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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
  
Location: USA | Ok. I've tried and tried doing it while at a walk and trot, but for the life of me I CANNOT sit back while turning the barrel at a fast lope. What gives? I see all these people who just sit back and let their horse cruise around the can and I lean forward. I've felt myself be able to lean back before, but it's so hard to be conscientious of it when I'm so focused on how my horse is doing. Uuuhhhggghhhh. I swear my tig ol bitties are making me front end heavy. No my saddle isn't too small. I'm doing this out of habit and I can't seem to change. Any suggestions?? |
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I'm Over It!!
Posts: 2830
| When I had that problem it was because my stirrups were too short. You need to be able to push down and forward with your heels down and sit back without lifting yourself up out of the saddle. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | melaself - 2014-09-18 7:22 PM When I had that problem it was because my stirrups were too short. You need to be able to push down and forward with your heels down and sit back without lifting yourself up out of the saddle.
I can when I'm walking or trotting or loping in the arena or pasture. It's only around the barrels. Too bad I can't hobble myself back |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
 
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel.  |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I don't honestly know what to say...other than I can relate. My old saddle I would just "sit there" and was way too sitting (as in not hustling at all). Now it is like I'm hustling too much and am way too forward (my horse is ratey by the way, so if she starts to slow down too soon coming into a barrel, we almost yard dart!).
CYA, would your daughter like to come yell at me when I'm running...my mom has stopped because a) she never yelled at me, only at my horse, LOL, and b) I could never hear her! I know Montana is quite a ways but we do have some good races here! |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | mtcanchazer - 2014-09-18 9:29 PM I don't honestly know what to say...other than I can relate. My old saddle I would just "sit there" and was way too sitting (as in not hustling at all). Now it is like I'm hustling too much and am way too forward (my horse is ratey by the way, so if she starts to slow down too soon coming into a barrel, we almost yard dart!).
CYA, would your daughter like to come yell at me when I'm running...my mom has stopped because a) she never yelled at me, only at my horse, LOL, and b) I could never hear her! I know Montana is quite a ways but we do have some good races here!
I'm sure she would! She loves yelling at me and no matter how many people, how big the place is....I can always hear her. LOL I'm sure she'd love someone new to yell at.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | CYA Ranch - 2014-09-18 9:10 PM I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel.
I need someone to yell at me! Wait, what exactly is she yelling? |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | This might have something to do with a test we went through in gym class in high school... The test was 'can you, in a standing position'... lock your legs and keep them locked while you fall backward depending on someone to catch you before you hit the ground, without unlocking your knees. I, along with many others, could not do it.
Edited by komet. 2014-09-19 12:10 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | You might try riding without your stirrups when you're practicing. It will force you to use your body differently and use your knees more. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Dreamingofcans - 2014-09-18 11:33 PM
CYA Ranch - 2014-09-18 9:10 PM I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel.
Soooooo I gotta say I agree with CYA - slow work to reinforce muscle memory - ALSO ... the yelling, my hauling partner and I yell at each other. We'll go sit by the part of the pattern we need the most "encouragement" at and YELL to SIT, PUSH, GO AHEAD, CLOSE the turn or whatever we both happen to need reminding of. It WORKS for both of us :) Just friendly little reminders and I can ALWAYS hear her mom voice! LOL!! |
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 Peecans
| What are you doing when you sit?
Try an experiment, grab your horn and push down in your feet and feel what your seat does.
Now try putting your palm centred on your horn fingers up and push back and instead of putting a ton of weight in your stirrup very slightly kid your knees (you should feel this not see it) and keep your leg weigh in the sturips. |
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 Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | You really don't "lean" back, you should be just engaging your core. Engaging your core will push your bottom down, your feet forward, bend you slightly at the waist and slightly set your shoulders down and back.. all while staying in "line" perpendicularly.. you don't ever "lean". While sitting in your chair at your computer, put your feet flat on the floor, sit up straight... now just just tighten your core muscles.. you should feel your pelvis rise, your butt sink, your waist slightly bend and your shoulders slightly drop back (not side to side either). This is what you should do around a barrel.
