Using your seat and legs, control and steer a horse.
The seat and legs of a horse are very important.By aligning your body correctly and learning how to adjust the pressure and movement of your seat and legs, you will be able to control and steer your horse without relying on the reins as much.If you practice using your seat and legs, you will be able to clearly communicate with your signals, which will help you and your horse have a better relationship.
Step 1: Straight lines can be created through your ear, shoulder, hip, and heel.
Put your horse in the saddle.Imagine a line from your ear down to your foot.As you ride, try to keep your weight under your horse's center of gravity.Stand up in the stirrups and find the position where you can balance easily.Lower yourself onto your horse.You may only need to make a few small adjustments if your ear, shoulder, hip, and heel are in line.Your horse can be confused by losing this alignment.Your weight will fall onto your horse's back if your legs slide forward.You will tip forward if your legs are too far back.
Step 2: Hold your legs against your horse.
From your knees, let your legs hang down.Wrap your legs around your horse.This causes your knees to open slightly and prevents you from gripping the saddle at the knee, which can cause you to be unbalanced.
Step 3: The stirrups should be on the ball of each foot if you adjust your feet.
Put your foot under your toe and let it point out.Carry your weight in a straight line.
Step 4: Relax and make it straight.
Straight back is one of the most important aspects of a correct riding posture.Overcompensation can make your back arch uncomfortably if you focus too much on having a straight back.It is common for you to perch in the saddle and for your back to arch without even knowing it.This tells your horse to prepare for flight, which in turn makes both of you tenser.Your back stays straight if you relax as much as possible.You can use this to communicate with your horse.
Step 5: The horse is moving with your body.
Move with your horse.Relax and watch your horse move.Lifts and rolls can be felt in your hands, hips, seat, and legs.You will be able to understand how to use your seat and legs well if you feel flexible and comfortable with your horse.
Step 6: Ask your horse to walk by squeezing your legs.
If you want your horse to move towards you, position your weight evenly over the saddle.As your horse moves forward, pulse with your lower legs.As you ask your horse to walk, lighten your seat.Imagine if you grew slightly taller towards the sky, instead of gripping with your knees.Imagine holding a ball between your calves when you are asking your horse to walk.Try to hold the ball in place.As you squeeze and pulse with your legs, this is the right amount of pressure to apply.
Step 7: You want to go in a certain direction.
Turn your head, shoulders, and hips to the right or left.If you want to move toward the right, apply gentle pressure with your left leg and let your horse move into your right leg.If you want to move to the left, apply gentle pressure with your right leg and let your horse move into your left leg.One way to think about turning is that your horse will move away from the pressure.The weight in your seat should shift slightly as your horse begins to turn.You can feel your hands, seat, and legs open.
Step 8: Stop turning by returning to your normal position.
If your horse has turned enough to the right or left, stop using your turning aids.If you want your horse to walk on again, position your weight evenly in your seat, look straight ahead, and gently pulse with each leg.
Step 9: When you're ready to stop, keep your body tense.
Become less flexible and stop following the motion at the same time.Slow down the speed at which your hands follow the horse.To stop following the motion, reduce the flexibility in your hips and seat.This means that you will ask your horse to slow down or stop.Decrease the movement in your hips and seat by tightening your stomach muscles.
Step 10: Drop your weight into your seat.
Relax in the saddle and keep your weight distributed evenly.As you exhale, sink your weight down as you stop following your horse.
Step 11: You should stop the pulse with your legs.
Your legs help keep your horse in motion.Allow your calves to relax and remain still as you stop applying pressure on your legs.Your horse will stop.
Step 12: If you want to speed up, pulse your legs.
Put more pressure on your lower legs by keeping your body aligned.Lighten your seat by sitting taller.
Step 13: Move your body in the same way.
Immediately after using your legs, relax your body and become more flexible to your horse's motion to signal an increase in pace.The hips and seat should be flexible to follow the swinging motion.With the increased bobbing motion of your horse's head, allow your hands to move.Your horse may not understand what you are asking if you don't signal using both slight leg pressure and letting your body move forward in the same rhythm.
Step 14: You can follow your horse's movement with your elbow.
Let your arms relax once you have begun giving signals with your legs, hips, and seat.Allow your hands to follow the increased speed.The new movement helps your body to be open to it.
Step 15: Use your aids to slow down your horse.
Your seat and legs will communicate with each other to maintain the same pace.If you want your hips and seat to follow your horse at a slower pace, pulse your legs gently.When your horse slows to your desired speed, use your legs and seat to maintain the movement.If you are asking your horse to slow down, reduce the swinging motion of your hips and gently slow your arm motion.If your horse is moving at a walk, trot, or canter, you should use your legs and seat in this way.