|
|
Regular
Posts: 82
| I for the life of me cannot sit my butt back in the saddle when I'm turning. When I watch videos I look like I'm bouncing like a fool. I feel like I have so many thoughts in my head - check-grab horn-sit-bend elbow... etc that I feel like a mess!
Any tips or ideas how to remember to sit? | |
| | |
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
  
| I sit first as I want my horse to collect when I cue by sitting in the saddle. After I have sat down, then I will check a 2 handed bump if they need more cues than sitting. At the same time at the sitting, checking, I will apply my inside leg to ensure they are shaped for the turn.
After I have done all the above, I drop to one hand, the one on the saddle horn, I push myself down into the saddle, and lock my elbow above my hip bone.
I was told to practice perfect, so I practice this at a walk, trot, lope, etc.
If you are bouncing around, I find I bounce more leaving the turns if I am in a saddle too big, or if the saddle has too much rock for the horse (I have flat backed horses), also my stirrups can cause me to bounce, I ride each horse with stirrup length adjusted to how they run and how I feel. | |
| | |
  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
 
Location: Texas | cheryl makofka - 2014-07-19 5:20 PM I sit first as I want my horse to collect when I cue by sitting in the saddle. After I have sat down, then I will check a 2 handed bump if they need more cues than sitting. At the same time at the sitting, checking, I will apply my inside leg to ensure they are shaped for the turn. After I have done all the above, I drop to one hand, the one on the saddle horn, I push myself down into the saddle, and lock my elbow above my hip bone. I was told to practice perfect, so I practice this at a walk, trot, lope, etc. If you are bouncing around, I find I bounce more leaving the turns if I am in a saddle too big, or if the saddle has too much rock for the horse (I have flat backed horses), also my stirrups can cause me to bounce, I ride each horse with stirrup length adjusted to how they run and how I feel.
This. | |
| | |
Regular
Posts: 82
| Thank you, what I'm asking is how do you remember to do it? I grab the horn but in the instant to turn I forget to push on the darn thing.
I guess I'll just have to remember in to "practice perfect" as you say :) | |
| | |
 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | Sitting is just second nature to me...you have to sit to cue your horse to rate and you have to rate at the barrel. I guess because I've been running so long I don't really have to "remember" to sit, I just do it.
Like someone else said, it's helpful to practice things even at the walk and trot. I went through a phase on one horse where I kept not going to the horn; I had to practice going to the horn even at the walk just to fix my muscle memory on this horse (I still went to the horn on other horses, it was weird haha). | |
| | |
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 713
Location: ND | I have trouble remembering to sit at my first.. :) I was told to practice circles at a trot.. post up to your spot and then make a conscience effort to not post around the turn.. that has helped me.. | |
| | |
 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | 3canchaser01 - 2014-07-19 6:51 PM Thank you, what I'm asking is how do you remember to do it? I grab the horn but in the instant to turn I forget to push on the darn thing. I guess I'll just have to remember in to "practice perfect" as you say :)
Yes anything you do fast MUST be practiced at slow speed.....muscle memory training is key! | |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 437
| Try not actually grabbing the horn going in, instead press your palm against it as you go into the turn then close your hand around it to pull yourself forward to leave, if you grab it going in you are lilkely to pull yourself forward with it. Hope that makes sense
Edited by Wrapn3inAK 2014-07-20 12:20 AM
| |
| | |
 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| cheryl makofka - 2014-07-19 7:20 PM I sit first as I want my horse to collect when I cue by sitting in the saddle. After I have sat down, then I will check a 2 handed bump if they need more cues than sitting. At the same time at the sitting, checking, I will apply my inside leg to ensure they are shaped for the turn. After I have done all the above, I drop to one hand, the one on the saddle horn, I push myself down into the saddle, and lock my elbow above my hip bone. I was told to practice perfect, so I practice this at a walk, trot, lope, etc. If you are bouncing around, I find I bounce more leaving the turns if I am in a saddle too big, or if the saddle has too much rock for the horse (I have flat backed horses), also my stirrups can cause me to bounce, I ride each horse with stirrup length adjusted to how they run and how I feel.
