With regard to riding styles, the most efficient place to be on a horse for
the horse to carry a rider at any speed, is right on the drive line. This is the
pivot point for the horse. 60% of the horses weight is in front of the drive
line and 40% behind (due to the weight of the head). This was proven by Monte
Foreman in the 1950's with slow motion film. Sliding stops in reining and
dressage positions are deceiving. A horse can not get their legs underneath them
if you are sitting way back. In fact, the best position for riding downhill is
not sitting back but to be perpendicular to the ground directly over the drive
line. This allows your horse to get his hind legs under him for control. Boz,
who worked with Monte Foreman, can provide you with pictures and data to prove
this. I know both Linda and Pat very well and can assure you that they would not
recommend riding in this position. I am sure that Linda had her student
exaggerate the position to cause the horse to slow down. This would be caused by
the horse not being able to use their hind legs to propel them forward. The
picture shown demonstrates incredibly poor horsemanship and riding skill.
