15]

Taking your stirrups away? My instructor wanted me to stop moving my legs in trot/canter and i took my stirrups away and left me sat in the saddle

[fanfarefan]

stirrups away , or bare back !!!

[gillwales]

you need to get your posture correct first. Make certain that your shoulders are above your hips and your heal below your hips so there is a straight vertical line running through them. Fit the flat of your hand into the hollow of your back to get the correct curve of your spine. Riding without stirrups will strengthen your seat however I would avoid doing so on a 4 year old as until you are secure and strong you may well unbalance your horse.

Rise with your mind, push your horse forward with your hips and think it through at the same time imagine there is a weight on top of your head pushing down through your spine and into your bottom.

One last piece of advice, if you do not understand something that your Instructor tells you ask him or her to explain and continue to do so until you understand. If you still cannot understand what is said then iI suggest you find someone you can understand. That does not mean who is teaching you now is not any good but there needs to be good communication.

Good luck

[zetasmum]

You can also try strengthening your core muscles to give you more control.

With regard to not understanding your instructor, you can also try asking them what it should feel like when you do it wrong or do it right.

Alternatively you can say ' do you mean....' and put your understanding into your own words then get the instructor to tell you whether you have got it right.

Good luck

[mandmgirl0164]

Some lessons on the lunge on an experienced horse/pony can really help - you can concentrate on what you are doing and what instructor is telling you. No stirrups then no reins, you soon find out where your core muscles are, and also how much you have been relying on reins/stirrups.

[sarahp]

Echo all above - but when position is sorted try, in a safe fenced area and preferably not on your 4yo until he's used to someone actually sitting on his back, riding with no reins. Probably sounds a H&S no-no but I learned like that as a child, including jumping lessons with no reins or stirrups, and my daughter in her class of 4 children when 6yo had to do it too, certainly on the flat, can't remember her jumping like it. Anyone doing dressage has to perform walk on a long rein, and in my day at least that also involved turns in some tests.

[catkin]

lots of good advice above, also perhaps try riding bare-back (on a suitable mount of course). Very good for balance and teaching you to control your balance/weight distribution and really feel what is going on underneath you