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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
 
Location: Northern Ontario | Does anyone have tips for sitting deeper in the saddle? it's something I've always had trouble with I can sit fairly well at the trot and lope but I have trouble sitting down in hard stops or turns. also my mare performs much better when I see it deeper so any advice or exercices would be appreciated.
Edited by SuperTrooper 2015-04-01 9:45 AM
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
 
| Fellow BB shared this article with me.. Found it interesting. =)
http://www.equinestudies.org/whos_built_best_2008/whos_built_best_2008_pdf1.pdf |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| i'm so glad you asked this because i have the same problem. my first barrel horse that i ran for 10 years i didn't have to really sit hard because even though he worked his tail off for me, he just wasn't that powerful. now i have a "real" horse that i bought a month ago and we really have a chance to go kick some booty but this sucker is so so powerful that i have got to learn to really sit hard around my barrels or he will leave me on top of them! |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Most ppl ride in a high back saddle that throws you forward and is also too small for them. Get you a barrel saddle made on a cutting tree that does NOT have a high back. It will help you. |
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Veteran
Posts: 276
| I think it is important to keep your elbows tucked close to your torso as much as possible. Especially in the turns, it will help you to lock yourself in between the saddle horn and cantle. I also feel it helps me to use my legs and body more so than rely on my hands. I've heard of trainers who will make their students tie or wrap their upper arms down to their body. Maybe that would help if it is something that is hard to pickup. I have really long arms so it is natural for me to want to keep them tucked away, otherwise it would look pretty silly with my long limbs flailing all around! |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Make sure the your stirrups leathers {Fenders} are the right lenght for you and the seat is the right size. And that your feet are not getting behind you. |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 9:54 AM Most ppl ride in a high back saddle that throws you forward and is also too small for them. Get you a barrel saddle made on a cutting tree that does NOT have a high back. It will help you.
^^^This! I'm a very forward rider naturally and if I have a saddle that doesn't ride balanced or has fenders that aren't set properly, when I stand up or my horse makes a sudden move I end up kissing them between the ears. I ride a cutting type saddle in a bit larger seat so I can get down in it without sloshing around. IMO there are very few barrel saddles out there that ride balanced. I spend years trying to find one that did and can name them on one hand. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Find a saddle that makes it easy to roll your pelvis down and lock your elbow against the horn. Work on your core strength. There are some really good exercises in "Centered Riding" to help you sit deep into your horse. I still use the imagery all the time because it works. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Herbie - 2015-04-01 11:19 AM
astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 9:54 AM Most ppl ride in a high back saddle that throws you forward and is also too small for them. Get you a barrel saddle made on a cutting tree that does NOT have a high back. It will help you.
^^^This! I'm a very forward rider naturally and if I have a saddle that doesn't ride balanced or has fenders that aren't set properly, when I stand up or my horse makes a sudden move I end up kissing them between the ears. I ride a cutting type saddle in a bit larger seat so I can get down in it without sloshing around.  IMO there are very few barrel saddles out there that ride balanced. I spend years trying to find one that did and can name them on one hand. Â
I feel like there hast to be something in my trailer that you need and can trade that new jeff smith for ;-)
I've been stalking the tack sites for jeff smiths like it! If I ever get money saved (ha!) I'm ordering me one. |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 11:14 AM Herbie - 2015-04-01 11:19 AM astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 9:54 AM Most ppl ride in a high back saddle that throws you forward and is also too small for them. Get you a barrel saddle made on a cutting tree that does NOT have a high back. It will help you. ^^^This! I'm a very forward rider naturally and if I have a saddle that doesn't ride balanced or has fenders that aren't set properly, when I stand up or my horse makes a sudden move I end up kissing them between the ears. I ride a cutting type saddle in a bit larger seat so I can get down in it without sloshing around. IMO there are very few barrel saddles out there that ride balanced. I spend years trying to find one that did and can name them on one hand. I feel like there hast to be something in my trailer that you need and can trade that new jeff smith for ;- ) I've been stalking the tack sites for jeff smiths like it! If I ever get money saved (ha! ) I'm ordering me one.
