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.
