Rider’s uniqueness
Every rider, as every horse is unique! So everybody has their own unique body, unique body posture, ways of moving or coordinating his body parts and an unique way of learning, thinking or feeling.
Look at this picture! Already at this simple exercise on a bench, when I ask these young riders in my boot camp, to seat as if they were on a horse, the differences in their body postures are obvious. These all become even more pronounced on a horse in a movement, because movemental patterns take place more automatically then.
Pay attention to the curve of their backs: the 2nd and 4th riders, from left to right, have a very pronounced lower back curve. Thus their pelvises are tilted forward. As a riding teacher I like to correct this at the very beginning, because by doing this I can protect their vertebras and help them to develop more core stabilisation and they will benefit from it even in their everyday life. Moreover in this position the influence of the pelvise on the horse is incorrect.
The 2nd and even more the last rider, from left to right, already here have their toes turned away from the bench. They both carry them in the same way also on the horse.
Only the 2nd rider, from lef to right, has his heels and whole sole on the ground. She is the only one from the group that doesn’t have problems with high hills during riding.
Although the girls are almost the same age, you can already see the differences in lenghts of their upper arms and upper legs parts. You have to take this in account when adjusting the lenght of the stirrups or the height where they will carry their hands (right reins lenght!).
First 3 riders keep “closed wrists on a horse” already automatically. On the other hand the 3rd and 4th one need more reminding to keep their wrists closed.
A question for you: Which rider in the upper picture was distracted in the moment that the photo was taken? Which two riders were arguing for the sitting place right before the photo session? Which rider is in the best mood and which are having a lot of fun doing fotoshooting?
TIP 1 : As a good riding teacher or children boot camp provider, you have to consider also this important emotional and mental aspect of riders (and horses) involved. Because of this, you have to adapt a riding lesson with the same rider every time you work together, considering the current situation. Your emotional and menthal state is also very important! Keep bening patient and professional!
TIP 2 : Riding teachers, you can teach or make your riders practice a good posture, ballance and even rhythm withouth a horse. Your horses will have benefits, you and your riders will spare precious time and correct mistakes successfully. You can learn many of this easy and helpful exercises on my seat course.
