Cathy's Monthly Article from Texas Horse Talk Magazine

8 Ways to Improve Your Balance

By Cathy Strobel

Don’t you wish that you could count on everything always going according to the plan? Most avid riders, who take the time to drive to the barn, groom their horse and saddle him up for a ride give some thought beforehand as to what they want to accomplish during the ride. For some it may be to perfect a dressage movement that has been difficult to master. For another, it might be finding the perfect take-off spot at each jump on a course. Yet, for someone else, it might just be a cross country ride with a friend. Whatever it is, you can bet that when the rider mounts her horse, she will be wrapped up in the expectation of becoming one with her horse. She will envision the perfect blending of horse and rider that develops from the time spent training and practicing. She will look forward to the joy of a quiet partnership that almost seems telepathic between horse and rider.

But then, reality strikes. As the workout gets underway, your horse tosses his head and tugs at the bit. His speed varies when it shouldn’t. You get left behind at the jump and you almost fall off when he stops. You start grumbling about all the money you threw away on his training and all the time you have wasted in your daily workouts. But wait! Stop your grumbling and reassess the situation. Is it all your horse’s fault that the ride is less than smooth?

If your balance is in a state of flux, how can your wonderful mount carry you easily? If you constantly shift around banging him in his mouth or on his back, can you blame him for his inconsistencies? If you give a child a piggy back ride and he leans in different directions while you are walking, you will find that even the smallest child will pull you in the direction he leans. Go ahead and try it. It may surprise you how powerful the pull of his weight is. Now think about how your horse must feel when your weight starts to shift around. In order to help your horse find his balance when he works, you must first find yours. Here are a few exercises you can do to check and improve your balance when you ride.

1. Ride in two-point. The squatting position that riders take when a horse jumps is called two-point. Remember to lean forward from the hips only enough to lift your weight off of the horse’s back. Many riders try to stand up high out of the saddle or lean way over the neck until their shoulders are as low as their hips. Either of these faults will stiffen the knees and make the rider top-heavy, causing the body to tip forward or back. Years ago, people were taught to squeeze with the knees. This method interferes with the motion of the horse’s shoulders and also interferes with the rider’s balance. It is important to line up your hips over your heels and your knees over your toes. If you find yourself tipping forward, bring your feet more forward and drop more weight into your heels. Should you find that you are falling back in the saddle, bring your feet further back and allow more bend in your knees. Once you are lined up correctly, hold your two-point position at a trot to practice maintaining it in motion. Then alternate 10 or 12 strides of posting trot with the same amount of two-point. Be careful to maintain the same leg position when you go from two-point to posting.

2. Lift your chest and your chin as if you are walking into an elegant ballroom. When you lift your chest you automatically bring your shoulders back and line up your spine. This simple adjustment in posture will instantly help to center your gravity. Lifting the chin along with the chest will help to place your head over your spine, preventing a top-heavy balance.

3. Pick out a focal point to keep your eyes up. Your eyes incredibly lead the horse in a direction. Learn to look ahead and chart your course visually. When you shift your eyes, you automatically turn your shoulders slightly in that direction which causes your hands to pull the horse in that direction. All riders need to train themselves to turn their own heads and plan the horse’s turn before allowing the hands to turn the horse. Hunter and jumper riders have to learn this in order to “ride the line”. In other words, they learn to visualize the path that runs through the jumps and then physically look ahead on the line to hold the path.

4. Ride without stirrups. Dropping your stirrups can quickly make you aware of any leaning to either side. If it bothers you to feel the stirrups tapping against your feet, pull the buckle on the stirrup leather down a few inches and cross the stirrups over the neck in front of the saddle. Keep the same leg position as you had with your stirrups. Be careful not to allow your leg to stiffen and stretch too far down or hike your knees up to hold on. Remember to relax the knees and keep your heels down as you ride. Practice the sitting trot for balance and the rising trot for strength.

5. Drop one stirrup at a time. One of the most challenging exercises for balance can be to drop one stirrup for several strides or even a few laps around an arena. Then pick the stirrup back up without stopping or looking down. Try to move only your toe as you pick it up. Many riders new to this challenge will stop, look down and lift their entire leg to find the stirrup. Some people even use their hands! The idea is to stay centered, without leaning to either side or collapsing a hip. It is also great practice to picking up your stirrups without looking for those moments when it is not practical to stop and adjust a stirrup with your hand.

6. Take your saddle off and ride bareback. Many old-timers started their riding careers on farm horses with no saddles. Native Americans were famous for their ability to ride bareback. While they may not have developed the greatest style and finesse, they certainly had tremendous balance. Try pulling your saddle off and riding around bareback. You will quickly learn to center yourself if you want to stay on!

7. Drop the reins. Try riding in a round pen or small enclosed area on a calm horse with your reins carefully placed on the withers with the buckle close to the saddle. Put your hands on your hips and see if you can remain centered for balance. You might also try folding your arms or simply pretend to hold the reins by placing your hands in a riding position, but slightly above the neck. You will not be able to inadvertently lean on your hands or pull on the reins. (note: this exercise can only be attempted on a very calm and trustworthy horse. It can also be used on a longe line with an experienced horseman handling the longe line.)

8. Isolate different muscle groups and put them into motion as your body uses your core for stabilization. While working on a very calm horse at a rising trot, drop your reins again and try holding your arms at shoulder height and twist from side to side in a very controlled motion. I call it the “washing machine” exercise. Then pretend you are slowly flapping your wings as you continue to trot. Next make large circles with your arms in each direction. You can also try the same exercises at a sitting trot and a canter. You will find that not only will your balance improve, but your arms and abs will get a nice workout.

I’m sure as you start working through these exercises, you will begin to feel your balance improve. To make it even more interesting and challenging, try coming up with some creative ideas of your own to challenge your stability. With practice, you will find that the effort required for each of these movements will lessen. These drills are only a few of the many ways you can improve your balance. As your balance improves, watch your horse become steadier, happier and more cooperative. Your friends will be asking you how you learned to communicate with your horse through mental telepathy!

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