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boon
Posts: 2
| Hi I am very new to barrel racing and have only been seriously riding for a year. My seat in no way came naturally to me... It's something I really have had to work on. I'm confident at a quick lope but getting into pushing during the pattern I start to lose my seat and I feel like it's just holding me back. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or ways to improve my seat? Thanks in advance. I am running 20-22 at local fun shows and I love the sport so much and am so passionate I want to be good! I want to go somewhere and I just feel like I've hit a brick wall the past few months. It's a pretty big deal to be able to go fast :( |
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  Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
   
Location: Dearing, GA | Do you know anyone with an English saddle?
I find that riding English and doing a lot of trotting and loping in that saddle really improves my balance. There is a lot less leather to worry about!
Maybe even try going over some little jumps. |
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boon
Posts: 2
| I actually have some boarders with English saddles! Thank you so much for the advice I'll definitely try it out!! |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| put a neck rope on ride bareback at a walk jogtrot work up to posting bareback use neck rope for a quick balance but have fun rome was not built in a day |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Bareback, especially free lunging in a roundpen on a dependable horse at all speeds can really help you develop your seat. If you are not worrying about your hands, etc. You can concentrate on your balance and the horse's movement. Usually best to have someone around to help you out with this though. |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | There's several exercises that I have my riding students do to improve seat and balance and strength. You have to improve your core strength (not just stomach) to have good balance.
Riding exercises include riding correct two position a lot, Riding without reins and stirrups, Riding bareback & change directions a lot without gripping at all (it idolatrous seat instead having to rely on leg strength) , Riding with your eyes closed, posting at a walk first, then trot (works on timing and feel). |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| Even if you don't have access to an English saddle, you can drop your stirrups and practice each gait & transitions without stirrups & without balancing on the horses face.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | When I was younger and riding all around on the AQHA circuit, my "Lovely" coach had us rider stirrup-less for two months before show season every year. Over the winter we often gave our horses so time off and that in turn gave us a little time off. Its amazing what riding with no stirrups, no reins, bareback, etc can do for you. Also make sure you're not just riding around the rail. Have COMPLICATED horsemanship patterns set up an do them properly. We would also ride patterns with one are perpendicular to our bodies, then parallel to our bodies for the patterns. The ideas are endless, if you aren't tired and sore by the end, you weren't trying hard enough! Have fun |
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Improving seat