On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
12 Pocket Skins,
11 Padded Panties,
10 lovely skin tops,
5 zip skins!
2 hunky models (I
wish...)
and a smart new
‘Derriere G’!
Correct posture in your riding is essential for consistency, as well as
well-balanced and obedient work from the horse. Your shoulders are key, so aim
to keep them square and upright. Dropped shoulders either side or hunched
shoulders are commonly seen in rider’s work, often causing elbows to stick out,
resulting in poor rein contact and loss of balance.
None of this ideal body position will be possible if your shoulders and
core are not in the correct position, which is the foundation for maintaining
good rein and leg contact, and will result in the horse moving evenly.
It may prove helpful to break your goals up into bite size chunks, and
focus on perfecting a certain area of your riding position (such as your
shoulders) for a time; and in another session, consider your seat or legs. When
possible, ask your trainer or a friend to video some of your schooling
sessions, so that you can analyse the complete picture; it is surprising how often
what you feel doesn’t match how you look. This is great for checking symmetry
and straightness as when you have a stiffness or stronger side, what you
perceive to be straight is often slightly crooked and this becomes your ‘norm’
or your ‘centre.’ If you’re not lucky enough to have support on the ground,
mirrors can be particularly useful both on and off the horse, to train your
muscle memory to recognise true straightness.