Being Balanced in the Saddle While You Ride

I have some students who are new to riding and one of the things that all riders, especially beginners, need to learn is to get balanced in the saddle. It's often referred to as 'developing your seat'. And as a coach that can be hard to describe in just words sometimes without having other perspectives to explain this ideal position.

Being balanced when you ride means that you are not interfering with the horse but rather in rhythm with the horse. It also helps to communicate better with your horse. It greatly increases your enjoyment of the ride... and not to mention to help prevent you from falling off :)

To help all my students understand better, I point out to them when it looks to me & when it feels awkward to them, that they are not balanced or in rhythm with the horse. It feels not right to them. Words like rough, choppy, bumpy etc.. can be used to describe this unbalance. As most of us experienced riders know it takes time to develop that feel. It's one of the signs of a truly great rider - projecting an effortless - smooth - flawless visual of graceful riding, with a great performance as a result.

I often demonstrate this from horseback to give a pictorial view of balanced riding as another perspective since describing the sensation or feeling cannot be explained, it has to be experienced. (The technical words are left brained and the feeling is right brained activity. The sign of a balanced mind. How can you teach a sensation or a feel? One of the challenges when teaching riding. But I digress... Articles for another time. :)

Likewise, when they are particularly in sync with their horse (as my view from the ground indicates), I also let them know when they are balanced so they can memorize that feeling. It's one of the important things I do to help my students. To teach them to 'feel' what they are doing, to become aware and to memorize what the right thing feels like. And to recognize when it's not.

It speeds up the learning process and it teaches the student rider a skill to use & particularly when they are working on their own. I encourage you to learn this skill; this ability to 'feel' when things are right or wrong. A good skill to use in all areas of life in my opinion.

I believe 'memorizing the feel' is what Larry Trocha means when he says muscle memory. See article here.

Proper Saddle Design - Factory or custom made with incorrect design
Another interesting article from Larry Trocha explains the fact that an ill designed saddle or ill fitting saddle will contribute to a rider's improper balance as well. To a large degree in fact. And I agree.

Larry explains: " I got on her horse and as soon as my butt settled in the saddle I knew exactly why this poor lady was having so much trouble. Her saddle was absolutely TERRIBLE. I’ll tell you, I couldn’t even begin to sit the stop.
I could barely stay in balance enough to lope the horse. I mean this saddle made riding well almost impossible."
It goes along with the common saying that if you want to do a proper job, you need the proper tools. That goes along with other tack as well. The article (mentioned above) is well worth the read.

Larry also had other tips with regards to an ill designed saddle. He mentions falling forward, getting out of balance, not a comfortable rhythm & not feeling secure in your seat.

And as it so happens, the students I'm referring to have an ill designed and ill fitting saddle as well. As Larry mentions in the article, it's pretty hard to get a properly made saddle. Most saddles are factory made by expert leather crafts people but unfortunately are not riders.

And like all new horse people, it takes a while to acquire all the good tack needed.

So perhaps Santa will bring these people a new saddle! Who knows!

Ride on in balance!
Questions and comments are always welcome.
To learn more about balancing, & to memorize the feel please contact me for lessons.
If you need help with riding or acquiring the correct tack, please contact me.
Reinersue
©KISS Reiners

How Broke Is Your Horse?

Horsecoursesonline.com authors Don and Eleanor Blazer have an interesting article on How Broke Is Your Horse? - good question.

(Of course, this is where I studied for my equine studies degree. I highly recommend it!)

A quote from their enewsletter:
"How Broke Is Your Horse?" asks Rod Miller.
It's a question we're always asking ourselves. (Isn't that why we show horses?)
Miller has taken the question and turned it into the International Performance Horse Development Association, a fun way to improve your horsemanship, get help from training experts, advance your own training techniques and enjoy big prizes while competing in virtual shows at specific levels of ability.

New and just getting started, I'm betting IPHDA takes off…it's competition and education in one package, plus the advantages of membership discounts, prizes, and interaction with other horsemen from around the world.

Check it out at www.IPHDA.com"

Don brings up a good point. That's why I show - to test myself to see how my training program is coming along. I compete with myself or rather the last time I showed a particular horse.

It makes it more fun and less stressful.

I know Rod Miller. I believe he's Canadian. He used to show reining horses here in Ontario years ago before moving states side.

Sounds like an interesting idea. I'm going to check it out.

Anyone else heard of IPHDA? Let us know!

