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Veteran
Posts: 174
 
| Have any of you used the Velcro magic seat? Does it help with balance? would love to hear others input |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 628
Location: Missouri | We had one for my 5 year old niece and her old horse. Works like a CHARM! With this being said, I wouldn't support a 5 year old wearing it on a ragging crazy barrel horse who is going to go barreling in an arena. The kid needs to know how to control the animal and ride, but it is a great confidence booster to little kids. |
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 As Good As I Once Was
Posts: 1211
Location: frozen tundra of pa | They work great. Had one for my youngest stepdaughter when she rode it helped with both balance and confidence. Still use one for my wife who lost a hand in a farming accident years ago it helps to hold her in place but if something happens like a horse falling it will NOT hold you on the horse. they are a great tool if used properly.
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Veteran
Posts: 174
| Great thanks. That was my concern that it would hold you in too much and be a safety issue. |
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Expert
Posts: 1905
Location: PICAYUNE,MS | My 12 year old rides with one ,works awesome |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
 
| I use one on one of my horses but not the other two. It does help with balance. I think I have had mine for about 6 years. Martha Josey rides with one and has for years. |
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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Tried it. Didn't work for me. The straps under the jockeys and fenders wouldn't let me get my feet where I needed them. And it just didn't feel right. I really don't think it helped me at all riding wise either. I think I do better without it. Just my experience. |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | I'm 58, and I use one when I'm entered at a barrel race. Every once in a while my horse pulls a fast one and the magic seat helps me not hang on his face while I get back centered.
For kids, I don't recomend them. If the horse is too much for them, they need a mount that is on target with their needs.
I try doing different exercises to stregenthen my core. Another balance exercise I'd do is hands free on the elliptical machine.
The magic seat is a tool. It won't corect poor riding skills.
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Work on your core strength. Planks work good for that. Bareback riding will improve your balance. Make yourself healthy and strong. No magic seat needed. I personally think its wrong to put a kid in one. If your kiddo needs one then they are over mounted or don't have the riding skills yet. JMO |
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 Expert
Posts: 1410
Location: Peach State | They are great for little kids who don't have long enough legs to reach the stirrups.(for little kids who are just riding around a safe horse they can already control) I tried them once when I was a lot younger. Hated it. My parents got it for me because when I could kick coming off a barrel my horse would pop me up really high. Instead I just learned to squeeze that first stride off the barrel so today I'm not one of those riders seeing how much air I can get and break my horses backs off every barrel. |
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Miss Southern Sunshine
Posts: 7427
Location: South Central Florida | I loved them. Both my kids started in them when very young, both are excellent riders since. I have seen them used as training tools also and like anything work well for some, not for others. I believe.they are quite safe. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| I suggest using duct tape and a ratchet strap. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 742
| CYA Ranch - 2015-03-29 7:57 AM Work on your core strength. Planks work good for that. Bareback riding will improve your balance. Make yourself healthy and strong. No magic seat needed. I personally think its wrong to put a kid in one. If your kiddo needs one then they are over mounted or don't have the riding skills yet. JMO
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | I, like Roxieanne, use one for when I enter up. I am 63 years old. My core is very strong (the trainers at the wellness center were amazed) but that alone will not hold you in the saddle, but neither will a magic seat. It also takes a great deal of leg strength to stay with a powerhouse. A magic seat will give you an instant's worth of "stick" if your horse stumbles or something and allow you to maybe recover before you eat dirt. I started using mine after I had quit running barrels for awhile and started back and was very weak in my legs. I felt like I was riding by balance alone and and that if my horse did ANYTHING out of the ordinary, I was in the dirt. It was great for my confidence and allowed me to ride much more aggressively. I don't think I need it so much now, as I've been riding a recumbent bike and my legs are much stronger now, but it's a mental thing. I THINK I need it. lol I'm working on getting away from it, but if I have a hard turning powerhouse, you can bet I'm going to use it. It does help some with balance, and I don't think it's anything you should be ashamed of if you feel the need to use it. As someone says, Martha Josey uses one and has for years, and I don't think anyone questions her riding skills. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 742
