Full seat v.s. Half seat

[Outdoorz]

I’ve recently begun riding jump courses in a “half-seat” during my lessons - not necessarily in complete two point, but I am lifting myself out of the saddle. I feel slightly forward in the half-seat. I am evening doing the half-seat during the flat warm up.

This is compared to when I first began jumping, I would hear “sit back!!” “sit back!!” and I would plant my butt for as long as possible, so not to get ahead of the horse.

I feel slightly vulnerable in the half-seat - slightly forward and all, but at the same time I feel A LOT more aggressive and ready to jump.

How common is it to ride an entire course in a show setting using the half-seat (hunter or jumper)? I’m not jumping anything huge - 2’6’’ on average. Does it depend on the horse? I feel like the horse I ride is a lot more prone to open up while in half-seat: there’s a lot of inconsistent striding going on, but it may be that I’m just getting used to not relying on my seat.

[skyy]

Quite often it depends on the horse. A lighter, typier horse may not like to be sat upon and sitting on their back may actually restrict their forward movement. Don’t confuse a light seat with leaning though - just because your butt is not glued to your saddle doesn’t mean that your torso and shoulders shouldn’t be tall.

[Outdoorz]

I’d hope that I’m not leaning too far forward - I would imagine my trainer would correct me. It might be that I’m just ‘up’ versus sitting back and deep.

[woodhillsmanhattan]

I personally like half seat because there is more variety to it and it allows me to do less with my hands.

When I am constantly sitting I have to immediately go to my hands to slow down or balance while on course. If I am in half seat I am able to first sink into the saddle to see if I get a response and then go to my hand more if needed. I do jumpers and my horse has less rails the less I use my hands but this is useful in the hunters too as sinking into the saddle to steady is probably less distracting than using your hands (where your horse may open it’s mouth or make it even more obvious to the judge that you are making a correction). My horse is happier in a half seat so I may be bias :).

That being said, if you are feeling vulnerable in your half seat double check your upper body. Don’t confuse lightening your seat with being too far forward with your body or “perching”.

If your horse is being inconsistent, don’t be afraid to sink down, correct, and then return to half seat. If he is smart he will learn quickly and eventually maintain his pace with little help from you.

[Jealoushe]

I always jump in a half seat - otherwise I have a bad tenancy to get left behind. It is a good solution for me. I find horses jump better too, but thats just my opinion.

[paw]

I think you’ll find that most of the hunter riders ride around in a half seat - you can be more subtle with your aids that way (as opposed to sitting and then getting out of the saddle over the fence).

[riderank_makebank]

[QUOTE=paw;7766544]
I think you’ll find that most of the hunter riders ride around in a half seat - you can be more subtle with your aids that way (as opposed to sitting and then getting out of the saddle over the fence).[/QUOTE] Agreed, its def a hunter thing

[Outdoorz]

Based upon threads I’ve read about Hunters in the past, I knew it was a hunter thing for sure, but I didn’t know if you see it as much in jumpers. I am not showing yet, however considering I am a little older with adult responsibilities, racing around a series of jumps as fast as possible just doesn’t sound as…well…logical :eek:

So if I did show in the future, it’d be hunters for sure, so I can see where this ‘technique’ is handy to learn for myself!

I do agree with Jealoushe that it really helps with the whole left behind thing. While I still occasionally jump ahead (I’m still a newb - still learning the ropes!!) I think my “sit back! sit Back!” style of previous put me behind more than anything. And I’m almost certain that almost every time I’ve fallen has been due to getting left behind, NOT jumping ahead…Not that that justifies jumping ahead at all, just my experience.

When I ride again, I will pay close attention to how I feel and where my upper body is. Like I said, I may just feel a little bit more forward because I’m not sitting back and deep.

[Aileybay]

Trainers get into the habit (and rightly so) of saying “sit back! sit back!” to all of their beginner students because the students’ legs aren’t steady enough yet to support their body being out of the saddle. If you try to do half seat without a secure lower leg, you perch on your toes and your upper body has no choice but to go wayyyy too far forward! Sitting deep/back in the saddle helps to build those leg muscles (especially down in your heel, where it matters most). Once your leg is stable enough, you can move up into half seat, which has the benefits that the other commenters have described :] Enjoy!

