How do you sit deep when horse riding?

Question

ive just started horseriding and im not sure how to sit deep in a saddle when halting. also when you steer do you just pull the reighns to go left when you want to go left and right when you want to go right or do you have to use your legs as well? thankyou

Answer 1

These are questions you should be asking your riding instructor.  Sitting deep is an abstract phrase used by horse people that you generally won't understand until you have ridden longer.  It means to have a correct, relaxed seat, legs properly draped over the horses side and your weight sinking down evenly through both hip bones and down into your heels.  This is best learned on a lunge line for beginner riders by removing control of the horse from the equation.  Often beginner riders will brace when stopping or asking for a downward transition which causes an abrupt, awkward halt.  The transition should flow smoothly downward with the horse maintaining its momentum at the slower pace or stopping fluidly and squaring up (all four feet square under the body).  The most common exercise to teach beginners to sit deep in the saddle (and remind my more advanced riders as well) that I use is done, with them on a lunge line, starting from the toes and working up through each joint in their body individually, ie 'we start by wiggling the toes' then flexing the ankle, the knee, the hips, the shoulders and the neck.  Each exercise stretches the joint and encourages proper mobility of each joint to move with the horse.  Steering for beginners comes mainly through direct contact from the hand to the bit, however you will slowly learn as you become a better rider to turn through your body, not your legs.  As you learn to follow the curve of your horses body while turning you will notice that your legs should remain steady, it is your head, shoulders, torso and hips that will turn with the horse.  Your legs will come more into play for lateral work, where the horse continues to track forward while moving diagonally, like a half pass, or tracks forward while bent such as with the shoulder in.  If you are having problems with your lessons, or don't understand the terms your riding instructor uses speak up!  They cannot help you if they don't know you aren't sure what they mean.

Answer 2

yep,get in to the habit of using ur legs when turning.it does help the horse to turn better.

Answer 3

for sitting deep, you should be sitting back and putting your weight towards your rear, also when riding, your horse SHOULD be trained enough to only have to pull the reins in the direction you want to go, but if he/she tends to stop halfway, just give a little pressure in your feet to remind them they need to keep moving.

You can also practice with reflections to get the horse to respond to you more...

reflections- to do this you hold the reins on one side of you back to your hip, you thenwaitfor the horses head to follow back to you, his nose should touch your feet or close, once he gives, you release. just a simple training tool. :)

good luck, riding is so much fun

Answer 4

that is correct about the reins. but if you want to sit deep when halting you need to roll your hips forward [like your trying to push something out of the way with your pelvis] also roll your shoulders back and keep your hands still as much as you can except for the movement of the halt. hope it helps!