Posted 2017-10-18 8:06 AM Subject: Engaging Your Core Muscles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 937
How do you know if you are doing it correctly? I don't ever feel like I'm really down in the seat and secure in the saddle. When I try to really sit down I feel like I'm hunched over. Any tips would be appreciated!
Posted 2017-10-18 8:50 AM Subject: RE: Engaging Your Core Muscles
Expert
Posts: 3815 Location: The best kept secret in TX
sourkiss378 - 2017-10-18 8:06 AM How do you know if you are doing it correctly? I don't ever feel like I'm really down in the seat and secure in the saddle. When I try to really sit down I feel like I'm hunched over. Any tips would be appreciated!
I had trouble with this for a while. My stirrups were too long tho so once I shortened them it made it easier.
Have you tried sitting deep while the horse was walking or standing still? I found that once I knew how it was supposed to feel it made feeling it while he was running easier.
I stood in my stirrups like we were running full on sprints and then sat like I would in a turn. (I practiced on a barrel without a saddle first lol)
Posted 2017-10-18 9:02 AM Subject: RE: Engaging Your Core Muscles
Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
Couple of things come to mind with this.
Is your saddle seat the correct size? Stirrup length may be an issue as mentioned.
Are you leaning forward too far? Do you push back against the saddle horn with your palm and lock your elbow against your hip to help you keep balanced?
You should rotate your hips downward so that your pockets slide down into the seat. This picture kind of shows the downward rotation to really sit deep.
See this thread also, which is essentially the same problem. http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=479581&posts=6
Posted 2017-10-18 9:24 AM Subject: RE: Engaging Your Core Muscles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
You've gotten some good advice here!
I would add I get a little hunched over...I tend to ride to straight/up right (from years of showing pleasure horses), so I have to think low to brace against the horn and stirrups and keep my hand down.
Posted 2017-10-18 11:45 AM Subject: RE: Engaging Your Core Muscles
Expert
Posts: 1631 Location: Somewhere around here
Here's an exercise I told my friends to do so they learn how to engage their core when they workout. Go ahead and breathe out as much air as you possibly can and then push breathe out the rest. When you're pushing the last bit of the air out you suck in your stomach and your belly button goes closer into your spine. Once you learn to do this a couple of times then it's really easy to do it when you're riding and then you can just build up from that. Hopefully that made sense.
Posted 2017-10-18 1:18 PM Subject: RE: Engaging Your Core Muscles
Sparklin Cowgirl
Posts: 4379
I have had some hip issues that have my core all kinds of out of whack. My Chiro has given me some exercises to do at home to help my hips and my core to help hold my body better. It has been helping me a lot. I think for me, working on my body outside of the arena has really helped me. My hips would hurt so bad when I would ride. I finally had to do something about it and stop sucking it up. It has helped me not get behind my horse too. Maybe some core strengthening exercises to do at home might help?
Engaging Your Core Muscles
