Develop a Stronger Riding Position
When riders take the time to build a good foundation with a correct position and basic training skills they will reach their training and riding goals faster than if they skip these steps in the beginning of their riding careers. A correct position is determined by the style or discipline of riding you participate in. I am going to give you some of my favorite rider strengthening exercises for developing a stronger hunter seat equitation position.
One of the great things about riding is that no matter how skilled you are your position in the saddle can always be improved upon. Before you start doing exercises to strengthen your position you first need to understand what a correct hunter seat equitation position is. So first we will review the riders body breaking it down into four sections the leg base of support upper body and hands and arms.
To check the length of your stirrups while mounted take your foot out of your stirrup iron and let your leg relax down. For riding on the flat your stirrup iron should hit slightly below your anklebone. Adjust your stirrup leathers in relation to your own body structure with the help of an experienced instructors eye. Place your stirrup iron on the ball of your foot with the outside branch of the iron touching your pinky toe and on a slight angle in. Let your toe slightly turn out so that the stirrup hangs perpendicular to your horses side then push your heels down and in just behind the girth and establish contact with your calf and inner knee bone. By relaxing your ankle and letting your weight sink into your heel you are lowering your centre of gravity so that your leg is down and around your horse making you more secure and tighter in the saddle.
You should have contact with your horse evenly distributed between your calf your inner knee bone and your thigh. Your seat should be placed in the forward part of your saddle close to the pommel. Since we are focusing on exercises at the walk this is the perfect opportunity to feel your seat bones and relax your hips by letting your horse move you. Creating a vertical line your hips should remain directly over your heels. The security of your upper body is completely dependent upon your base and leg.
Upper Body
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