Has anyone tried these? There are little soft balls you put under your armpits or between your knee and the saddle, and a double bump shaped one you out under your seatbones for walk, sitting trot or canter.
I have. I put the individual balls underneath my seatbones at the walk for a few minutes before most rides. I thought I would learn I was sitting more to one side than another, but instead it really helped me feel the right core muscles to engage to put my pelvis in the proper alignment. It seems gimmicky, but for someone with my learning style, it helped me a lot.
I’m interested too. I saw a trainer have her student use them over the weekend and I had never seen those before.
I tried the one you sit on the other other day and LOVED it. Am very curious to try the balls under my knees and armpits
I did a clinic with Heather blitz a few years ago, and she had a very very small stuffed animal that she used in the same way. It got a lot of laughs but it was very effective in helping you focus on that body part.
Having just watched the video, I wonder how if the reason for the effectiveness of the seat ball is that it puts the rider more forward over their feet. I have tied a polo wrap around the saddle, with the knot on top, for that purpose.
This looks interesting. I’ve worked with Eckart Meyners in the past, and he is always exploring ways to help riders use their bodies more effectively.
BigMama, can you describe how it improved your seat/riding? And what happens once you remove it –– do you maintain the correct position or way of riding?
It felt very odd at the walk - like I was tipped forward and as if the pillow was going to pop out the back, but in sitting trot it really allowed me to absorb the horses movement through my seat instead of bracing / bouncing, which I tend to do. It also made me keep my seatbones down and really sit deeply, to prevent the thing from slipping out, and at the same time I had to lift through my diaphragm to stay balanced. My horse seemed to like it - felt much more relaxed and swingy in his back.
I think this would not be as effective for accomplished riders but very helpful for people who struggle with position and relaxation, and sitting with the horse.
Canter similar feeling but not as odd. The ball absorbs some of the rider movement so I had the sensation of being “in” the saddle, if that makes sense.
I got fatigued quite quickly at trot and noticed my inner thigh muscles were burning, so obviously I was using different muscles than I’m used to. I believe that’s one of the main points, aside from body awareness, to create new muscle memory and better patterns.
Once I took the bubble /'pillow / ball thing away I felt able to sit deeper in the saddle and felt more secure. I’ve only tried it the one time so i think to have any lasting difference you’d need to use it on a regular basis.
i’m very curious to try the ones under the thighs as I have very tight hips and struggle to let my legs hang. Will report back after my lesson this week!
1 Like
This is so interesting! I look forward to hearing updates 
this past winter and spring I signed up for Wendy Murdoch’s online course (very helpful in terms of knowledge of anatomy, and identifying asymmetries and tightness and holding patterns in the body), and am also signed up for Mary Wanless’s course so take advantage of her online wisdom. It’s very helpful stuff, and I’m always looking for new tools to improve in these areas and think outside the box.
1 Like
Yes, very interested in hearing more as well–more about your progress and more about the program itself. Where is it being offered and is it a lesson-based program or clinic, etc.?
It’s just the equipment (balls) and some instructional videos and books that my trainer ordered. She’s very interested in biomechanics and thought they looked like an interesting tool. If it turns out to be as useful as she thinks , then clinics or a lesson series are a definite possibility.
Where do you get the balls?
This is the Franklin site, but I think similar sized balls from any fitness store would work https://franklinmethod.com/products1/equipments/
BIgMama1 is it a function of the ball, or is it the awareness of the body part that improves the riding? I’m intrigued!
Good question - I think a bit of both. In the short term, the immediate feeling of being in the saddle once you take the ball away is that you are closer to your horse and deeper in the saddle, because you don’t a big lumpy thing under your butt LOL. Long term I’m assuming it’s the improved body awareness.
So I rode with the ball you sit on again today, and for a bit longer this time. Have narrowed down further what is happening that I like, though still not sure why.
#1 My horse is rounder, softer and swingier, and carries himself better, rather than tricking me into holding him up
#2 Though it seems counterintuitive with a lump of plastic between my butt and the saddle, my seat is muscular more effective. In downward transitions he often resists by bracing, hollowing and / or pulling a little and I tend to react by pulling back (much as I try not to). With the ball, I get a lovely downward transition by just using my core and closing the hand. Crazy!
i suspect the ball forces me not only to sit down on my seatbones to keep it from popping out, but also forces me to me be looser in my lower back and firmer in my upper abs. I likely feel more
stable to the horse, as well as more supple, so that the seat aids aren’t muddled with a lot of “noise” from me wiggling. Also assume a softer lower back prevents me from bracing, which in turn prevents him from needing to brace.
1 Like
my trainer used them on me to get me to sit back, they worked well
It’s weird because everybody feels like they are tipping forward while sitting on it but actually have their torso right above their pelvis.
