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However, if she's going to achieve a truly
independent seat, she's going to have to give up the security of her grip in
order to learn how to ride with relaxation and true balance. Until she does,
she's not going to be able to follow her horse's motion. She's going to get
stuck on a plateau. The irony is that when she gives up her grip, her riding is
actually going to regress for awhile. That frustrates many people and makes it
hard for them to give up the bad riding habits they've developed that at least
give them some sense of control. The reality is that unless you are able to
give that control up and re-educate your body, you are not going to be able to
progress to the next level.
If you don't have an independent seat, you will still influence the
horse but your influences are going to create the wrong results and frustration
for both you and the horse. Before you and your horse can play at the upper
levels of whatever game you have chosen, being able to stay relaxed, to stay balanced over the
horse's center of gravity, and to follow the horse's motion at all gaits is essential.
Faith Meredith coaches riders in dressage, reining, and eventing
and has successfully trained and competed horses through FEI levels of
dressage.
She is the Director of
Meredith Manor International Equestrian
Centre,
Route 1, Box 66, Waverly, WV 26184;
1-304-679-3128;
http:/fwww.meredithmanor.com
an ACCET accredited equestrian
educational institution.
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