Friday 13 November 2020

The Perfect Pelvic Tilt

 

Derriere Equestrian ambassador and UKCC Level 2 Dressage coach, Erin Orford, explains how achieving the perfect pelvic tilt can improve rider effectiveness.

Perfecting your position

We asked Erin to share some wisdom on the subject of getting the correct pelvic position when you’re schooling: “When I am working with my flatwork clients, one of the key issues that does crop up is how we use our pelvis, and how this translates to effectively sitting to a trot,” Erin explains. “Most elite dressage riders have very 'mobile' and intuitive seats; for example, when riding effectively, most of the time you will have a very relaxed and mobile spine, quite neutrally positioned at the base.”

“The significance of the neutral position is that it allows movement of the pelvis so that you don't block the horse in their body, whilst being able to maintain the strength through your core,” Erin explains. “Within this, you can then adjust your weight accordingly, in order to encourage the horse to come back a little or move forward.”

Neutral Spine, rider position, dressage, erin orford


Practicing with a chair

Erin says that sitting on the edge of a chair with your feet flat on the floor can help you to establish this. “If you’re tilting forwards, your back will arch more, and if you're tilting back, you'll feel like you're slouching a bit,” she adds. “Both tilting forwards and tilting backwards for too long will lead to your back aching. But in the correct position, you should feel it more in your stomach muscles. Playing with the realms of this movement whilst looking in the mirror can help you to see where the 'correct' position is, and learn to associate how it looks with the feeling of it, to help you to translate that onto a moving horse. The correct position means you can be effective whilst being comfortable,” Erin explains.

dressage, rider training, rider position, pelvic tilt


Straightness and being equal

“For me as a rider and trainer, a good seat is often about straightness and being equal. Your body should match the line of your horse, whether you’re on a straight line, a circle or a movement like a half pass; your body will influence how the horse uses theirs,” Erin adds. “A lot of the time, daily activities in our lives can teach us to be slightly crooked or one sided (mucking out, driving etc). Our muscle memory will make us think we are sitting straight, but often we aren’t; so using mirrors, watching videos back of our riding, and getting immediate feedback from the ground can help us to teach our brain what ‘straight’ really is!”

“To be able to effectively sit to a trot, you need a strong core, but also suppleness in your lower back and pelvis; so it can be a difficult combination to achieve! I try to keep a neutral position, as this allows the most movement,” Erin tells us. “I can then take my weight forward or back within this, to encourage the horse to go more forwards, or come back a little. If the horse is using it’s back correctly and pushing nicely from behind, they are always easier to sit to - so the better you can achieve this, the easier you’re making it for yourself.”

Getting the horse on your seat

Erin says that the horse will also want to move under your weight. “Think how difficult it is to carry a bag of feed that moves around, compared to something more stable,” she suggests. “So, when you’re walking your horse on a long rein, either at the start of the session, or at the end if it’s safer, try adjusting your weight to move the horse around the arena, rather than using your leg or the rein. You often see riders putting their weight in the direction they think the horse will go (i.e. to the inside, if they think the horse will fall in,) rather than using their weight on the line they actually want the horse to take, which encourages them to ‘step under’ it. They should stay in the same rhythm and balance when you give the rein - that’s when you know they’re really ‘on your seat!’” Erin concludes.

For ultimate comfort in the saddle, so you’re not thinking about discomfort when trying to hone your sitting trot, try the Derriere Equestrian Performance Padded Panty, which is designed to eradicate seamlines visible through breeches and ensure no rubbing, chaffing or abrasions are created. Incorporating the Derriere Equestrian Padded Support System (DEPSS), the garments protect the perineal area from friction and discomfort.

Erin Orford rides for Britain in Para-dressage, and has also competed up to Advanced Medium at Regional level. Erin was a Gold and Bronze medallist at the 2017 FEI European Championships. as well as a silver medallist the following year at the World Equestrian Games, both with Dior. She now has her sights set on the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics and beyond.

 

erin orford, dressage horse, dressage cometition, dressage, derriere equestrian dressage horse, erin orford, dressage competition, bury farm,


 


Wednesday 4 November 2020

Catching up with Erin Orford

 

Derriere Equestrian ambassador and UKCC Level 2 Dressage coach, Erin Orford, is one of Britain’s most determined and inspirational dressage riders. Here, she shares her experiences of 2020:

“It’s been such a strange year for so many of us!” Erin explains, with a nod to the COVID pandemic and its effects on equestrian enthusiasts. “An Olympic Games has never been postponed before, but it is right that the decision was made for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to happen in the summer of 2021 instead. It was arguably the only decision that could have been made, as health always comes first; but if you had told me in February that that's what would happen, I’d never have believed it. It just reminds you that nothing is guaranteed, and emphasises how important it is to enjoy what you are doing on a day to day basis, because the goal-posts can be moved without any warning!” she continues.

Erin started 2020 with every week planned out until the end of the year; so to go from that feeling of organisation to having nothing in the diary during lockdown was definitely a bizarre feeling for her. “Particularly as summer is usually the busiest period, as we build up to selection for whatever championship is happening,” Erin muses. “For myself and the team at home, after a successful start to the season, it did feel galling that our year was effectively cancelled. However, in the great scheme of things, we had a lot to be grateful for, so we just had to adapt, adjust and make the best of the situation, like everyone!”


Erin Orford, Para rider, Para dressage, hacking, LJT Diamond Crusador, dressage horse


Appreciating the simpler things

Erin says she has been able to work remotely from home in her day job, but that with the sudden reduction of riding opportunities in the earlier months of 2020, and the absence of a swimming pool at that time, she had to work hard to maintain her fitness levels! “The situation with COVID-19 has however provided me with the opportunity to step back, appreciate the smaller things, and enjoy being ‘present’,” she continues.

“I think lockdown forced us to all slow down, to take everything day by day, and to appreciate the simpler things that we often take for granted. I personally enjoyed having the time to work on the basics with my horses, and enjoy riding them without the pressure of having things perfect, in time for competitions,” Erin adds.

“It has been nice to get back in the arena, and back doing some teaching; we’ve had our Para Championships at Solihull, and the recent Keysoe International, so it’s given us the chance to get some arena time before the winter. I am now looking forward to continuing my training with an eye on Tokyo 2021, continuing to help my lovely clients with their riding, and enjoying my horses over winter,” Erin states.

Erin Orford, Dressage, Para Dressage, Para Rider, Dressage Training


For ultimate comfort in the saddle, so you’re not thinking about discomfort when trying to hone your sitting trot, try the Derriere Equestrian Performance Padded Panty, which is designed to eradicate seamlines visible through breeches and ensure no rubbing, chaffing or abrasions are created. Incorporating the Derriere Equestrian Padded Support System (DEPSS), the garments protect the perineal area from friction and discomfort. Shop the Derriere Equestrian collection today. 

Erin Orford rides for Britain in Para-dressage, and has also competed up to Advanced Medium at Regional level. Erin was a Gold and Bronze medallist at the 2017 FEI European Championships. as well as a silver medallist the following year at the World Equestrian Games, both with Dior. She now has her sights set on the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics and beyond.

To find out more about Erin and her team visit her website, Erin Orford Dressage