Broke vs. Started Under Saddle
Of course, as some of you know, I prefer to use the term 'started under saddle' rather than broke. I never did like the term even before the advent of the new paradigm of effective horsemanship. To break a horse... sounds medieval.

Onward and Upward!
Reinersue
©KISS Reiners

Now located on EquineNow.com

As the horse industry is getting more and more prevalent on the internet (as confirmed by Horse&Rider magazine), I decided to post my training facility and sale horses on Equinenow.com.

If you have time, please check it out and let me know what you think!

If you have any other website suggestions on where I can post my facility, please let me know! Thanks in advance.

Upward&Onward!

For information, please contact me.

Reinersue

©Copyright KISS Reiners

Dutchess's Colt Starting Graduation

Congratulations to Recycled Dutchess and breeders Sharon Baldwin & Don Watts of Pearl Creek Performance Horses!

On her successful completion of her colt starting program.

She was bought by ANDRE SETTECASI of St. Bernard, Qc at the Sep. Carson's sale. Good luck to her future career!
Dutchess gave me 120% in everything she did. It was a pleasure to work with her.

Sorry no photo.

Foundation Reining Training Centre
Reinersue

Felicity's Colt Starting Graduation

*

*

*

*

*

*

Congratulations to Recycled Felicity and breeders Sharon Baldwin & Don Watts of Pearl Creek Performance Horses!

On her successful completion of her colt starting program.

She was bought by Kash Lang, a team penner at the Sep. Carson's sale. Perhaps Felicity will go on to be a great team penning horse. Good luck to her future career!

Foundation Reining Training Centre
Reinersue

Lux's Colt Starting Graduation!

Congratulations to Jac Pine Lux and owners Sharon Baldwin & Don Watts of Pearl Creek Performance Horses!
On her successful completion of her colt starting program.
Good luck to her future career!

She was quite enjoyable to work with and will make a great reining horse.

Foundation Reining Training Centre
Reinersue

A Dream Finally Comes True

"Small things amuse small minds" some people say.

Does that include small people like me? Small person = small mind?

Fortunately, I don't have a small mind which includes big dreams.

Happily on the other hand, people are told to think big. Dream big. 'Become all you can be'. (And I wish that for everyone!)

Well.... It's a tall order isn't it. And if you're like me.... 'I'm working on it!'

Back to the Ranch
You might have been able to tell by my sparsely written articles that I haven't been able to ride Mocha, my horse subject for this blog, lately. Life gets really busy. Priorities change. I got way too many things 'on my plate' and had to complete other projects before the winter. You know how it goes... (I will definitely resume that soon & I'm excited to tell you why... Please read on.)

Fall has arrived. November is generally the rainy season. Yet snow just touched the ground for the 1st time yesterday and burr.... it's too cold to ride outside.

It's either too cold or it's too wet. I laugh with my students and friends when I say that "I'm not getting too old for this.... I'm getting too smart for this' ;) I don't really like riding in the cold and wet anymore like I used to. 'Been there. Done that'.

For those of you who brave the wet and cold to enjoy their passion of riding outdoors.... good for you! I commend you. In fact, I will be doing that soon when I help to move cattle for Dan&Kathy Graham of Maxwell. It's a blast. And my horse gets to work cattle. And they are such great hosts!

So this time of the year, I usually make the annual 'arena dance' and find an indoor arena to ride and train out of for the winter. Some people park their horses for the winter; ready to take a rest before the next year's warm riding season. And others find indoor riding arenas to keep working their horse or improving their riding skill.

The Dream of An Indoor Riding Arena
Well... It's always been a dream of mine to have an indoor riding arena in my own backyard.

And I'm very excited to announce that plans have been finalized for an indoor riding arena here in my own backyard! I can't wait!

So - finally! - after more than 10 years of planning... dreaming... research... more planning... failed attempts... more dreaming.... I am finally having a dream come true... I'm becoming overwhelmed with emotions just thinking about it! Ooh!

Ground Breaking
The ground breaking ceremony will take place this month. I have to have the cement footings in before freeze up. And the building will take place starting in January. I'm pleased to mention that James Bauman Construction of Kenilworth will be doing the building.
I hope to be riding in it by February. (What a nice birthday present. My birthday is Feb. 6th)

So please raise a glass of your favorite beverage (whatever that might be. tea for me.) and toast to a dream finally coming true for me. I hope all yours do too!

Update: The foundation was done in January 2010. The framing done in February and the roof in March.

Putting my own spin on dreams.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners