I feel like it's been a good year or so since I talked about actually riding my horse. What the day-to-day is like and all that.
Since I fell off, I thought it was important to work on my seat. I admit to leaning too far and obviously having shitty balance. So I pulled the stirrups off my saddle for a couple of days.
And it was excruciating. But I was able to work both on my sitting trot and lengthening my leg for the rising trot. While also making all those little muscles that connect me to the saddle scream in agony.
Many, many moons ago, when I had a trainer, one of the things that she consistently harped on was that I posted too high. This measly two-ride adventure into no-stirrups-land had magical effects on the closeness of my butt to my saddle. It's like my calves woke up and started working, with my heels comfortably down, the legs wrapped around Archie, and it was no big deal not to rise a foot out of the saddle because I didn't have enough leg to rise that far. Excited to see if it lasts!
This high? Higher.
Many, many moons ago, when I had a trainer, one of the things that she consistently harped on was that I posted too high. This measly two-ride adventure into no-stirrups-land had magical effects on the closeness of my butt to my saddle. It's like my calves woke up and started working, with my heels comfortably down, the legs wrapped around Archie, and it was no big deal not to rise a foot out of the saddle because I didn't have enough leg to rise that far. Excited to see if it lasts!
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12 comments
I think some of the posting too high can come from riding a lazy-ass horse and trying to MAKE THEM GO with your seat. Guilty as charged. I need to be reminded all the time to calm the heck down with the posting and just put my leg on. Another fun one is to rise for two beats and sit for one... torturous, and when you go back to regular posting it feels SO much easier.
ReplyDeleteTwo beat posting confuses my brain lol.
DeleteI too post too high and it makes my ankles wiggle and I agree with Alli I think its because the horses are lazy!
ReplyDeletekudos for dropping the irons - i always mean to do it but... never do haha. hopefully the positive changes last!
ReplyDeleteI too am a "high poster". I could probably use some no-stirrups work myself... once I have a proper saddle again :)
ReplyDeleteYou go! I've been really needing to work without stirrups, but my mare is still somewhat in the green phase...at least that's what I keep telling myself. Good for you for taking your stirrups off, hope those little muscles have stopped screaming. :-)
ReplyDeleteNo-stirrups work will *definitely* cure the high posting OMG...my first h/j trainer would make us ride stirrup-less for an entire HOUR in our lessons, for weeks and months on end. 20 years later and I'm still a "low poster." Mission accomplished!
ReplyDeleteI recently lowered my post when I realized that if I didn't post so high, a big spook wouldn't send me flying.duh. Also fun is posting the canter. Really works core and leg.
ReplyDeleteI recently lowered my post when I realized that if I didn't post so high, a big spook wouldn't send me flying.duh. Also fun is posting the canter. Really works core and leg.
ReplyDeleteGood for you to take the stirrups off! I'm not that disciplined but I'm sure it would help my riding if I were.
ReplyDeleteI should do that sometime... heh. Should. No promises.
ReplyDeleteChallenge accepted! :D
ReplyDeleteWhat I have done in the past is to start the warm-up with stirrups crossed and swing my legs around. Obviously I really need to step up that game.
Thanks!