Exercises to Correct Common Riding Faults

Many people enjoy setting goals to help give focus and guidance to the year ahead. If we map out our desired goals appropriately, make them realistic and attainable, then initiate them with baby steps, there is a greater likelihood we will achieve success. When we write down our goals we are, in essence, making a commitment and a contract with ourselves. I challenge you to improve your overall physical posture and riding position to become the best rider you can be.

Can you commit ten minutes every ride to focus on your posture? Ten minutes of focus during a warm-up in walk, trot, or canter can help any rider significantly change and improve their riding position. There are many ways to successfully approach improving our physical performance when riding. Watching a video of yourself or using mirrors while you ride can be excellent tools for observing traits to change or improve. Again, take ten minutes of every ride to focus on your postural alignment. If you have access to mirrors when you ride, look at yourself from the side. Ensure you have the classic positional alignment in place – if you were to draw a line from your ear to your ankle, it would bisect the shoulder and hip. This line should be perpendicular to the ground.

Position Problem #1 – Legs that habitually swing forward.

If your lower legs are always swinging so far forward that you can see your toes in front of your knees, try standing up on your stirrups. Imagine they are like swings. Place the balls of your feet directly across the stirrup bar, just like in the two-point position. Reach the crown of your head skyward as if it is being pulled by a string like a puppet. Keep stretching lengthwise through your torso and, keeping your ankles directly underneath your hips, return to a seated position. If your legs swing forward as you sit down you may need to make an adjustment to your saddle, but more than likely you just need to practice keeping your lower legs and ankles back and underneath your seat. This is where your legs should be held and maintained during your entire ride. Simple adjustments like this can and ought to be made at any time throughout your ride if you feel you’ve