Rider
Balance
© 2006 Cherry Hill
www.horsekeeping.com Dear
Cherry: I
am a complete beginner at horse riding and started to take English riding lessons.
Last week we did the canter and trot for the first time, my problem is that the
moment I lean forward onto my feet my right foot is leaning heavily towards the
right side of the foot and being in this position ensures it to start cramping
seriously after just a few paces. The trainer checked my stirrups and the length
seems to be fine. What can I do to ensure proper seating? R.
Hi R: Many riders sit crooked on a horse which weights one side of
the body and one foot more and might lead to what you are talking about. Have
you ever seen someone driving a car and talking on their cell phone and leaning
way over to the center console of the front seat? Their whole body is crunched
to the right side. That same type of crookedness occurs in riders. What happens
is the entire side of the rider collapses starting with the head, shoulder and
hip which then can cause an imbalance of the weight of the foot in the stirrup.
Since riding well requires balance, be
sure that you are sitting absolutely square with equal weight on both seat bones
and your shoulders directly over your hip bones. Look straight ahead and try to
"lift up" your sternum so your shoulders rotate back rather than rounding
forward. Especially try to remember this as you post or take a forward position
for cantering. Usually in the beginning stages of learning to ride, you will discover
things about your body position that need work. Your instructor should be able
to identify if you are indeed sitting balanced and if not, what needs to be done
to correct it. It is good you are taking lessons so that you will have the best
chance of developing good habits from the beginning.
Keep your mind
in the middle and a leg on each side. 
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