bad balance= bad rider?

[midnightmare]

I have terrible balance, i am always tripping over my own feet and often stumbling into things due to my dodgey ears. Does this make me a bad rider? I have never felt unbalanced (except when i'm doing my girth up whilst mounted :D ) but i always thought a large part of riding was balance?

[JustJas]

From experioence I can honestly say balance on a horse and balance off a horses are two very different things.

If the label had been there 30 years ago I would have been diagnosed dyspraxic... I was chronically clumsy with no balance or coordination. It was due to being a very premature baby- born on Valentines not May Day! But I was still a passable rider at that age!

[midnightmare]

that's good to know, thanks :D
so I should be ok then :D i generally fall over and stumble about all day, even when I lead Misty to the arena I manage to get under her feet :o

[jenb]

I would say balance is hugely important to a rider. Horses are very good at just getting on with things and disguising the shortcomings of their riders, but as an instructor, hand on heart I bet your horse would go better for you and be more comfortable if your balance was better.

Try a gym ball at home, they are great for improving core stability. You can do little things to start with like sitting on it and lifting alternate legs off the floor, and progress to sitting on it and lifting both legs off the floor. If you buy one from a sports shop, they are a little more expensive but they tend to come with a dvd of exercises.

[midnightmare]

it's not like I can do much about it as my ears are really bad and more likley to get worse than better :(
I'll try the exercise ball things and see if it helps :) thanks XxX

[Joyscarer]

There's no doubt about it that a rider is improved by having better balance.

However there is so much more to riding than just balance and so judging ability on just one factor would not give the whole picture. For instance that rider might be more sensitive to their horses than another rider with enviable balance :)

[Fanshawe]

RDA horses and the paralympic riders are proof that perfect balance is not essential. Yes its a bonus and one we all work towards but then we all have our weaknesses. I for one have uneven hips and I have to work hard at getting it better. I'm sure your horse makes allowances for you just like mine does for me. Just enjoy your riding, do your best and enjoy it! :)

[preciousgem]

From experioence I can honestly say balance on a horse and balance off a horses are two very different things.

If the label had been there 30 years ago I would have been diagnosed dyspraxic... I was chronically clumsy with no balance or coordination. It was due to being a very premature baby- born on Valentines not May Day! But I was still a passable rider at that age!

Hi JustJas,
Do you find riding has helped in any way? Our 11yr. old daughter was also very premature and the docs. said that if they didn't know this, that she would be diagnosed with dyspraxis too. She is diagnosed with SID.(Sensory Integration Dysfunction) We started her with riding to help her cope with some of these issues and she's quite good at riding.

[midnightmare]

I have never lost balance on a horse before so it hasn't effected me luckliy :) hopefully my balance will improve :D

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

No it doesnt make you a bad rider.

Yes balance is good for riding, but if you can manage to stay on (which you can) you have not got a problem, so dont worry.

Your ears wont affect it. Its much more about how you use your seat and how good your position is in the saddle tbh. If youve got a strong seat and !legs like superglue (lol) you'll pretty much stay on regardless. These things can all be brought about by concentrating on keeping at your position and improving it with exercises such as riding w/out your stirrup irons. If youve got a good position and seat, then how much balance you have off the horse doesnt really matter. Balance whilst riding is in my opinion, a different thing.

Being balanced whilst riding involves things like an independent seat + hands, having a secure seat etc. It also involves being almost in sync with the horse, you should appear as one - a good rider can go with the horse's movements and so appears perfectly balanced.

more info:

http://petcaretips.net/stay-balanced-horse-riding.html
http://www.guide2horseriding.com/p1_articles_balanced_seat.php

[Anvil83]

I used to be very clumsey, always covered in bruises, well I still am but I think horse riding has helped improve my balance.

[Silvia]

I think balance makes riding easier, but there are ways of compensating if you don't have it . I have a disability which affects my balance - in fact I manage to trip over changes in carpet colour. :eek:
Things that make riding possible are my horse who has learned to stop if I start slipping, a saddle with a deep seat and suede seat cover and a breastblate which I grab to pull myself back up if I wobble too much.

[titch_]

Have just got back from Skiing in America :D and i got told i had great balance by my instuctor and only me and my friend had the balance and only me and my friend are horse riders :D

[puzzles]

I was suspected for having dysphraxia as a child and am very clumsy, lacking coordination and control over my body movements - VERY frustrating!
It does affect my riding as I sometimes lose my stirrups, wobble about a bit and, obviously, fall occasionally too.
But being a good rider comes from so many other things - sensitivity, having 'feel', being disciplined and having the right attitude etc, as well.

:-)

[midnightmare]

my clumsyness was proven today when i was walking the dog with my friend and managed to slip over on perfectly dry concrete :o