Absolutely this . . .
The fastest I go at home in practice is a trot due to deep shifty sand footing. I've found that I have learned better barrel racing doing this than all the fast practice I used to do when I visited my trainer often. Not only that, but I can feel if my horse is doing something not right in the pattern and can correct it slow. | |
| | |
 I am Woman hear me Roar
Posts: 3395
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma | lonely va barrelxr - 2014-07-20 1:16 PM
cheryl makofka - 2014-07-19 7:20 PM I sit first as I want my horse to collect when I cue by sitting in the saddle. After I have sat down, then I will check a 2 handed bump if they need more cues than sitting. At the same time at the sitting, checking, I will apply my inside leg to ensure they are shaped for the turn. After I have done all the above, I drop to one hand, the one on the saddle horn, I push myself down into the saddle, and lock my elbow above my hip bone. I was told to practice perfect, so I practice this at a walk, trot, lope, etc. If you are bouncing around, I find I bounce more leaving the turns if I am in a saddle too big, or if the saddle has too much rock for the horse (I have flat backed horses), also my stirrups can cause me to bounce, I ride each horse with stirrup length adjusted to how they run and how I feel.
Absolutely this . . .
The fastest I go at home in practice is a trot due to deep shifty sand footing. I've found that I have learned better barrel racing doing this than all the fast practice I used to do when I visited my trainer often. Not only that, but I can feel if my horse is doing something not right in the pattern and can correct it slow.
I too have a big issue with this!!
But practicing everything at a walk/trot has helped to improve my timing and body posture. I've been spending lots of time lately with my new guy doing just this!
| |
| | |
Regular
Posts: 82
| Thanks everyone! You gave me some great tips! I was just trotting down the trail today and was practicing pushing myself back (I don't want to sour my horse on the pattern for just my benefit) :)
Edited by 3canchaser01 2014-07-20 3:02 PM
| |
| | |
 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | cheryl makofka - 2014-07-19 7:20 PM
I sit first as I want my horse to collect when I cue by sitting in the saddle. After I have sat down, then I will check a 2 handed bump if they need more cues than sitting. At the same time at the sitting, checking, I will apply my inside leg to ensure they are shaped for the turn.
After I have done all the above, I drop to one hand, the one on the saddle horn, I push myself down into the saddle, and lock my elbow above my hip bone.
I was told to practice perfect, so I practice this at a walk, trot, lope, etc.
If you are bouncing around, I find I bounce more leaving the turns if I am in a saddle too big, or if the saddle has too much rock for the horse (I have flat backed horses), also my stirrups can cause me to bounce, I ride each horse with stirrup length adjusted to how they run and how I feel.
This is excellent. I don't lock my elbow, but maybe I should. One mistake I sometimes make is going to the horn and/or asking for rate too early. I need to do a better job of picking out my spot. | |
| | |
 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | 3canchaser01 - 2014-07-19 8:51 PM
Thank you, what I'm asking is how do you remember to do it? I grab the horn but in the instant to turn I forget to push on the darn thing.
I guess I'll just have to remember in to "practice perfect" as you say :)
muscle memory! Do it slow on a horse a lot like others have suggested, AND take your saddle inside and sit on it on a saddle stand while you're watching a movie or something. Go through your runs mentally over and over again. That is what helps me remember something new quicker and better, without burning my horse out or making him sour(or making him wonder what the heck I'm doing up there).
Before I did all of that, me trying to sit back during a run looked more like a fish flopping all around up there trying to get myself organized i just didn't have the muscle coordination to do it all at once! I had some pretty weird looking runs for awhile!!
Edited by Crowned Image 2014-07-21 7:34 AM
| |
| | |
 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Muscle memory, upper body and core strength are all important. I'm surprised no one mentioned the saddle tho. Riding a saddle that fits you correctly and helps support correct positioning makes a Big Difference. Some of them absolutely will launch you forward, and a bad-fitting saddle (especially too small) will do the same thing. If you're having trouble sitting, I would try a saddle made to sit you back on your pockets with forward hung stirrups. | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line