Edited by ACEINTHEHOLE 2014-09-19 11:49 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-09-19 11:43 AM You really don't "lean" back, you should be just engaging your core. Engaging your core will push your bottom down, your feet forward, bend you slightly at the waist and slightly set your shoulders down and back.. all while staying in "line" perpendicularly.. you don't ever "lean". While sitting in your chair at your computer, put your feet flat on the floor, sit up straight... now just just tighten your core muscles.. you should feel your pelvis rise, your butt sink, your waist slightly bend and your shoulders slightly drop back (not side to side either). This is what you should do around a barrel.
I don't feel it rise when I engage my core. I do when I squeeze my butt cheeks though! Who wants to yell at me to "squeeze my cheeks" when I run??!!  |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | melaself - 2014-09-18 7:22 PM When I had that problem it was because my stirrups were too short. You need to be able to push down and forward with your heels down and sit back without lifting yourself up out of the saddle.
I totally agree and I see a lot of people that have this problem is they are squeezing with their knees that in turn push your legs behind you and body forward. I've always called it riding in the fetal position. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| You also need to push back on the saddle horn, instead of just grabbing it.
Bend at the elbow, put the palm of your hand against the saddle horn, and lock your elbow against your hip/side.
I like the "squeeze your butt cheeks" suggestion, because it definitely is the right suggestion, and puts you in the proper position! |
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Tough Patooty
Posts: 2615
Location: Sperry, OK | 
Look at these girls.. none of them are "leaning" back. all are engaged at the core. You can draw almost a straight line from the toe, to the knee, to the shoulder on all of these girls.
Edited by ACEINTHEHOLE 2014-09-19 2:57 PM
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Louie would be my pick...I love that horse. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Dreamingofcans - 2014-09-18 11:33 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-09-18 9:10 PM I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel.
She's almost 21....you probably don't want to know what she's yelling. LOL |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | CYA Ranch - 2014-09-18 9:10 PM
I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel.
My daughter and Nateracer are the ones that are yelling at me lately (well that is if we ever happen to have another race). I too have the same problem. I'm too busy paying attention to what my horse is doing and not enough attention to what I'm doing. Although we haven't been able to have a district race since July because of the rain so our director may have to post the pattern up ahead of time so we can remember what we are all doing. Kinda like what they do before a showmanship class. LOL!! |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2014-09-19 4:31 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-09-18 9:10 PM I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel. My daughter and Nateracer are the ones that are yelling at me lately (well that is if we ever happen to have another race ). I too have the same problem. I'm too busy paying attention to what my horse is doing and not enough attention to what I'm doing. Although we haven't been able to have a district race since July because of the rain so our director may have to post the pattern up ahead of time so we can remember what we are all doing. Kinda like what they do before a showmanship class. LOL!!
Every time I watch my videos from the BRF I get to hear Nateracer yell at me some more. Its kind of a tune up. LOL  |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| CYA Ranch - 2014-09-20 10:57 AM Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2014-09-19 4:31 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-09-18 9:10 PM I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel. My daughter and Nateracer are the ones that are yelling at me lately (well that is if we ever happen to have another race ). I too have the same problem. I'm too busy paying attention to what my horse is doing and not enough attention to what I'm doing. Although we haven't been able to have a district race since July because of the rain so our director may have to post the pattern up ahead of time so we can remember what we are all doing. Kinda like what they do before a showmanship class. LOL!!
Ok....so I might have a big mouth...but it seems to help people...I think...
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Nateracer - 2014-09-20 12:13 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-09-20 10:57 AM Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2014-09-19 4:31 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-09-18 9:10 PM I'm going through this same thing right now. All I've been doing this last week is walk/trot/lope through the pattern with me really concentrating on sitting down and getting my feet in front of me. The more we do it slow the more our muscle memory will kick in.....or at least that's what I hope happens. To be on the safe side at my jackpot this weekend I plan on having my daughter YELL at me when I get to the barrel. My daughter and Nateracer are the ones that are yelling at me lately (well that is if we ever happen to have another race ). I too have the same problem. I'm too busy paying attention to what my horse is doing and not enough attention to what I'm doing. Although we haven't been able to have a district race since July because of the rain so our director may have to post the pattern up ahead of time so we can remember what we are all doing. Kinda like what they do before a showmanship class. LOL!!
LOL You don't have a big mouth. I love it when people yell....especially when they yell directions. Its amazing what you forget to do when your just worried about hanging on. LOL |
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What is my deal??