[pookie101]

I think you are supposed to do a full seat. The reason behind half-seats, is for when you are doing a jumper or hunter/jumper course, you are ready for the jumps, and are already kind of in your position. I don’t see any need for that in a flat class, sense you are not jumping. When I watch flat classes at horse shows, I haven’t seen anyone in a half-seat. ut it is also kind of your prefence. I would ask you trainer which one they prefer you to do.

[OveroHunter]

[QUOTE=Aileybay;7766957]
Trainers get into the habit (and rightly so) of saying “sit back! sit back!” to all of their beginner students because the students’ legs aren’t steady enough yet to support their body being out of the saddle. If you try to do half seat without a secure lower leg, you perch on your toes and your upper body has no choice but to go wayyyy too far forward! Sitting deep/back in the saddle helps to build those leg muscles (especially down in your heel, where it matters most). Once your leg is stable enough, you can move up into half seat, which has the benefits that the other commenters have described :] Enjoy![/QUOTE]

This is so important. The half seat is only effective if you have a super steady and strong leg and core. If you do not, the half seat will do more harm that good because you will be perched on your horse’s neck instead of carrying your own weight out of the saddle and evenly over the horse’s back.

My mare prefers me to be lighter on her back, but she also has the tendency of being behind my leg. Since I am not in the best riding shape I really should be in, I tend to have to sit down to push her in front of my leg because I’m just not strong enough to use only my leg and not my seat as well. I’m working on it though :lol:

[findeight]

[QUOTE=riderank__makebank;7766559]
Agreed, its def a hunter thing ;)[/QUOTE]

Umm, no, it’s not. Watch more elite level Jumpers carefully to see how many variations of half seat there really are…if it’s obvious, they are not doing it correctly.

Its done with subtle changes in hip angle, not pushing up on the irons or throwing the shoulder. Most horses like it and go better. Many riders not so much, it’s hard and requires strength and subtlety. Takes a loooong time to master.

ETA. Don’t want to give the impression I ever mastered it. Oh, got pretty good at it but always took half the ring to find it again after getting in tight to an oxer and landing hard/in a heap or loosing pace for some reason, pretty much never had it to a first fence off a short turn away from the in gate…where it would have helped the most:no:

[BITSA]

@findeight;7776274

Umm, no, it’s not. Watch more elite level Jumpers carefully to see how many variations of half seat there really are…if it’s obvious, they are not doing it correctly.

Its done with subtle changes in hip angle, not pushing up on the irons or throwing the shoulder. Most horses like it and go better. Many riders not so much, it’s hard and requires strength and subtlety. Takes a loooong time to master.

This. There’s a good Bernie Traurig video on use of the different seats. I also don’t like to ride too far forward, and prefer a light seat. I am more secure there, and so long as I am staying up over jumps and not hitting my horses back, its all good. I will stay in more of a half seat if I need to move up on a line, but I am not much of a half-seat sitter (and I am jumping around the same height as you OP).

[GoodTimes]

Go on youtube and watch some GPs, hunter derbys, and the Big Eq. All of the riders will go between a full, half, and even two point. They each have their place on course and with different horses. As you ride more seemlessly changing between seats when you want to open up the stride, balance before a jump, or drive forward will become second nature.

[Aileybay]

[QUOTE=GoodTimes;7777574]
Go on youtube and watch some GPs, hunter derbys, and the Big Eq. All of the riders will go between a full, half, and even two point. They each have their place on course and with different horses. As you ride more seemlessly changing between seats when you want to open up the stride, balance before a jump, or drive forward will become second nature.[/QUOTE]

Yes yes yes, all of this.

[OuttaShape]

I am certainly no expert, but I’ll ditto the poster who said half seat is more about the hip angle. My trainer will say “close your hips” to indicate that tilt you’re supposed to have, but you should still be sitting up straight and tall as you approach your jumps. I say “should” because I have a terrible habit of getting ahead of my horse. That ruins my jump every.time.

So by all means, get off your horse’s back. I do sink into a full seat to support my horse through the corners, but always a light seat approaching the jumps.