I can’t really agree with that. My horse will have to do all the movements as every other horse.
In some ways it is a disadvantage because sitting is more influential on our horses and easier to communicate with our seat than posting is.
If I can get the same self carriage and collection in a rising trot… 
I’m going to keep working towards sitting the trot (as I have for the last year, knowing this was coming), but honestly it feels like something that should be an option if you have physical issues.
Riding at all now is no small thing as we try to keep our bodies able to do the thing we love.
I gave up running for the same reason because riding is the most important thing to me and running was damaging my body too much.
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My concern, were I to compete with you (which I don’t think would happen), would be your posting in the mediums, and if you move up the levels, in the extendeds.
I’d think that the potential detriment to the collected movements would balance out the potential advantage to the extended movements, but it’s just me.
I really don’t care what other people do - I’m not going to the Olympics or even in the running for a regional championship.
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Neither am I, lol. But people who are might feel differently.
My point was, my score is not likely to affect their success at all. If you’re going to win, it’s not like I was a threat to that, whether I was posting or not.
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I use a seat saver (Acavallo w/coccyx cut out) due to tailbone removal. The surgery helped (I can at least sit on my horse) but I still have pain without the seat saver. If I was really keen on showing, I would work for a dispensation.
However, I am probably going to hang in there to get my Century ride in in 8 years. I hope by then they won’t begrudge an old lady riding with a seat saver 
.
Susan
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I am riding in the Open Division, I don’t think they are going to be worried about me. And scores are scores. Whatever I do doesn’t take away from someone else’s score.
I am riding my homebred that I have slowly brought along myself. I’m 61 this year. I’m trying to preserve my body that has been through a lot and get as far as I can before I can’t anymore. I’ve never ridden Second Level before on anything, it’s new to both of us. My goal is to do a freestyle this year like I did last year at First.
Going to do my best with whatever they tell me.
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I have a dispensation certificate that allows me to compete in USDF (national) classes but not CDIs using an acavello gel seat saver. This is the one I use:
After decades of riding multiple horses in a day with no issues, my skin elasticity and padding changed and I was constantly getting deep bruising and raw rubs on my seat bones. I spent a fortune on drs, padded underwear, topicals, and various seat savers. This gel seat saver is the only one that cushioned my tush enough to prevent rubs AND was securely enough positioned on the saddle that I don’t lose nuanced communication like one-tempis. After a year of extremely inconsistent riding and trial-and-error I found this seat saver, got a dispensation certificate, and was able to move up to GP last year and even compete at USDF Finals using the seat saver. Nobody notices it or comments on it. I’m not aware it’s there, except I don’t hurt anymore.
I’ve probably had two dozen friends get seat savers for hacking and schooling, as women of a certain age often develop cushioning issues. I think it’s absurd that they aren’t allowed for anyone who wants them to show in. It’s not making my technique better, it’s just preventing me from bruises and raw spots and is allowing me to continue to ride and also to compete. Unfortunately I’m told it would be impossible to get a similar compensation dispensation from FEI so CDIs are out of the question for me. But I’m grateful that USEF allows this aid for those of us who desperately need it.
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Natalie Lamping is trying to get a whole division added where sitting trot is not required. She managed to get at least a virtual show to offer it but has talked about getting it approved for USDF shows.
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I think this is a great idea.
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I would accept the word of only the FEI? Is there even a process in place to do this?
Thanks so much!