| I think adults can use whatever they choose to use. I know someone around here that uses huge rubberbands around her waist to stay in the saddle and she wins a lot. More power to her. As far as kids using these types of aids I think they should learn how to sit a horse properly to gain the right strength and balance. I learned to ride as a little kiddo and although my parents put me on some old nags I still had to learn balance and a good seat to help me when a big stumble happened. I think kids can learn a heck of a lot by riding bareback whenever they can. My experience paid off now that I am an adult I can hang with any moves on a horse. Just my little ol opinion.  |
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 Veteran
Posts: 287
| I've been considering one lately. I am only 35 but have degeneration in my back and all the core strengthening in the world will not make my back strong enough to be as secure in the saddle as I need to be. i have come off before as a result and actually banged up pretty bad as a result. I never would haveconsidered using one before but Id rather stay riding even if it means cheating a little |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | mlh0972 - 2015-03-27 4:15 PM
We had one for my 5 year old niece and her old horse. Works like a CHARM! With this being said, I wouldn't support a 5 year old wearing it on a ragging crazy barrel horse who is going to go barreling in an arena. The kid needs to know how to control the animal and ride, but it is a great confidence booster to little kids.
I'm really genuinely curious and not trying to be snide or mean. Do you have a plan for taking it away? Or does your niece ride without it on occasion? |
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Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | wickedstepmother - 2015-03-29 11:42 AM I've been considering one lately. I am only 35 but have degeneration in my back and all the core strengthening in the world will not make my back strong enough to be as secure in the saddle as I need to be. i have come off before as a result and actually banged up pretty bad as a result. I never would haveconsidered using one before but Id rather stay riding even if it means cheating a little
It's not cheeting. It's a tool just like a saddle and bit are. Heck, let's all ride bare back, no bits, just leg power! Would make for an interesting barrel race...... |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| CYA Ranch - 2015-03-29 7:57 AM
Work on your core strength. Planks work good for that. Bareback riding will improve your balance. Make yourself healthy and strong. No magic seat needed. I personally think its wrong to put a kid in one. If your kiddo needs one then they are over mounted or don't have the riding skills yet. JMO
I do work out at a gym specifically on my core strength. I have some other balance issues. Perhaps you should try to ride the one horse that I use it on.
This is very much like Obama running down Mitt Romney's wife doing the "horse dancing". Her horse was taken to the Olympics in London for dressage. Typical case of not knowing all the facts. Rominy's wife has MS and dressage was recommended to help her disease. It just so happens that they can afford the very best horse. Intead of running people down have some compassion their problems and let them do what it takes to improve. As I said, Martha Josey has used one for years she usually ride horses that snap off the barrels and that run in the top of the 1D. If you want to tell her if she would work on her core strength,, I can give you her number. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | streakysox - 2015-03-29 12:30 PM CYA Ranch - 2015-03-29 7:57 AM Work on your core strength. Planks work good for that. Bareback riding will improve your balance. Make yourself healthy and strong. No magic seat needed. I personally think its wrong to put a kid in one. If your kiddo needs one then they are over mounted or don't have the riding skills yet. JMO I do work out at a gym specifically on my core strength. I have some other balance issues. Perhaps you should try to ride the one horse that I use it on. This is very much like Obama running down Mitt Romney's wife doing the "horse dancing". Her horse was taken to the Olympics in London for dressage. Typical case of not knowing all the facts. Rominy's wife has MS and dressage was recommended to help her disease. It just so happens that they can afford the very best horse. Intead of running people down have some compassion their problems and let them do what it takes to improve. As I said, Martha Josey has used one for years she usually ride horses that snap off the barrels and that run in the top of the 1D. If you want to tell her if she would work on her core strength,, I can give you her number.
The OP asked for opinions. I gave my opinion. |
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