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Our
goal as we move up the riding tree is to develop an independent seat so that we
can influence the horse. An independent seat means that you are not relying on
anything but balance to hold you on the horse. You use an athletic muscle
tension to help you stay in balance but you are relaxed, not gripping with your
muscles to hold you on the horse. Once you are in control of your own body, you
can begin to influence the horse and control its body.
The first step in developing an independent seat is learning to relax
while sitting on the horse. The second is learning to balance your own weight
over the horse's center of gravity. The third is learning to feel and follow
the horse's motion at the walk, trot, and canter.
"Following" does not mean just sitting and passively letting the
horse's motion swing you along. it is an active muscular activity that aligns
your rhythm with the horse's rhythm and puts the two of you in harmony. The
rider needs to be aware of various body parts. She needs to be riding in
balance, using elastic, athletic muscle tension to help her stay in balance
rather than tight, gripping, nervous muscle tension. It takes strong abdominal
muscles and loose, flexible hip joints that open and close smoothly. Being able
to follow the motion is an essential skill the rider needs in order to ride in
rhythm and harmony with the horse. Without this independent seat where you have
total control of your body parts, you are always going to be limiting your
horse.
A good instructor will choose school horses
that can help a rider in whatever phase she is in at the moment. A good
schoolmaster can help a rider become more relaxed and balanced so she can learn
to follow the motion. Many instructors use longing to help riders develop a
feel for the horse's motion.
This understanding
of it is fairly simple. But mentally understanding it and applying it
physically takes a lot of hard work and mental concentration. It takes a lot of
hours in the saddle on a lot of different horses to achieve a truly independent
seat and there are going to be a lot of times when your progress
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