How to centralise weight??

[*Sez*]

I'm getting increasingly frustrated with my body :rolleyes:. I have very poor proprioception (i.e. my body can be in one position, but to me it feels as though it is in another), and very lax joints that I have difficulty stabilising. When riding, I have a tendancy to tip to the left, although I feel central and evenly balanced :o. I have noticed that on canter-trot transitions, I end up incredibly unbalanced because my joints all turn to rubber as the pace changes, which causes me to pop my lower vertebrae and hips. When I'm aware of the above, I become too tense trying to keep myself correctly positioned and to stop my body sliding around, which is giving me a lot of pain and causing Sal to become tense as well. I've been trying to work on my proprioception and core stability for several years now, and although there has been slight improvement, I don't think it will ever be "right".

Is there anything I can try to get my weight more central in the saddle? It has been flocked to compensate for me tipping slightly without causing any undue pressure on Sal's back, but because we have spent a full twelve months avoiding canter at all costs, I am obviously very rusty at the transition, and it's driving me crazy that I can't stop my left hip pulling me over.
Any thoughts appreciated!:)

[ShariN]

I have used Linda Parelli's pushing passenger in the past with very good results.
I also plan on using it when I am able to stay on a horse for longer periods of time.

http://www.parelli.com/info_page.php?page=article&lit_num=32&title=Pushing%20Passenger%20Lesson&t=lit

http://www.naturalmatters.net/article.asp?article=10&cat=30

[Julz]

When you say your joints are lax, do you mean you have a condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome? or Hypermobility joints? Perhaps you could get a physio (who rides/knows horses) to show you how to centralise better. A horse physio would be ideal, as all physio's have to do a certain amount of work with people before transitioning to horses.

[Bay Mare]

Would a simulator (with appropriate instructor) be useful in this situation as then you haven't got to worry about you AND the horse, just yourself.

I don't know as I haven't been able to speak to the people who would know, it's just a thought :)

[*Sez*]

I have Ehlers Danlos hypermobility syndrome. I was riding last night, and noticed that my left hip was rotating inwards and the right rotating outwards, which brough my heels up and completely knocks the position of my lower leg, so I'm not surprised I'm tipping to the side. I think I could do with shortening my stirrups by a hole or two so I can think about really sinking my heels down in trot and canter, rather than on tiptoe, as I have noticed I've started doing this.

I see a physiotherapist regularly on the NHS. She is very good (although not as good as my last physio who went abroad last year :() but she hasn't been able to advise me on exercises to try on horseback. I spoke to a therapist who works with the RDA a while back, but she was very expensive - it was going to cost me £65 for her to come out and do me an assessment, nevermind the cost of the appointments. At the moment, I can't even afford lessons (all my money is going on keeping a roof over our heads and paying for Sal), although when I can afford it again I'm considering changing instructors.

Bay Mare, thanks for your suggestion of a simulator - I hadn't even considered it. I think it will have to be a saving up job! :D

[Julz]

Would it be possible to have leg braces made for you so you can wear them riding, and it could help to stabalise your legs in the correct position? Or even one of these hip supports that pregnant women wear...? you can get neoprene ones...

The simulator is a good idea, but expensive...

Sorry to hear you have E.D, my ex boyfriend has it, really badly! he couldnt get on a horse if he tried or even wanted too... he fell off a pavement earlier this year, and dislocated his ankle.... it has since gone again!