The "Whys" of Good Rider Position
My daughter has been taking riding lessons for some time now and at each lesson I hear the trainer remind her about her position – heels down, thumbs up, shoulders back, etc. When I asked my daughter the reasons for such attention to a rider’s position, she really couldn’t tell me more than “that’s just the way you do it.” Can you help this horsey mom understand?
A: I missed out on the “whys” in my riding school days as well. It’s a shame because giving some relevance to the “hows” makes concepts easier to learn. So let’s take a look at some principles of correct rider position and I’ll explain why they work.
Eyes and Head: I tell my students that where they look, they will go. It does no good to look down at the pylon you don’t want to run over or the fence post you don’t want to hit. Neither does it help to look in mid air between the horse’s ears. Instead, find a dot in the dirt approximately 40 feet ahead to chart the path in front of you. If you are riding a curve, this will mean turning your head. “Big eyes” take in all that’s going on around you in your peripheral vision and prevent collision with other riders.
Upper Body and Seat: Your upper body needs to be stretched up as if someone were lifting you up by the ears, stretching the curves out of you spine. Leaning forward puts your weight over the horse’s forehand. There is a balance between straightness and stiffness. A stiff back can’t follow the horse’s movement and absorb shock.
Hands and Arms: When riding with two hands (either Western or English) the rider needs to maintain a straight line from his elbow, to his hand, and through the rein to the corner of the horse’s mouth.