Blahahaha....well...whatcha got??? I actually have TWO of them....uh oh...did I just say that outloud?? I've always got some trade in me and live 45 mins from the shop so could get a new one pretty easily probably.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Herbie - 2015-04-01 12:53 PM
astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 11:14 AM Herbie - 2015-04-01 11:19 AM astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 9:54 AM Most ppl ride in a high back saddle that throws you forward and is also too small for them. Get you a barrel saddle made on a cutting tree that does NOT have a high back. It will help you. ^^^This! I'm a very forward rider naturally and if I have a saddle that doesn't ride balanced or has fenders that aren't set properly, when I stand up or my horse makes a sudden move I end up kissing them between the ears. I ride a cutting type saddle in a bit larger seat so I can get down in it without sloshing around.  IMO there are very few barrel saddles out there that ride balanced. I spend years trying to find one that did and can name them on one hand.  I feel like there hast to be something in my trailer that you need and can trade that new jeff smith for ;- ) I've been stalking the tack sites for jeff smiths like it! If I ever get money saved (ha! ) I'm ordering me one.
Gah now I'm frantically gonna be deciding what can go! Off the top of my head I got 3/4 a tub of magic cushion, 4 or 5 award blankets in various sizes, and a jar of moonshine. Deal? |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 12:04 PM Herbie - 2015-04-01 12:53 PM astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 11:14 AM Herbie - 2015-04-01 11:19 AM astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 9:54 AM Most ppl ride in a high back saddle that throws you forward and is also too small for them. Get you a barrel saddle made on a cutting tree that does NOT have a high back. It will help you. ^^^This! I'm a very forward rider naturally and if I have a saddle that doesn't ride balanced or has fenders that aren't set properly, when I stand up or my horse makes a sudden move I end up kissing them between the ears. I ride a cutting type saddle in a bit larger seat so I can get down in it without sloshing around. IMO there are very few barrel saddles out there that ride balanced. I spend years trying to find one that did and can name them on one hand. I feel like there hast to be something in my trailer that you need and can trade that new jeff smith for ;- ) I've been stalking the tack sites for jeff smiths like it! If I ever get money saved (ha! ) I'm ordering me one. Gah now I'm frantically gonna be deciding what can go! Off the top of my head I got 3/4 a tub of magic cushion, 4 or 5 award blankets in various sizes, and a jar of moonshine. Deal?
Well now I know you can't ship the Moonshine b/c my boss tried to buy some Popcorn Sutton and get it shipped, so that's out, and i'm afraid that was your best bargaining tool. Better keep digging! LOL |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Herbie - 2015-04-01 1:58 PM
astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 12:04 PM Herbie - 2015-04-01 12:53 PM astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 11:14 AM Herbie - 2015-04-01 11:19 AM astreakinchic - 2015-04-01 9:54 AM Most ppl ride in a high back saddle that throws you forward and is also too small for them. Get you a barrel saddle made on a cutting tree that does NOT have a high back. It will help you. ^^^This! I'm a very forward rider naturally and if I have a saddle that doesn't ride balanced or has fenders that aren't set properly, when I stand up or my horse makes a sudden move I end up kissing them between the ears. I ride a cutting type saddle in a bit larger seat so I can get down in it without sloshing around.  IMO there are very few barrel saddles out there that ride balanced. I spend years trying to find one that did and can name them on one hand.  I feel like there hast to be something in my trailer that you need and can trade that new jeff smith for ;- ) I've been stalking the tack sites for jeff smiths like it! If I ever get money saved (ha! ) I'm ordering me one. Gah now I'm frantically gonna be deciding what can go! Off the top of my head I got 3/4 a tub of magic cushion, 4 or 5 award blankets in various sizes, and a jar of moonshine. Deal?
Oh we can get it out there! Its muscadine flavored and as strong as the clear stuff!  ![]()
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Blahahaha.....I stillllll don't think we're quite there yet. |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Â If you ride without stirrups and then put your feet back in your stirrups, you'll feel like your stirrups got shorter or your legs got longer. That's because your seat is deeper. Riding with a longer stirrups seems to help me sit a little deeper. Also, keeping your heels down and sinking your weight into your heels helps to keep you anchored and sit a little better too. Sitting up in the center of your horse with your heels underneath you helps to put you in the proper place so you can sit deeper. Also, your ankles act as shock absorbers, as does your waist. If you stiffen those areas up, then you wind up coming up out of the saddle more. I have my students do a lot of riding without stirrups and ride bareback with their arms up and out, and also with their eyes closed to develope balance and feel needed for sitting deep. Also, your head placement impacts how you sit too. |
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