We often hear instructors and clinicians talking about the "balanced seat", and how important it is to effective horse riding. It stands to reason that without a balanced seat, the rider is UNbalanced! But what we don't hear often is what is actually balanced about the balanced seat, and how to achieve it! So here are a few thoughts.
Stay With The Horse
In order to stay with the horse's movement, the seat has to at once move but also not move too much. If the horse moves, the seat HAS to follow along, and dance the dance that it is receiving from the horse's back. But if it moves TOO much - far beyond the horse's movement - then, it's a flopping seat and it can actually unbalance the horse! So the difficult trick is to teach your body to stay with the horse but to also stay toned and strong, especially through the core, where most of the horse's movement is received and absorbed.
Stay On Top Of The Horse
We've all probably gotten either too far ahead of the horse's movement, or alternately, fallen behind the horse's movement. It's very easy to do! If the horse lurches forward, our vertical upper bodies have the tendency to get left behind, and suddenly, we find ourselves leaning back and doing our best to not fall off even as the horse continues to move off. Then, when the horse suddenly slows down or stops, we get thrown forward, sometimes toward or on the horse's neck.
First off, we need to have the strength in our core muscles to be able to keep our shoulders above our hips no matter what the horse does. So as the horse goes to lurch forward, we have to counter that movement by keeping our shoulders vertical and not allowing our upper bodies to give in to the pull backward. The same thing goes for the fall forward - knowing when to stay strong in the lower back to prevent the lean forward is very helpful when the horse suddenly stops moving.
But it also helps to keep the horse "ahead of the leg", and to create smooth, flowing transitions. It's probably fairly obvious that if you can help your horse stay better balanced, that you'll be able to stay vertical through the movements that much better, and with a lot less effort.
No Leaning!
Aside from the backward and forward falling, there's also the side-to-side component of the seat.
Many of us might lean or turn or collapse to one side. It might have to do with our bodies, or with our muscle memory from times past, or just from long ago habits that were never corrected in the first place. The only thing to do here is to stay even on top of both seat bones. Your shoulders should be parallel to your horse's shoulders (and pointing into a circle if that's where you're going. Your hips should also be parallel to the horse's hips (and be straight if you are travelling on a straight line).
And then, stay that way! Try to feel your sides and avoid collapses. Try to notice if you turn your upper body too far going one direction. And counteract that lean through the turn, so that you can be as tall and straight on your horse as you can (even while you're turned just enough into that direction). This way, you will be able to help your horse stay as "straight on the turn" as he can.
Be Independent
When all the above imbalances are corrected, we can achieve something that I'm sure you've heard of many times: the "independent seat". Once the seat is balanced enough, it can become independent of the hands, and even of the legs to some degree, so that the rider can control each part of the body as needed. In this manner, for example, if the horse does move quickly in one direction, the seat (and torso) can counteract the movement by staying in balance, and thereby NOT causing the hands to hold onto the reins just for the sake of staying on the horse. Instead, they can support the horse through the movement, giving and taking as needed to help the horse maintain his balance.
Be Effective
Finally, there is one last result of the balanced seat. The balance translates into effectiveness.
If you can do all the above, you can also improve your horse's way of going - which is what it's all about, really. We all want to keep our horses sound and safe and injury-free even while we ride them and enjoy the various disciplines with them. Good balance is one of the fundamental components of keeping a healthy and happy horse.
It's Simple, Really
At least, the concept is simple.
A balanced seat allows you to stay with your horse. Your upper body moves little and doesn't fall forward or backward. It doesn't lean or collapse left or right. It also allows you to use your aids more effectively, with less "noise" (so there's less to confuse the horse), and with more clarity.
The hard part is putting in the work to get there! But surely, with practice and feedback, it can be done. Have fun!
Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!
