TIPPING FORWARD - UNBALANCED

[MEL H]

Dear Heather
I have been riding for about 2 years and own an ex Advanced Dressage horse who is superb as a schoolmaster. I haven't got a particularly balanced seat and find myself constantly tipping forwards (by about 20 degrees from the vertical).

Joey is very responsive to the leg and forward going but all the energy tends to fall forwards because he leans on my hands. This accentuates the problem of tipping forward.

I ride Joey in a mild bit (Cyprium french link loose ring snaffle) as I am conscious that there is probably a lot of "background noise" through my hands and I don't want to damage his mouth.

Both my instructors (and every dressage judge) always make comment on this but are not forthcoming on ways to resolve it. How can I stop this bad habit

[Heather]

It could be for a number of reasons, Mel. Most likely cause is that your saddle is not helping you ride a horse who is bound to have biggish movement, and is tipping you out of balance. This will further compound things if you have not been taught how to absorb the movement correctly. Where are you?

Heather

[MEL H]

I had a new saddle custom made about 6 months ago - it's due for restuffing soon.

I'm based up in the North West near Clitheroe, Lancashire

[Heather]

Sad to say Mel, it is not just the stuffing that will be tipping you out of balance, I can guarantee that like 99% of saddles designed and made in the UK, it will still be trying to put you in the hunting seat balance, ie with your legs forward and bum on the back of the saddle. This is precisely why I designed my own, which allows riders to plop straight into the ear/shoulder/hip/heel/line without any effort. I could cheerfully strangle the saddlery industry, which is crippling horses backs and making riders feel inept.



HEather