Re: CTR: Coyote Creek ride report

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>The horsemanship judge hid in the woods and observed uphill travel and =
>downhill travel.  I did good downhill, but got a note on my card about =
>"heavy in the saddle" uphill.  I am not sure exactly what she wanted to =
>see...  Maybe more of a lean forward??

Michelle,
If you consciously sink more of your weight into your heels, lighten your
seat bones so that they aren't putting weight into the saddle but your skin
is still in contact, and keep your body line the same as how a tree would
normally grow up out of a hill, you will not be heavy in the saddle and the
horse will have a better chance of being able to lift his back when he
brings his hind legs up under himself.  This is important since he can't
use his haunches correctly and efficiently if he can't round his frame
which involves lifting his back...and green horses, especially, will have a
much easier time if you lighten your seat.  Since they aren't as strong in
the rear, when they start to tire, they end up pulling themselves up with
the forehand.  It's a good idea, on steeper inclines, to grab a braid or
two of the mane to help your balance...prevents you from hanging on the
reins or using them for balance, however unintentional.......which doesn't
do a darned thing towards helping the horse use his rear engine! ;-) 

You can practice this at home -- stand on the bottom step with the balls of
your feet balancing on the edge and gently increase the amount of weight
that the heel (now sinking below the level of the step) takes on.  Think of
trying to touch your heel to the floor below the step while using the step
as a fulcrum under your toes.  Relax your ankles so that if the steps were
to start moving rhythmically up and down, your heels would bounce a little
absorbing a little of the motion while your knees would alternately flex
and extend a little while absorbing most of the motion.  Do this with your
body slightly folded (as in an ironing board) and your hands about 6" in
front of your hips with your elbow bent and your arm relaxed.  Also,
remember...you should always ride so that if your horse were to suddenly,
magically disappear out from under you, you would land on your feet...not
on your seat! ;-)

Hope this helps.

Sue

sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.


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