I Can't See a Distance Without My A$$ in the Saddle

[mika0116]

This!

The exercise I mention above creates the muscle / feel/ ability to keep the canter from being underpowered while not butt in tack.

On hotter, naturally forward horses (5 years) I never realized I lacked this ability because the 4 consecutive horses I was leasing didn’t require me to create the energy - they required me to contain and direct it so I never realized I COULDN’T keep a quality canter without sitting! And as a former dressage rider for most of my junior years 12-18… I forgot that half seat on the flat existed.

The canter, as always, is what makes the course. less than 1/10 of the strides are jumps - the other 90% is canter. Or at least that is what I tell my former (inner) Dressage Queen self.

[HipNo34]

I think you just articulated what I’ve been struggling with.

Someone on the Hunters for Dummies thread wrote about sitting a few strides out and I thought, “hallelujah! That’s what I’m most comfortable with.” Because lord, but I struggle with staying out of the tack the whole way to a fence. I either get super deep or leave super long in an attempt to not get super deep. facepalm

[crackerjack]

You can absolutely sit in the saddle. You don’t need to have a half seat the whole way around or even ever. Just make sure your seat is light and not driving/defensive and that you maintain the same rhythm throughout the whole course. A defensive seat may also cause you to suddenly two-point over the jump causing balance issues so you want to avoid that. If you are soft, rhythmical, have the correct pace and find 8 perfect fences each time you’ll be fine!

[phoenixrises]

exactly it’s this easy!

[Rumorhasit93]

IMG_9466

I’ll be vulnerable here (as it shows my whole name, and I don’t love my position), but here’s an example. I only show this horse so I don’t love my position and don’t get to practice on him much - my personal horse is a jumper and moves completely different so I don’t ride them the same…

This horse is so so lovely I think I could be flopping around and he’d still win (he’s also for sale )

Just remember, it’s judged on the horse. If you’re more comfortable sitting and it gets the best out of the horse, there is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to that seat!

[Dr_Doolittle]

I think you look great, and your horse is just lovely!

[phoenixrises]

I would say we ride similarly, I’m just a fair bit old and have more padding

[This_Weird_Quirk]

I haven’t read through the entire thread, but I can so related to putting my booty in the tack to find a distance. I actually learned a few years ago that it was less about sitting for me, and more so about being able to really control the stride and have ride-ability. Once I found a horse where I could manage the stride I could get out of the tack a little bit while still feeling connected enough like I would fully butt to leather.

[awaywego]

As a person who has ridden more than my share of stoppers, I am on team keep your butt wherever you need it to be. It’s prettier to have 8 nice jumps from a deeper seat than 8 misses from your 2 point The only time I really notice if someone is in a deeper seat is when it’s really obvious they are pushing the horse for every. single. step.

[Rumorhasit93]

Thank you! I wish he were mine - I just have a very kind friend and a good connection with that trainer. He’s my lottery dream

[Rumorhasit93]

Oh gosh, I am constantly trying to lose the “padding”. It’s tough to see the videos in the tan pants!!

[Foitin]

As long as you are sitting still, sitting is just fine for any hunter division. If you can sit still, keep your hands down, and find 8 jumps on a cute horse in the adult hunters, that is enough to win most places in the adult hunters!

[mika0116]

Tbird!! That was a nice round & you did your job of making the round look smooth and the horse look like a merry-go-round critter.

Sitting works for you and that horse for sure.

Question though, you still have a slightly closed hip angle that is nice and fluid. As a former dressage rider I am very vertical when sitting (only photo I could find on-hand is this screen grab from a local county show adult very hot, coats were waived eq class. I used it to warm up my jumper hence the hilariously inappropriate saddle pad - he was excited to show and was losing his shit a bit).

Is that type of seat going to be an issue in hunters (have NEVER competed in hunters at any level) as I may attempt it with the current horse opportunity I have?

Also the screen grab is a few years ago before cheese became my emotional support during the pandemic - 10-14ish lbs to go to get back there. Haven’t worn tan breeches since . You look good to me in them!

[HipNo34]

… just here for the “emotional support cheese,” which is my new favorite phrase.

[Rumorhasit93]

Yes tbird! And thank you - that horse truly has the best metronome center I’ve ever ridden. The only time I mess up is when I try to do something other than sit there. He’s incredible.

I do have a bit of a bend in my hip angle. I don’t think the more vertical/upright position will negatively impact your round, so long as your horse goes well! That is a very acceptable “equitation” position. Again, it’s all about the horse!

[greysfordays]

I think it’s less about you and more about how you impact your horse. If being seated causes your horse to be inverted and stiff bc it’s sensitive to seat pressure, then yes, that could impact your placing. If your being seated (quietly) allows the horse to move smoothly across the ground and over the jumps, then I don’t really think anyone will penalize you.

You are looking to disappear as much as possible so that the horse can shine. People will gauge that based on how quietly you ride and how your horse goes. The specific hip angle isn’t super important unless there’s an issue that a judge might try to explain with your position.

A horse that’s thundering along with a passenger rider in a two point isn’t going to score well and the judge will probably attribute that to the rider not being more around the horse. Try to think of it less as a hunter “look” and more about riding a certain way to get a certain result. Which is going to vary for each horse.

[Bearx2]

Love this video of you and your horse . You look and great.

[Rackonteur]

@phoenixrises

For now trainer and I are working on other things and my butt stays in the saddle and we’re going along. But I’d like to not stick out when I do get around to showing so like how do I fix this?

Note I am doing more out of the tack on the flat, but it is still a struggle for me to not let us get underpowered in the canter, when it doesn’t happen if I sit.

Was it Squire Gordon who said “‘Isn’t it better to set a good example than follow a bad one?’”
If sitting works for you and your horse – and sounds like it does if it keeps y’all from getting underpowered – then sit. Back in my youth hunters were judged on way of going, keeping a good hunting pace o/f, so sit.

NB: I have no idea how “eq” is judged this day and age, but cantering around a course with your arse in the air doesn’t look very workmanlike IMO! Lol