Posted by Sandy Often, in an effort to create that secure, tight leg, so illusive to the novice rider, I will observe riders gripping, rather than allowing their weight to depress into the heel. This inexperienced rider will squeeze tightly with the knee in a vain effort toward security. Rather than achieving the tighter leg he or she is striving for, the leg gripping tightly at the knee will create a loose lower leg, with the knee acting like a pivot point and the lower leg swinging from that point, much like a pendelum on a clock. The forced grip squeezes the body upward, having much the same effect a vice like grip would have on a tube of toothpaste, just the opposite of what the rider is hoping to accomplish. The "ideal" equitator will sink deeper into his leg and heel, rather than perching above his base of support. The upper body is ideally, slightly, almost inperceptibly, in front of the vertical at the walk, sitting trot and the canter and about 20% more forward at the rising trot and hand gallop. At the hand gallop, this rider will elevate his weight out of the saddle into a 2 point position, where contact is made with his/her two legs and no longer in the seat(3 point). A knowledgable equitation rider establishes a straight line from his/her elbow, through forearms and reins to the horses mouth. When his mount raises its head, the rider will raise his/her hands as well, maintaining that straight line. The same is done when the horse lowers his head, i.e. the rider will lower the hands to keep the same contact and line to the mouth. A polished equitation rider possesses an independent seat. By that, I mean that his/her position is not dependent on what the horse does, that he/she doesn't need to grab the horses mouth for balance when an awkward situation arises. Please visit my web site at www.geocities.com/sndyhrsjdg/ and peruse the links within it, especially the link to "Position" http://geocities.com/sndyhrsjdg/position.html and the one addressing "Judging" http://www.geocities.com/sndyhrsjdg/judge.html. You will find these links, as well as others dealing with training and showing on my URL by scrolling down the opening page until you see the hyperlinks, which are found below each bit icon, approximately half way down the opening page. I believe your questions are addressed there.
Link: Riding Position
on 8/13/2005, 9:27 pm, in reply to "leg position"
205.188.117.10
Dear Old School,
Your questions are very good ones. The ideal rider uses invisible aids. He/she is straight without being stiff. There should be a straight line from the back of the helmet, through the hips and into the heels, which are depressed in a natural way, with body weight being supported by that heel depression.
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