Re: position in saddle uphill/downhill

["Judy A. Worley" <aussie@aa.net>]

This yahoo has been shuffling down a mountain a long time apparently the
wrong way, because that's what we were taught! Why didn't my horse tell me?
A tough, normally sensitive 1/2 TB.  Please instruct me what you are talking
about.  Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: cberto@juno.com <cberto@juno.com>
To: mmmcrae@juno.com <mmmcrae@juno.com>
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 1998 12:55 PM
Subject: position in saddle uphill/downhill


>Good answer, Marie!  This was one of the first things I learned in NATRC
>competition in 1972:  center your position!
>Not many casual riders realize that the horse will try to arch its back
>going uphill (to get its legs under so as to push with its rear end) and
>also will  try to arch its back going downhill (to prop with the front
>legs and brace with the rear).   How many yahoos (not on endurance rides)
>have I seen trundling downhill, sitting like a sack of potatoes, legs way
>out front, feet  "on the dashboard," whanging away on the poor horse's
>kidneys with every step?  Ouch!!
>   Going uphill, it's easy to forget about your lower leg position until
>two things may happen:  1. your foot is so far back it bangs into your
>horse's stifle  (2) if you are in a flat saddle, your stirrup leather
>slides off the safety bar (which of course is in the safe *down* or
>*open* position pending its rusting into immobility).  Look at pictures
>of riders going over Cougar Rock and you'll see what I mean.
>
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