Posted 2014-05-01 1:03 PM Subject: correcting bad habits
Veteran
Posts: 134
I have been reviewing old and new photos of my riding and i have never sat up straight on the barrels. I am always leaning toward the barrel (and 90% of the time looking at the barrel). I am not sure how to fix this. Should i put more weight in the ouside stirrup to keep my shoulders up? Obvioulsy i know i need to look at my next barrel and that i will work on the looking down part but not sure how to correct the "lean" i have seemed to have "mastered". Also, what problems am i creating for my horse and in my runs?
Posted 2014-05-01 2:49 PM Subject: RE: correcting bad habits
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 443 Location: Southern IL somewhere between KY and MO
Do you ride a motorcycle or bicycle? Do you look down at the front tire...no you look where you are going. think of your horse as a motorcycle look ahead.
Posted 2014-05-01 4:01 PM Subject: RE: correcting bad habits
Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557 Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah
Notice your pulling the outside rein while asking to make a turn. Shorten your rein and ask for the turn by pulling to your belly button. If your horse is soft you won't need much rein to make the turn. This will allow you to stay up over your horse.
Posted 2014-05-01 4:18 PM Subject: RE: correcting bad habits
Regular
Posts: 95
They say it takes 21 days to make/break a habit, so you are going to have to consciously work on doing things right for a good long while before you get rid of your bad riding habits and replace them with correct ones.
Posted 2014-05-01 4:58 PM Subject: RE: correcting bad habits
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 356
Set barrels out in random places throughout your arena, and walk around. Turn one every time you get close to one, and really focus on your body position. At the Lynn McKenzie clinic I went to, she had us step into the outside stirrup, go to the horn and "scoop" with our rein hand - basically rotate your thumb over and pinky under so your palm is facing up. Focus on doing this while you're loping circles too! It takes a long time to break a habit!
correcting bad habits
