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Re: [RC] fear-alice-how to keep your "seat" - Magnumsmom

Keep your leg long and balanced (not too long, but definatly
not a jockey seat).  I find I like my heals about 3/4 to 7/8's
down the horse's rib cage.  I ride with my stirrups shorter on
Blue than I did on Magnum. 
 
The most important part of staying on a big spook is to ride
centered on the horse.  If you are forward over the withers and
front legs you have to stay with a much bigger sideways
movement than if you are centered over the horse's center of
gravity. 
 
Also, think about keeping the horse centered between your legs
and hands.  Think about keeping the horse's head and neck
straight in front of the rest of the horse when riding down the trail. 
Ride with the horse's butt driving under his back instead of all
strung out... not severely, just enough to have the horse in a
proper frame instead of hollow.
 
Ride with the horse in front of your seat instead of you riding
in front of the horse.
 
This from someone who came of the spooky 'ol TB a few times.
Magnum travels in a nice frame with his back lifted.  He also has
an "old TB QH type butt" with power in it and he is very agile.
 
Picture your horse traveling straight down the trail.
Picture the center of your horse's back.
Now picture your horse spooking sideways a few feet.
 
Some spook sideways with their entire body.
Most spook sideways pivoting the front end away off the hind.
Now picture how far the front end has moved vs how far the
middle of the horse's back has moved. 

A great example of how to stick a spook is to watch the riders
stay with cutting horses.  Watch how they sit up and in the
center of the horse's back.  Much less movement there to stick
to and easier to ride.   (also helps the cutting horse balance and
keeps the rider out of it's way for full athletic range)
 
Hope this helps,
 
Kathy Myers
in Santa Fe, NM
Things I learned from coming off:
1) ride centered
2) don't ride "left" when the horse cuts "right"
3) Keep the head up while galloping up a hill 'cuz sometimes
the little blue horse likes to launch / buck at the top...